FAI Cup Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Shelbourne

Action from Shelbourne's 4-1 win in Bray last season

Action from Shelbourne's 4-1 win in Bray last season Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)

BRAY WANDERERS 

Pat Devlin will manage Bray Wanderers in the first round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup on Friday night exactly 37 years since he first took charge of the Seagulls in the cup competition.

This is Devlin’s sixth term in charge of Wanderers, his first venture into the competition with Bray was back in 1985, and he was at the helm when they won their only FAI Cups (in 1990 and 1999).

It has been a very barren period in the cup for the last 22 years for the seaside club and they certainly won’t want reminding of their performance in the 2021 competition, when they were unceremoniously dumped out at the last 32 stage by eventual winners St Patrick’s Athletic, losing 6-0 at Richmond Park.

Their 2022 league form does not give any indication that they will be a force in this year’s FAI Cup as they currently occupy seventh place in the nine team First Division, recording only four wins all year.

The fact that they have home venue for their cup clash with Shelbourne does not in itself offer any great hope that they will progress beyond the first round as of their four wins all season, only one was at the Carlisle Grounds. They beat bottom of the table Athlone Town 3-0 at the end of May.

The lead in to the Shelbourne game has also not been ideal as they travelled to Cobh Ramblers last weekend and were on the wrong end of a 3-1 score line.

They did score first at St Colman’s Park through a 28th minute Kurtis Byrne penalty but were hauled back to 1-1 shortly after from a Conor McManus own goal, and conceded two more goals in the second half.

SHELBOURNE

Shels’ main aim this season would have been to consolidate their position in the top flight on their return to the Premier Division and with 31 points on the board after 23 games they have certainly done that in style. 



Their recent form has been good enough that they will have realistic aspirations even to a top four slot, as they are currently only five points adrift of fourth placed St Patrick’s Athletic, with a game in hand.

Their comfortable mid table position will also allow them have a good crack at the FAI Cup, knowing that it also provides an alternate entry route to European football next season.

The Reds last reached the Cup final 11 years ago when they lost to Sligo Rovers 4-1 on penalties in a replay, the first game having ended 1-1.

Damian Duff’s current side have scored five and only conceded one goal in their last two league games so they will be well primed when they run onto the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night.

They had a very good 3-1 home win at Finn Harps and followed that up with a convincing 2-0 away win at UCD, where Sean Boyd and Daniel Carr were their goal scorers.

Duff has also been busy in the transfer market ahead of their debut in the cup with the departure of New Zealand born defender Adam Thomas and the arrival on loan from Derry City of midfielder Matty Smyth.



Referee: Sean Grant

MATCH STATS

Both teams exited the FAI cup at the last 32 stage in 2021, Bray Wanderers suffering that 6-0 loss to St Patricks Athletic while Shelbourne were beaten 2-0 away by UCD.

Bray Wanderers have two Cup success to their name while Shelbourne have had seven victories since St James Gate won the inaugural competition in 1921/22. 

Shelbourne’s most recent win was in 2000 when they beat Bohemians 1-0 in a replay after the first game ended in a 0-0 draw.

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 17/2; Draw 15/4; Shelbourne 4/11

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 0 - 2 Shelbourne 

Bray Wanderers

Injured:  None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Joe Gorman

Shelbourne

Injured: None

Doubtful: Sean McSweeney

Suspended: None

 

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