SWASHBUCKLERS!
Soaring Seagulls sweep Finn Harps aside in style
HARRY KENNY slept very soundly on Friday evening following another swashbuckling showing and a rare clean sheet for Bray Wanderers.
The high-flying Seagulls comfortably trod over Finn Harps who would wake up on Sunday morning propping up the table. A pair of beauties in the first half from top scorer Gary McCabe and Ryan Brennan handsomely set Wanderers on their way at Finn Park and Aaron Greene iced the cake with the sweetest of goals 11 minutes from time.
Friday’s victory, Bray’s eighth of the league campaign, sees them five points clear of fifth placed Derry, a point to the good over Dundalk, and for the optimistic amongst us, Cork City’s draw with Galway United on the same evening saw the Seagulls cut their lead to 12 points.
Kenny travelled west and yet again did not have a fit full-back to speak of. Conor Earley and Kevin Lynch did make the bench but Jason Marks’ suspension meant a shift at left-back for Karl Moore.
When Bray hosted Harps at the beginning of March, Anto Flood opened the scoring after nine minutes. Well, Gary McCabe wasn’t even that patient in Ballybofey as he struck number 12 for the season after less than 300 seconds.
Makeshift/newly-found rightback Keith Buckley’s throw-in wasn’t cleared properly. It fell to McCabe outside the penalty area and he couldn’t resist the invitation as he cracked a half-volley beyond Ciaran Gallagher.
There was almost an instant equaliser for Ollie Horgan’s charges as Pat McCourt’s corner landed at the feet of Harps defender Killian Cantwell but his scrambled effort was halted on the line by Mark Salmon.
The match was only 10 minutes old at that stage but that was as good as it would get for the Donegal strugglers.
Aaron Greene’s vicious left foot almost provided a second for Bray in the 38th minute. He stood over a deadball and drilled it across the face of the goal and wide when even an outstretched Bray toe would have made it 0-2.
A second was delivered two minutes later by Brennan. He was found by McCabe, he floated past his man with delicacy and arced a sublime finish beyond Gallagher’s reach and in via the post.
It was almost game, set, match in the 42nd minute. A full-blooded tackle from Ciaran O’Connor on John Sullivan ended the Bray midfielder’s outing and almost ended O’Connor’s to boot. Referee Derek Tomney appeared to be reaching for the red card but had a change of mind and issued a cautionary yellow card instead.
That injury meant more rejigging for Kenny. Anto Flood came on and moved up front, meaning that Greene was pushed out wide and Brennan dropped back into midfield.
A Harps revival seemed about as likely as an Irish Eurovision success. McCourt may have kick-started something with his 64th minute free but when he failed to beat the Bray wall it summed up Harps’ limp efforts.
They continued to potter but in truth, Peter Cherrie cruised to his second shutout of the season and also got to witness one of the goals of the season from Aaron Greene.
He collected the ball inside his own half and glided past a few challenges before cranking up to full speed, bursting through on goal and slotting the ball between underneath Gallagher.
The Seagulls will be hoping to have Earley, Lynch and Hugh Douglas all available this Friday as they host Bohemians. Keith Long’s men, like Harps, are in the bottom three and have the worst scoring record in the top flight managing a measly 10 goals from 13 games thus far.
Bray’s home form has seen them collect 13 points from 18 available and they will have a point to prove against Bohemians. When the sides met at Dalymount Park earlier in the season, Wanderers took a 0-2 lead early in the second half but went on to lose 3-2.
Scorers - Finn Harps 0, Bray Wanderers 3 (McCabe 6, Brennan 40, Greene 79):
Finn Harps: 1. Ciaran Gallagher; 22. Ethan Boyle, 2. Damien McNulty, 4. Killian Cantwell, 3. Ciaran Coll; 11. Caolan McAleer, 19. Barry Molloy, 20. Paddy McCourt, 6. Gareth Harkin; 16. Sean Houston; 10. Ciaran O’Connor. Subs: Danny Morrissey for Harkin (63); Michael Funston for McNulty (78); Simon McGlynn for McCourt (83). Not used: Harry Doherty, Kealan McDermott, Gareth Doherty.
Bray Wanderers: 1. Peter Cherrie; 6. Keith Buckley, 4. Conor Kenna, 21. Tim Clancy, 8. Karl Moore; 3. John Sullivan, 8. Mark Salmon; 7. Ryan Brennan, 11. Gary McCabe, 16. Dylan Connolly; 9. Aaron Greene. Subs: Anto Flood for Sullivan (45); Jamie Aherne for McCabe (83). Not used: Lee Steacy, Derek Foran, Kevin Lynch, Conor Earley, Ger Pender.
Referee: Derek Tomney. Venue: Finn Park, Ballybofey.