Seagulls share spoils but Kenny calls it a day as boss
Peter saves the day as Kenny announces resignation
BRAY WANDERERS 3 GALWAY UNITED 3
PETER CHERRIE had to rescue a point for Bray Wanderers despite having twice taken the lead in a match overshadowed by Harry Kenny’s pending resignation.
The Seagulls fell behind after 14 minutes but lead 2-1 and 3-2 going in the final few minutes. However, the porous defence shipped an equaliser on 85 minutes and conceded a 92nd minute penalty that saw the Scottish shot-stopper become the hero on an emotional night for the Co. Wicklow club.
With two points dropped, it now leaves Wanderers lingering hopes of snatching a European spot hanging by a thread as they will now need to overcome Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City whist hoping Derry drop points on their run-in.
Harry Kenny made three enforced changes for what would prove to be his penultimate home game in charge of Wanderers, out went injured duo Tim Clancy and Keith Buckley plus the suspended Gary McCabe and in came Hugh Douglas, Calvin Rogers and Mark Salmon.
A Galway break after five minutes provided the game’s first chance. Ronan Murray clipped a pass in behind for Republic of Ireland U-21 international Rory Hale who had a great sight of goal. He was thwarted by a superb sliding block from Conor Kenna and Hale’s follow-up was also blocked by Hugh Douglas, with referee Tomas Connolly ignoring Galway’s pleas that it had struck Douglas’ arm.
Galway struck first blood on 14 minutes. Kevin Devaney collected the ball wide on the right and cut inside, drifting past a couple of Bray defenders as he did so before bending a low finish to Peter Cherrie’s right.
Slack play from Stephen Folan almost allowed Bray to reply within a minute as Brennan drilled an effort inches wide from the edge of the area but the leveller arrived in the 17th minute.
Ryan Brennan had space on the right and ignored the run of the offside Aaron Greene. The striker’s movement appeared to distract United though as they were completely oblivious to Jason Mark’s late charge into the box. Brennan wasn’t, and it was all square.
Peter Cherrie came to Bray’s rescue shortly afterwards as Murray broke forward. Devaney slipped the attacker in and he got two bites at the Cherrie; the Scottish shot-stopper blocked the initial strike and threw himself on the rebound before Murray could poke it home.
Having gone behind, Bray should have gone ahead two minutes shy of the half hour mark. Greene held it up before recycling it to Sullivan, who in turn teed up Salmon but the midfielder fired straight at Conor Winn’s sizeable frame from 12 yards.
It was Eoin McCormack’s turn to hold things up at the other end next. He ignored the attentions of Kenna and Douglas before laying off to Murray. He stung the fingertips of Cherrie from 20 yards but the goalkeeper never looked in doubt.
Just two minutes into the second period, the Tribesmen proved that they had learned nothing from the concession of their first goal as they yet again left Marks to his own devices inside the area and he punished them by dispatching Greene’s cross from the right.
Bray captain Conor Kenna was left incensed in the 65th minute when Tomas Connolly deemed him to have fouled Ronan Murray inside the penalty area. Merited or not, Murray kept his cool from 12 yards to level for Galway.
Kenna will say that justice was done in the 72nd minute when Greene’s free kick was nodded on by Douglas and Gavan Holohan was penalised for a handball. Holohan was booked for the offence, Winn carded for his protests and Greene then beat Winn from the spot kick to restore Bray’s lead.
The excitement wasn’t over yet and there was still enough time for Bray’s European ambitions to be crushed.
A stunning strike from Rory Hale left the crossbar rattling and bounced out to the penalty spot where Devaney thundered in to drill it home and land his side a massive point.
It looked like the league’s third leakiest defence would cost themselves two points but they nearly coughed up all three points.
A long ball into the Bray box saw Hugh Douglas getting to grips with Stephen Folan and Tomas Connolly deemed the Bray native’s marking to be too rugged.
He awarded a third penalty but Galway were denied a potential relegation-defeating three points as Peter Cherrie pushed away
Ronan Murray’s effort.
Scorers - Bray Wanderers 3 (Marks 17, 47, Greene pen 72), Galway United 3 (Devaney 14, 85, Murray pen 66).
Bray Wanderers: 1. Peter Cherrie;
18. Calvin Rogers, 2. Hugh Douglas,
4. Conor Kenna, 10. Karl Moore; 3. John Sullivan, 8. Mark Salmon; 7. Ryan Brennan, 22. Darragh Noone, 23. Jason Marks; 9. Aaron Greene. Subs: Derek Foran for Rogers (59); Ger Pender for Salmon (76); Shane Heffernan for Kenna (87). Not used: Lee Steacy, Keith Buckley, Luke Rossiter, Dylan O’Connor.
Galway United: 1. Conor Winn;
6. Alex Byrne, 57. Stephen Folan, 2. Colm Horgan; 14. Kevin Devaney, 8. David Cawley, 18. Rory Hale, 3. Marc Ludden; 7. Gavan Holohan, 19. Ronan Murray; 22. Eoin McCormack. Subs: Padraic Cunnigham for McCormack (63); Conor Melody for Holohan (80); Gary Shanahan for Devaney (90+1). Not used: Paul Sinnott, Niall Maher, Ronan Manning, Charlie Burns.
Referee: Tomas Connolly.