Report: Galway United 2 -3 Bray Wanderers

Striker Ger Rowe cracked in a late winner as Bray Wanderers snatched all three points against Galway United in a pulsating encounter at Terryland Park this evening.

Jeff Kenna, given a standing ovation before the whistle had even been blown, had selection headaches brought on by injury and suspension, as Vinny Faherty and Jay O’Shea both earned recalls, with John Lester reverting to centre-half. Eddie Gormley stuck with the same XI that overcame Derry City the previous weekend.

Kenna didn’t have long to wait to sample the kind of ineptitude that has the Tribesmen in their current position. They gifted the visitors an opening goal within ninety seconds, as the defensive frailties that have dogged Galway since the beginning of this campaign reared their ugly head again. Alan Cawley got into a dangerous position to the right of the Galway area and manoeuvred his way into the box.

The situation seemed harmless enough though, with covering defenders in place, but somehow the ball fell to the feet of Paddy Kavanagh eight yards out, and he wasted no time in poking a shot past Gary Rogers to give Bray a tonic start.

Galway struggled badly, and went further behind on the half hour mark, Bray displaying a ruthless streak to score again with their second shot of the half. A routine long ball was flicked into Kavanagh’s path by Ger Rowe and the 22-year old drilled a shot under Rogers’ legs from the edge of the 18 yard box.

Kenna will no doubt have easier team-talks to conduct in his time at Galway, but his first one certainly produced the desired effect within 50 seconds of the restart. Stephen O’Flynn and Gary Deegan combined well to set Derek O’Brien away down the left flank. O’Brien surged into the box and was felled by his marker Derek Pender. Derek Tomney pointed to the spot and O’Flynn calmly dispatched the penalty to bring his side back into the game.

A far from ideal start to the second half for The Seagulls, but they responded well. Colm Tresson should have restored the two goal advantage in the 50th minute, but his free header from Cawley’s free-kick flew over the bar.

Former Bray winger James O’Shea fired a shot over just after the hour mark, as Galway pushed on in search of a precious equaliser. Tresson again threatened to kill off the tie when connecting with another Cawley delivery, only for his diving header to arrow the wrong side of the post.

Vinny Faherty finally delivered the goods for the home side, netting his first senior goal for the club on 69 minutes to bring the teams to parity. Regi Nooitmeer's right wing delivery was met by sub Mark Leech, and Faherty swivelled in the box before blasting a right foot effort past O’Connor to send the home faithful into delirium.

Galway sensed a first win, but their goal led a charmed life, with Cawley and Rowe both having efforts cleared off the line by Marc McCulloch in the same passage of play. It looked like the game was destined for a draw before Rowe popped up with a winner in the last minute. Again Cawley’s free caused consternation in the Galway box, and Rowe steered a shot into the bottom corner to give Bray their 10th point from their last four games.

Galway United: Gary Rogers; Reg Nooitmeer, John Lester (Paul Sinnott 40), John Fitzgerald, Marc McCulloch; Jay O’Shea, Gary Deegan, Ollie Fenn, Derek O‘Brien; Stephen O‘Flynn (Mark Leech 66), Vinny Faherty (Jason Molloy 87).
Subs not used: Seamus Conneely, Derek Glynn.

Booked: Fenn.

Bray Wanderers: Chris O’Connor; Derek Pender, Kevin Doherty, Derek Foran (Ray Kenny 53), Gary Cronin; Gavin Whelan, Colm Tresson, Alan Cawley, Mark Duggan (Gary McCabe 72); Paddy Kavanagh, Ger Rowe (Paul Dunphy 90).
Subs not used: Gavin McInerney, Ronan Ivory.

Booked: Pender.
 

Referee: Derek Tomney
Attendance: 1,283
Man of the Match: Alan Cawley (Bray Wanderers).