‘The best we’ve played’
HIS popularity with Shamrock Rovers may be a thing of the past, but three points against the Hoops more than made amends for Ryan Brennan.
The ex-Hoop labelled Bray Wanderers’ 4-2 victory on Friday as their finest league performance of their 10 to date. He missed a sitter and won a penalty on the night as was forced to take the heat for his brothers – Killian and Gavin’s – controversial departures from the Tallaght club in 2016.
“I think it’s probably the best we’ve played all year. It took us going 0-1 down to start playing but then we looked like a really good side – probably as good as we looked last year as well. It was hoof ball for the first 10/15 minutes and we just had to get our bearings and we knew we were a better team.
“We got the ball down and started playing and obviously we scored four goals which is the main thing.
“I think the fans used to like me until my brothers left last year! I was getting a bit of stick.”
He may have also played a part in his own fall from grace with Rovers fans for his part in the penalty that put Bray 3-1 ahead. Brennan has a cloudy memory of the incident but hopes to make it a memorable trip to Cork City on Friday.
“I don’t really remember much. It was a bit of a scuffle. I tried to jump over him and he had a little bit of a kick-out at me and we had a shoulder-to-shoulder and he swung a leg at me or so the lads said. I don’t really remember much but it was a brave decision for the ref to give.
“We’ve gone and took a scalp off Dundalk up in Oriel so we’ll be looking to do the same down in Turner’s Cross. We’ll keep it tight for the first 45 minutes to try and try and put them under pressure as well because we’re quick at breaking. We’ll try and frustrate them for the first 45 minutes and then anything can happen in the second half when the game opens up.” HAVING claimed another scalp, Harry Kenny believes it is time for the League of Ireland to wake up and appreciate the new Bray Wanderers. With nearly one third of the season completed, the Seagulls are tied for second following a tremendous 4-2 success over Shamrock Rovers.
The Shamrock Rovers hall of famer knows there is a long way to go in the season but he feels his side are beginning to hit their stride now. Are they being taken seriously though?
“They should be now! It’s only the first series of games. There’s nobody at Bray getting carried away. We’ve made a fabulous start and long may it continue.”
Kenny feels that conceding first was what inspired his side to victory and it was a victory achieved in superb style. His only complaint is that they only managed the four goals.
“It was the shot in the arm that we needed when the goal went in. We needed a kick up the backside and them scoring first gave us that. After that, we decided to play and play our football and do all the hard work and do all the good things.
“We controlled the game absolutely. We passed the ball well and created chances and we got into our stride. That’s what the lads are capable of. We’re getting better as a team. We played reasonably well in the first six or seven games but we’re getting now as a team and I’m delighted with the way we were tonight.
“We could have (scored more). We created much more chances than they did and if we’d have taken half of them we’d have ran up a cricket score.”
The chances of that happening in Turner’s Cross are quite slim. City have only conceded four goals all season.
They’ve won 10 games from 10. Bray are the only thing standing in their way of a perfect first third of the season. But Harry Kenny has plans to derail their runaway train.
“We’ll be under no illusions going to Cork. We’ll get back to work on the training ground and put a plan in place and go to Cork and see what we can take from there.
“I don’t really keep an eye on the results around us. As long as we’re doing our business (I’m happy).
“We’ll go in there with a bit of confidence, they’ll certainly have loads of confidence, it’ll be another big crowd and the lads will lap that up so I’m just hoping that we play our football and see what we can take from there.”