Dundalk 1 - 0 Bray Wanderers

Dundalk maintained their title push on Friday evening at Oriel Park with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bray Wanderers.

Kurtis Byrne’s strike immediately after half-time was the difference between the sides as the Lilywhites secured a vital three points to keep them in the title shake up.

Dundalk made four changes from the side which salvaged a late 2-2 draw at Turner’s Cross last Friday evening with Andy Boyle and Richie Towell both returning from suspension while Chris Shields came into the starting XI as did Jordan Keegan for his first start for the club. Out went John Sullivan, Stephen McDonnell, Francis McCaffrey and the injured Dane Massey.

As for Bray Wanderers, they made two changes from the side which lost 3-1 to Bray Wanderers last weekend with the injured Shane O’Connor and suspended Adam Mitchell missed out and in came Niall Cooney and Dave Webster.

Both teams began the game brightly with the visitors fashioning the first chance as Kevin O’Connor headed wide from a Kieran Waters corner despite being unmarked. The Lilywhites would threaten from set-pieces moments later as first Darren Meenan’s free-kick was headed tamely straight at goalkeeper Darren Quigley and then from Meenan’s free-kick once more, Brian Gartland’s powerful drive went just over the crossbar.

The home side took control in the opening 20 minutes and Richie Towell came inches way from scoring when his delicate chip went just wide of Quigley’s post. Meenan then had a snapshot from the edge of the box go just wide on the 20 minute mark.

The half wore on and as the weather got worse, so did the football. Stephen O’Donnell almost caught out Quigley in the visiting goal as he hit a quick free-kick which just went wide and then with 10 minutes to go until the break, Bray really should have made Dundalk pay.

The ever impressive Waters had two wonderful efforts and both crashed off the frame of the goal. First, his curling shot deceived Peter Cherrie and crashed off the crossbar and seconds later, his mazy run ended when he hit a stinging shot off the upright. 

It was scoreless at the break after a drab first half however it wouldn’t remain goalless for long after half-time.

Two minutes after the re-start, Hoban picked the ball up on the right and threaded a perfect ball through to Kurtis Byrne. He took a touch and rifled the ball to the net despite the best efforts of Quigley in the Bray goal.

The goal appeared to settle the Lilywhites and were in full control of the game. No chances were really created by either side and a few forays forward on either side were spurned by good defending.

Into the final 15 minutes and former Dundalk striker Jason Byrne turned and volleyed just wide following a good cross from Waters.

Byrne again came so close to scoring but this time his drive from the edge of the box was expertly saved by Cherrie in goal. Gary Dempsey shot straight at Cherrie this time on the edge of the box.

Hoban managed to break clear for Dundalk in injury time and had a shot blocked and Waters almost grabbed an equaliser seconds later as he cut in from the left on Chris Shields but his low shot was easily gathered by Cherrie once more.

Stephen O’Donnell forced Quigley into a wonderful save in the dying moments as Dundalk held on to claim a crucial 1-0 victory!

DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie; Mark Rossiter (John Sullivan 59), Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields; Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (Francis McCaffrey 79), Jordan Keegan (John Dillon 70); Pat Hoban.
Subs not used: Tiarnan Mulvenna, Nathan Murphy, Vinny Faherty, Aaron Shanahan (GK).

Booked: O’Donnell (45+1).

BRAY WANDERERS: Darren Quigley; Dave Webster, Kevin O’Connor, Eoin Hyland (Dwayne Wilson 88), Niall Cooney; Dean Zambra, Gary Dempsey, Conor Early, Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters; Ismahil Akinade (Kevin O’Leary 78), Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Daire Doyle, John Mulroy, Ryan Coombes, Sean Hurley, Shane Redmond (GK).

Booked: Akinade (28), Cooney (54).

Referee: Paul Tuite

Attendance: 1,684

Extratime.ie man of the match: Stephen O’Donnell (Dundalk).