FAI Cup Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- Shelbourne

Premier Division leaders Shelbourne take a Sunday afternoon trip to Bray as they open their FAI Cup campaign (kick-off is at 3pm).

BRAY WANDERERS 

It is safe to say these two clubs are having very different seasons thus far. The Seagulls currently sit 5^th in the first division, which would be enough for a play-off come the end of the season.

However they are only two and three points ahead of Wexford and Treaty United respectively. With only one win in the last five matches, there is every possibility those positions will change.

Bray were most recently involved in a six-goal thriller away to Kerry, escaping with a 3-3 draw despite Ryan Kelliher’s hattrick for the hosts.

The last meeting between these two sides was in this very competition, and the same round two years ago. Shels left the Carlisle Grounds with a 3-0 win with a Sean Boyd brace and a Jack Moylan strike to guarantee their spot in the third round.

Bray Wanderers are two-time champions of the FAI Cup, last hoisting the famous trophy in 1999.

Jamie Duggan and Evan Osam will miss the fixture, while joint-top goalscorer for the season Cristian Magerusan is ruled out through injury.

SHELBOURNE FC

Shelbourne enter this tie on the back of a 3-2 aggregate win in Gibraltar on Thursday over St. Joseph’s. 

They continue their European adventure next week when they travel to Switzerland to face Zurich. 

But first they have First Division side Bray Wanderers to contend with in the FAI Cup. The 2022 finalists lost at this stage last year, when Jonathan Afolabi’s lone goal was enough for bitter rivals Bohemians to advance. 

With the hectic schedule Shelbourne have, Bray will be hoping that a bit of luck comes their way in this fixture as it did for Bohs this time last season.

The Reds remain with a full team sheet with no new injury concerns, even after Sean Boyd’s nasty collision that resulted in him being removed from the pitch at the end of the Joseph’s tie.

Referee: Paul Norton

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 0-3 Shelbourne FC

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Jamie Duggan, Evan Osam, Cristian Magerusan. 

Doubtful: N/A. 

Suspended: None. 

Shelbourne FC

Injured: N/A. 

Doubtful: N/A. 

Suspended: None.