League Report: Bray Wanderers 1-1 St Patrick's Athletic

Bray Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night, as Ryan Brennan’s first half header was cancelled out after the interval thanks to a sweetly struck half-volley from Kurtis Byrne.

Harry Kenny’s side had won four consecutive league fixtures before last week’s defeat against table-toppers Cork City. This draw means Bray have suffered just one defeat in their last seven league outings, the solitary point enough to bring the club above champions Dundalk into second place.

St. Pats welcomed back striker Christy Fagan, who had been injured throughout the month of April, however defender Gavin Peers was removed before kick-off despite being named in the starting eleven.

The home side threatened throughout the opening period with winger Dylan Connolly a constant menacing threat to Michael Barker along the right touchline, while striker Aaron Greene was provided ample service by the in-form Gary McCabe, who is the league’s top goalscorer with 11 from the first round of fixtures.

Bray took the lead after 23 minutes when a Greene free-kick was forced out to the wing to Keith Buckley. 

The former Bohemians midfielder swung in a threatening cross which goalkeeper Conor O’Malley came to meet. He felt clean air, however, as Ryan Brennan glanced a neat header into the empty goal for 1-0.

St. Pats were level one minute into the second half when a rare attacking move exposed a lapse in Bray’s composure. Midfielder Patrick Cregg laid the ball off to striker Kurtis Byrne, this season deployed on the left wing by Liam Buckley, who struck the sweetest of efforts flying into the top corner.

With a deft bounce which sized up a half-volley, Byrne hit the ball sweeping past goalkeeper Peter Cherrie in what proved to be another unconventional goal for the former Bohemians forward which drew the scores level at 1-1 with the second half still to play.

Bray squandered a litany of chances as both sides made of game of it in an end-to-end second period. With lightning quick counter-attacks, Greene and Connolly succeeded in some excellent link-up play but both missed key chances at goal.

St. Pats had chances of their own, with Lee Desmond glancing a promising header over the crossbar. However neither side could break the deadlock in a second half packed with a feverish intensity which saw several players take hard knocks, including Ian Bermingham, Darragh Markey and John Sullivan.

The introduction of former Saints striker Anto Flood for the hosts and Billy Dennehy for the visitors showed the intent of both managers to take all three points.

St. Pats looked to have won it in the dying stages following a cagey closing period. A quick break started by Graham Kelly saw substitute Alex O’Hanlon play through goalscorer Kurtis Byrne on the right wing.

A scrabbling Bray defence let out a sigh of relief when Byrne’s front-post cross was deflected just wide of the post by Keith Buckley following a last-ditch effort from Billy Dennehy which seemed destined to grace the back of the net.

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Jason Marks; Ryan Brennan (Anto Flood 75), John Sullivan, Gary McCabe, Mark Salmon, Dylan Connolly; Aaron Greene.

Subs not used: Lee Steacy (gk), Derek Foran, Darragh Noone, Karl Moore, Jamie Aherne, Ger Pender.

Yellow Cards: Tim Clancy (45), Mark Salmon (52), Dylan Connolly (92), Jason Marks (23, 90+3), Gary McCabe (90+4).

Red Cards: Jason Marks (93).

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Conor O’Malley; Michael Barker, Lee Desmond Rory Feely, Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne (Alex O’Hanlon 84), Patrick Cregg, Sam Verdon, Darragh Markey (Graham Kelly 88), Kurtis Byrne; Christy Fagan (Billy Dennehy 73).

Subs not used: Barry Murphy (gk), Jack Bayly, Josh O’Hanlon.

Yellow Cards: Rory Feely (23), Patrick Cregg (84).

Referee: Ben Connolly

Attendance: 1,000 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Lee Desmond (St. Patrick’s Athletic).