‘We’ll just keep plugging away’

GRAHAM KELLY is sombre when discussing Bray Wanderers’ onfield status but he’s enthusiastic about the developments off of it.

The caretaker manager knows that with nine games remaining and a nine-point gap between the Seagulls and Limerick, the First Division is looming.

Wanderers do still have a home match with Limerick but before that, they’ll have tangled with Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Waterford FC and the Seagulls’ goose could effectively be cooked when Limerick roll to town.

Despite a 1-3 loss to Cork City on Friday, Kelly was pleased that his side improved in the second period but left themselves with to much to do earlier on.

“We spoke about it at halftime. We got punished. They were clinical, they’ve got quality all over the park and if you’re going to give them chances like that, they’ll take them. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb but the positives we have to take are the second half performance.

“We’re only a young squad. You could see that with a 17year old kid going on to make his debut. They’re the positives we’ll take, we had a clean sheet in the second half and Gary got a cracking goal.

“It’s nine points now which makes the task a little bit harder but we’ll just keep plugging away. They’re a great bunch of guys in there and they can win. They work really hard and we’ll going and we’ll keep fighting away.”

Kelly’s new boss is Niall O’Driscoll, the majority shareholder of the club as of last Friday. Kelly was familiar with O’Driscoll already and looks upon it as major progress for Bray.

“I think it’s a great appointment for the club. He’ll definitely bring stability to the club which is what this club has need for the past couple of years. I’m sure, as he said himself, if there are changes that need to be made; he will make those changes. Overall, I think it’s a great appointment and a positive one for Bray Wanderers.”