Bray Wanderers 0-0 Sporting Fingal

Bray Wanderers and Sporting Fingal played out a 0-0 draw in a scrappy fixture at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday afternoon.

It was a dull and frustrating 90 minutes for the crowd. The match was full of simple mistakes and scrappy defending and neither side looked convincing at either end of the pitch.

Bray were the first to go close. In the 13th minute, a Dane Massey corner from the right went over everyone in the box. Dave Mulcahy collected the ball on the far side and laid it back to Gareth Coughlan on the edge of the box whose left-foot strike sailed over James Hussey’s goal.

Fingal’s first chance came after 24 minutes. Conan Byrne burst down the right wing after a neat one-two with Shaun Williams. Once he reached the goal-line, he crossed into the centre where Alan Kirby nodded the ball back to Gary O’Neill. However, O’Neill’s looping header on the edge of the six-yard box landed on top of the Bray goal.

On 27 minutes, the Seagulls had another long-range attempt. Following Massey’s drilled free from the left, the ball bounced out to Daire Doyle who was about 25-yards out. He swung his left leg at the ball but he didn’t get behind it and his effort flew well wide of the Fingal net.

The next chance of note fell to the home side in the 36th minute. When Bray were awarded a free to the left of the dee, Massey rolled the ball to Coughlan and his right-foot shot curled wide of the near post.

Six minutes after the break, Wanderers had another half-chance. After Coughlan was hacked down on the edge of the box, Massey’s driven free-kick deflected off the wall and landed at the feet of Darren Forsyth. Forsyth collected and dribbled at goal but could not get a good angle to shoot and his eventual effort was weak and easily claimed by Hussey.

The best chance of the game fell to the home side on 62 minutes. Massey’s throw from the left landed in the Fingal box around the penalty spot and Daire Doyle struck the ball on the half-volley. He failed to direct it and his shot fizzed wide of Hussey’s right-hand post.

Seconds later, Patrick Kavanagh picked up the ball 40 yards from goal. After a short run, he let fly but his shot did not trouble Hussey.

Fingal’s best opening came in the 74th minute when Robbie Doyle’s long ball landed with the unmarked Eamon Zayed. The former Seagull had plenty of time to control but his indecisiveness was evident as his final effort lacked power and was saved comfortably by Chris O’Connor.

Two minutes later, another long ball from Sporting, this time by Hussey, landed with Gary O’Neill on the edge of the Bray area. O’Neill controlled and turned before firing the ball over O’Connor’s bar.

That was the final chance as the game fizzled out and both sides settled for a draw. This will be a match both sides will quickly forget about as Bray prepare for their final pre-season friendly against Garda on Tuesday while Fingal now prepare for their First Division campaign which kicks off against Waterford United on Saturday night.



Bray Wanderers: Chris O’Connor; Derek Pender, Dane Massey, Chris Deans, Stephen Brennan; Patrick Kavanagh, Gareth Coughlan (Gary McCabe, 71), Dave Mulcahy, Daire Doyle (Chris Shields, 82); Paul Byrne (Jake Kelly, 88), Darren Forsyth (John Mulroy, 66).
Unused Subs: Brian Kane, Derek Foran, Colm Tresson, Daryl Robson, Darren Dunne, John Flood.

Sporting Fingal: James Hussey; Brian Gannon, Gareth Whelan (Colm James, 46), Phillip Byrne, Shane McFaul, Conan Byrne (Robbie Doyle, 56), Alan Kirby (Ross Gaynor, 56), Shaun Williams, Robert Bayly, Gary O’Neill (Fiachra McArdle, 88), Eamon Zayed.
Unused Subs: Daniel Corcoran.

Referee: Declan Hanney.

Attendance: 120.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gary O'Neill (Sporting Fingal).