Tough opener for Seagulls as they head for Dundalk
FOR the second season running, Bray Wanderers’ domestic campaign will end with a trip to Turner’s Cross to take on Cork City.
The Seagulls’ start is also less than desirable as they kick-off the 2018 season in Oriel Park against Dundalk and former Bray favourite Dylan Connolly.
St. Patrick’s Athletic, with new signing Ryan Brennan, will be the first visitors to the Carlisle Grounds this season when they roll into town on Friday, February 23rd.
Wanderers finished sixth last season with clear breathing space over the relegated trio of Drogheda United, Finn Harps and Galway United. This time around, only one club will face automatic relegation, with the ninth placed top flight side facing off against the winner of the First Division play-off in a scrap for a place in Ireland’s grandest soccer league.
Harry Kenny’s former side are no stranger to the play-off and will be surely hoping to avoid that faith but, with only 10 teams in the league this term, relegation will be a serious worry for the depleted Bray squad.
At the time of going to print, the club were yet to appoint a manager and only defender Kevin Lynch, midfielders Darragh Noone & Keith Buckley and attackers Jake Ellis and Aaron Greene were believed to be signed up to contracts. With only 51 days until Bray visit Oriel Park, a squad has to be assembled and a pre-season planned. Time is running out for Bray Wanderers if they don’t want to be last out of the starting blocks in February.
The full fixture list: Friday, February 16: Dundalk v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, February 23: Bray Wanderers v St. Patrick’s Athletic, 7:45pm. Monday, February 26: Shamrock Rovers v Bray Wanderers, 8:00pm. Friday, March 2: Bray Wanderers v Waterford FC, 7:45pm.
Monday, March 5: EA Sports Cup first round. Friday, March 9: Limerick v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm. Monday, March 12: Bray Wanderers v Sligo Rovers, 7:45pm. Friday, March 16: Derry City v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm. Friday, March 23: Bohemians v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, March 30: Bray Wanderers v Cork City, 7:45pm.
Monday, April 2: EA Sports Cup second round. Friday, April 6: St. Patrick’s Athletic v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm. Friday, April 13: Bray Wanderers v Dundalk, 7:45pm. Monday, April 16: Bray Wanderers v Shamrock Rovers, 7:45pm. Friday, April 20: Waterford v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, April 27: Bray Wanderers v Limerick, 7:45pm. Monday, April 30: Sligo Rovers v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, May 4: Bray Wanderers v Derry City, 7:45pm. Monday/Tuesday May 7/8: EA Sports Cup quarter-finals.
Friday, May 11: Bray Wanderers v Bohemians, 7:45pm.
Friday, May 18: Cork City v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Monday, May 21: Derry City v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm. Friday, May 25: Dundalk v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, June 1: Bray Wanderers v St. Patrick’s Athletic, 7:45pm. Saturday, June 9: Shamrock Rovers v Bray Wanderers, 7:00pm. Friday, June 15: Bray Wanderers v Waterford, 7:45pm. Mid-season break: Saturday, June 16 - Thursday, June 28. Saturday, June 30: Limerick v Bray Wanderers, 6:30pm. Friday,July6 : Bray Wanderers v Sligo Rovers, 7:45pm. Friday, July 20: Bohemiams v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, July 27: Bray Wanderers v Cork City, 7:45pm. Friday, August 3: St. Patrick’s Athletic v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm. Monday, August 5: EA Sports Cup semi-finals. Weekend ending Sunday, August 12: Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup first round. Friday, August 17: Bray Wanderers v Dundalk, 7.45pm. Weekend ending Sunday, August 26: Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup second round. Friday, August 31: Bray Wanderers v Shamrock Rovers, 7:45pm. Weekend ending Sunday, September 9: Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup quarter-finals. Friday, September 14: Waterford v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm. Saturday, September 15: EA Sports Cup final. Friday, September 21: Bray Wanderers v Limerick, 7:45pm. Weekend ending Sunday, September 30: Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup semi-finals.
Saturday, October 6: Sligo Rovers v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Friday, October 12: Bray Wanderers v Derry City, 7:45pm.
Friday, October 19: Bray Wanderers v Bohemians, 7:45pm.
Friday, October 26: Cork City v Bray Wanderers, 7:45pm.
Monday, October 29: Winner of First Division play-off series v 9th placed Premier Division club.
Friday, November 2: 9th placed Premier Division club v Winner of First Division play-off series (will be switched to Wednesdsy, November 7, if one or both clubs qualify for FAI Cup final). Sunday, November 4: Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final.