Benson double adds to cash-strapped Bray’s misery

DUNDALK wrapped up victory before half-time thanks to a Robbie Benson double and, just to depress Wanderers fans even more during the break, chairman Denis O’Connor released a statement effectively confirming that the club’s financial state won’t be sustainable for much longer. That revelation is all the Bray faithful will be talking about following this defeat. Benson’s brace was sublime. The first came after two minutes when he finished a swift counterattacking move by rounding Peter Cherrie to tap into an empty net. His second was the result of sharp interchange play around the box, which he converted first time, while Patrick McEleney sealed the three points for the champions with a swivel of his hips and majestic swing of his left foot from 30 yards. BRAY WANDERERS: Cherrie; Buckley, Douglas, Kenna (c), Lynch; Brennan, Salmon (Noone 65), O’Sullivan, McCabe (Marks 80), Greene; Flood (Pender 65). Booked: Flood 49, Brennan 72. DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Vemmelund, Massey; McGrath (Mountney 59), O’Donnell (c) (Shields 20), Benson, McEleney, Duffy; McMillan (Kilduff 80). Scorers: Benson 2, 26; McEleney 62. Referee: R Rogers (Dublin). DAVID SNEYD ROBBIE WILLIAMS’ controversial early goal helped move Limerick up into the top six and condemned Drogheda to an 11th league game without a win. It took the visitors just 12 minutes to take the lead. The pivotal moment arrived as ref Robert Harvey overruled assistant Darren Carey, who had raised a flag when Williams met Rodrigo Tosi’s flick-on from a free kick to head in. The referee’s opinion differed and he signalled for a restart. On 86 minutes, Garbhan Coughlan beat Stephen McGuinness to a long ball and headed into an empty net. DROGHEDA UNITED: Stephen McGuinness, Colm Deasy (Shane Elworthy, 41), Luke Gallagher, Ciaran McGuigan, Conor Kane, Richie Purdy (Sean Thornton, 46), Ryan McEvoy, Sean Brennan, Mark Doyle, Adam Wixted, Ryan Masterton (Stephen Meaney, 73). LIMERICK: Brendan Clarke, Shaun Kelly, Tony Whitehead, Robbie Williams, David O’Connor, Bastien Hery, Shane Duggan (Paul O’Conor 89), Lee Lynch, Cheidozie Ogbene (Garbhan Coughlan, 77), Dean Clarke (Stephen Kenny, 68), Rodrigo Tosi. Scorers: Williams 16, Coughlan 86. Referee: R Harvey (Dublin) BARRY LANDY PÁDRAIC CUNNINGHAM salvaged a point for Galway with a late equaliser as the battle at the bottom finished all square at Richmond Park. Conan Byrne’s opener, his 50th league goal for the club, was enough to lift Pat’s out of the relegation zone, but Galway remain rooted to the bottom. Galway controlled much of the first half with Conor O’Malley’s save from Ronan Murray on 29 minutes the highlight. St Pat’s started the second half much the better and were ahead three minutes after the break, when JJ Lunney’s cross broke for Byrne to fire home. But Galway responded and twice came close to an equaliser before getting their just reward on 83 minutes. Ludden’s long throw caused confusion in the St Pat’s area and substitute Cunningham squeezed the ball home at the near post. ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: O’Malley; Kelly, Peers (Verdon, 82), Feely, Lunney; Desmond, Cregg; C. Byrne, Markey, J. O’Hanlon (B. Dennehy, 66); Fagan (J. O’Hanlon, 66). Scorer: Byrne 48. GALWAY UNITED: Winn; Horgan, Grace, Folan, Ludden; Byrne (McCormack, 79), Cawley; Devaney, Holohan (Melody, 70), Murray; Faherty (Cunningham, 70). Scorer: Cunningham 83. Referee: D Tomney (Dublin). PAUL BUTTNER