League Report: Bray Wanderers 2 - 0 Limerick

Gareth Danaher reports from the Carlisle Ground

View photo gallery from extratime.ie photographer Al Robinson 

The Seagulls were flying high at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night as they wrapped up a 2-0 win over a poor Limerick side.

Goals in either half from Joe Doyle and Paul Keegan ensured Gary Cronin’s side made it two wins and two clean sheets from two following their win in Cabinteely on the opening day.

The game opened in Bray’s favour in the early minutes with veteran midfielder Keegan playing in frontman Doyle.

He pelted it at Brady in the Limerick net who got down quick to save and it fell back out to Doyle, who saw his second attempt sail over the bar.

Kilian Cantwell was booked after ten minutes in on a nasty challenge on Limerick’s Conor Ellis but Bray continued to domination.

They had a handful of chances through Dylan McGlade in the opening 20 minutes but again Limerick’s shot stopper Jack Brady kept the Seagulls out.

It was all middle of the park football as both teams fought physically to control the ball, but it was Bray who created the next chance.

Dylan Barnett nicked the ball in the middle of the park and played in Doyle, who shot from close range but Brady saw it out for a corner. Limerick boss Tommy Barrett raged at his defence.

Ten minutes before the break Limerick got their chance as Heaney brought down Ellis inside the box. Penalty to Limerick.

Ellis went left and Bray’s Gabriel Sava went the same way to deny the Limerick striker from 12 yards.

Bray broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time as ex-Cabinteely man Doyle powered in a header from Dean O’Halloran’s cross.

It was Doyle’s first goal for his new club and the Seagulls went into the break with a one-goal lead.

The second half was only four minutes old when Bray went two in front with a screamer from 25 yards out, club captain Keegan leaving Brady with no chance.

Limerick had their chances too as Barrett roared them on from the side line. Ellis and Jason Hughes both had chances but saw them saved by experienced keeper Sava.

Luka Lovic was only on the field two minutes when he got his first touch from a Bray corner but Brady got down comfortably to deny Bray a third goal.

Bray really wanted to put a third away and defender Sean Heaney had a powerful header come crashing off the bar from another Bray corner.

Referee David Dunne blew the full-time whistle as Bray make it back-to-back wins and keep their 100% record going, while Limerick drop to eighth.

Bray Wanderers: Gabriel Sava; Luke Nolan, Dylan Barnett, Killian Cantwell, Sean Heaney, Paul Keegan, Philip Gannon (Luka Lovic 85), Dean O’Halloran (Richie Purdy 64), Joe Doyle , Dylan McGlade, Derek Daly.

Subs not used: Adam Hayden (gk), Hugh Douglas, Jamie Crilly, Brandon McCann, Jake Ellis.

Limerick: Jack Brady; Shaun Kelly, Sean Russell, Robbie Williams, Jason Hughes (Kieran Hanlon 61), Conor Ellis (Ger Barry 82), Sean McSweeney, Tomas O’Connor, Karl O’Sullivan, Darren Murphy, Aaron Fitzgerald.

Subs not used: Tommy Holland (gk), Andy Quaid, Lee Devitt Molloy, Adam Foley, Colm Walsh O’Loughlin.

Referee: David Dunne.

Attendance: 1,051

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dylan McGlade (Bray Wanderers).