Bray Wanderers 1 - 1 Shelbourne

A rather tepid first half gave way to an action-packed second as Bray Wanderers and Shelbourne rightly shared the spoils at the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

A goal from Jason Byrne put the Seagulls ahead but their wings were clipped by a Dean Kelly equaliser. The 1-1 result leaves the Premier Division survival rivals on 20 points each, just two ahead of bottom side Bohemians.

Shelbourne could have taken the lead inside the first 15 minutes. Sean Brennan found himself on the end of a ball over the top of the Bray defence and descended on goal, holding off the attention of Dave Webster, but Wanderers stopper Darren Quigley made the save when Brennan tried to stab the ball past him.

Wanderers defender Niall Cooney ensured it stayed scoreless a few minutes later, poking the ball away from the feet of Adam Hanlon as the ex-Bray player was about to pull the trigger in the area.

The first goal of the game came five minutes after the break. Dean Zambra whipped in a dangerous ball from the right, John Mulroy flicked it on and veteran hitman Jason Byrne reacted quickest, smashing the ball past Shels goalkeeper Lee Murphy from close range.

Pat Devlin’s charges went close to doubling their lead through the venerable veteran Byrne and his young accomplice Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters. Byrne got the last touch after a scramble in the Shelbourne area but saw his effort come off the post, while visiting goalkeeper Lee Murphy had more of a part in keeping Waters’ effort out, making a great save from a long-range drive.

Johnny McDonnell’s team, who were the better side in the first half, had been anonymous in the second, but they came to life when they equalised. Dean Kelly provided the header the levelled it, putting an exclamation point on a great dead-ball delivery from Sean Brennan.

The game drifted from end to end during the final 15 minutes, with an Adam Hanlon header perhaps the best opportunity either side had to win it.

The result, a fair one on the balance of play, ensures that both sides continue to tread water above Bohs, but that water is only getting muddier as relegation becomes a more real prospect for both sides with each passing week.

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; David Webster, Eoin Hyland, Niall Cooney, Conor Earley; John Mulroy (Ismahil Akinade, 85), Dean Zambra, Gary Dempsey (Sean Noble, 85), Kevin O’Connor, Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters; Jason Byrne.
Subs not used: Shane Redmond, Kevin O’Leary, Adam Mitchell, Sean Hurley, Daire Doyle.

Booked: None.

Shelbourne: Lee Murphy; Brian Shortall (Rob Cornwall, 71), Graham Gartland, Ian Ryan, Pat Flynn; Sean Brennan, Glenn Cronin, Derek Doyle (Paul Andrews, 85), Stephen Hurley (Brian Gannon, 71), Adam Hanlon; Dean Kelly.
Subs not used: Niall Burdon, Jamie McGlynn, Carl Walshe, Darren Tinnelly.

Booked: Cronin (29), Flynn (80), Ryan (90).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 550 (estimate).

Man of the match: Dean Kelly (Shelbourne).