MORALE BOOSTER!
Surprise victory closes the gap with Limerick to seven
BRAY WANDERERS sprang another surprise at home as second half goals from Cory Galvin, Darragh Gibbons and Daniel Kelly earned their third victory of the season.
Galvin swept home after some ponderous play by Michael Leahy, right-back Gibbons grabbed the second as he roared forward from defence to finish off Gary McCabe’s pass and Daniel Kelly sealed the win when he tapped home late on after Barry Murphy had spilled Galvin’s shot.
The result saw the Seagulls close the gap on Limerick to seven points despite a late strike from Thomas Byrne who would be sent off shortly before the final whistle.
It’s a third defeat on the trot for the Saints as they spurned the chance to go fourth.
Evan Moran was let off the hook twice in the early stages. He had the ball at his feet an unwisely opted for another touch but Thomas Byrne had closed him down and got a block in. The ball spilled to Conan Byrne and he showed a cool head by not shooting immediately but he sliced wide nonetheless when he did eventually try to find the almost unguarded net.
Bray’s second-choice goalkeeper had his hearth in his mouth again four minutes later. Ian Bermingham delivered a cross that tempted Moran from his goal. He failed to catch or punch the ball but luckily for him, Thomas Byrne could only head onto the roof of the net.
Lee Desmond would be the curse of the Carlisle Grounds in the first half as two examples of expert defending kept Bray at bay.
The first saw him deny Ger Pender. Paul O’Conor’s strike from outside the box was deflected into the feet of Pender. He took a quick touch but his strike was smothered by Desmond who timed his slide to perfection.
From the resulting corner, Murphy flapped at McCabe’s delivery and Conor Kenna rose to meet it but his tame header was straight into Murphy’s grateful palms.
Pender got his effort away on 14 minutes but to no avail. Cory Galvin’s trickery earned a free and McCabe sent in the free but Pender’s header sailed wide.
Moran redeemed himself for his earlier mistakes with a superb save at full stretch to deny Ryan Brennan after the ex-Seagull had been put through by Graham Kelly.
A glorious chance then came from nothing for the hosts but they couldn’t take it. Thomas Byrne was caught in possession by Paul O’Conor and McCabe moved forward with it. Pat’s were short at the back and McCabe waited for Daniel Kelly to scamper past him on the overlap before slipping him in. With options in the middle, Kelly went for glory but he blasted it into the side netting.
Desmond’s second vital intervention arrived on 40 minutes. McCabe threaded through for Pender, he couldn’t shoot and O’Conor’s attempt was drowned out too. It rolled back to Galvin who fired through a sea of bodies - including Murphy - but Desmond hacked it off the line.
Wanderers started the second half with a spring in their step and they were reward in the 54th minute. Michael Leahy dallied on the ball and Pender stepped in to pinch his pocket. Murphy raced from his line to block Pender but the ball fell to Galvin. Murphy charged towards him too but Galvin danced his way around the challenge and blasted it home.
Pat’s threatened an instant leveller as they sliced the Bray defence open to send Ryan Brennan through.
He opted to lay it onto Conan Byrne though and his shot was blocked by the legs of Moran.
Bray’s second goal then came from an unlikely source. Darragh Gibbons took possession from Bermingham and laid it onto McCabe. He continued his run and wasn’t tracked so McCabe cushioned a pass into his path and the defender drilled it home past Barry Murphy.
Wanderers couldn’t afford to take out the pipe and slippers though as Pat’s fired crosses in from every angle and they would pull a goal back three minutes from time. Fagan split the Bray defence to find Thomas Byrne’s run and he dribbled past Moran to tap home.
The rising anxiety levels in the home end drastically dropped though as Kelly put the final nail in the Saints coffin. Jake Ellis’ movement caused Pat’s problems and Galvin cut in and tried his luck. Murphy spilled it at the feet of Kelly and he gleefully helped it over the line.
Pat’s misery was compounded in the closing stages as Thomas Byrne received his marching orders for dissent. Bray Wanderers: 29. Evan Moran;
5. Sean Heaney, 15. Darragh Gibbons,
4. Conor Kenna, 3. Kevin Lynch; 16. Dan McKenna, 6. Paul O’Conor; 17. Daniel Kelly, 21. Gary McCabe, 7. Cory Galvin; 9. Ger Pender. Subs: Jake Kelly for McCabe (74); Jake Ellis for Pender (84); Calvin Rogers for Gibbons (89). Not used: Adam Dempsey, Byron O’Gorman, Dragos Mamaliga, Alex Rafferty.
St. Patrick’s Athletic: 1. Barry Murphy; 17. Simon Madden, 23. Michael Leahy, 5. Lee Desmond, 3. Ian Bermigham; 10. Killian Brennan,
11. Ryan Brennan; 7. Conan Byrne,
8. Graham Kelly, 18. Dean Clarke;
19. Thomas Byrne.Subs: Darragh Markey for G. Kelly (48); Christy Fagan for Clarke (66); Michael Barker for C. Byrne (81). Referee: Paul McLaughlin.