First Division Playoff Report: UCD 1 - 0 Bray Wanderers (Bray win 2-1 on agg)

Andrew Dempsey reports from the Belfield Bowl

Bray Wanderers secured their place in the First Division Playoff final - despite losing the second leg away to UCD on Monday evening.

Ronan Finn won the match for the Students with a late penalty though it was not enough with the Students already trailing heading into the second leg.

The Seagulls will now face Athlone Town on Saturday in their next hurdle to reach the Premier Division next season.

Leading the tie 2-0 from the first-leg, the Seagulls elected to make one change with the injured Zach Nolan replaced by John O’Sullivan.

UCD, however, made four swaps with Sean Brennan, Ciaran Behan, Mikey Raggett and Stephen Mohan all coming into their starting XI.

But those changes did little to trouble Wanderers’ rearguard during the first-half.

Adam Wells - who has caught the eye in recent weeks - had UCD’s first real effort on goal from distance, but the ball just dropped wide of Jimmy Corcoran’s goal.

Midfielder Sam Norval then had an effort blocked on the edge of the box as Bray eventually cleared the corner-kick.

The Seagulls defended well and packed a punch on the counter-attack with John O’Sullivan a threat from midfield with several surging runs from deep.

Loanee O’Sullivan also had an effort by Eanna Clancy on the half hour mark with Students stopper Kian Moore picking up the ball at ease. 

Though Brennan was at the heart of all good UCD play, he manufactured an opening that saw Raggett and Mohan having efforts blocked.

O’Sullivan then shot over the bar with a long-range curler for the visitors who were backed by a very healthy away attendance in Belfield. 

The Seagulls’ were dealt a blow before the break with Kieran Cruise forced off with an apparent hamstring issue. 

But it had no impact on the remainder of the half with Behan having UCD’s best chance - only for his effort to be blocked again.

The Students set the tone for the second period early on with Mohan seeing a cross flash across the box within minutes of the restart.

The lively winger then saw his cross into the box clip off the top of the bar moments later - though he may not have meant it.

And the game was turned on its head soon after when sub Paul Murphy was dismissed for a tackle that referee Declan Tolan deemed was too high on Adam Wells.

The decision was met with uproar from the visitors - but UCD failed to make their numerical advantage pay despite peppering Jimmy Corcoran in the Seagulls with several efforts.

Eanna Clancy was the first to threaten with a fine effort from distance that Corcoran had to be at full stretch to stop nestling in the top corner. 

Behan also went close with a low strike that was well held by former Ireland underage star Corcoran - with Donal Higgins and Danu Kinsella Bishop also forcing fine efforts.

Bray defended resolutely though and remained a threat on the break with Cristian Magerusan having a long-range deflected over the bar.

By the 80th minute, UCD were becoming increasingly desperate in their search for a goal with Jake Doyle and Mikey McCullagh both firing over.

The Students were handed a lifeline though when Finn scored from the spot after Behan was felled in the box by Max Murphy.

But they ran out of time as Bray advanced following a superb defensive display in Belfield.

The Seagulls are now just 180 minutes away from a top-flight return.

UCD:Kian Moore; Éanna Clancy, Niall Holohan (Donal Higgins 66), Luke O'Regan, Adam Wells; Ciaran Behan, Seán Brennan (Danú Kinsella-Bishop 73), Ronan Finn, Stephen Mohan (Mikey McCullagh 57), Sam Norval (Jake Doyle 57); Michael Raggett (Hugh Parker 57).

Subs not used:Dara Kavanagh, Alex Dunne, Adam Verdon, Harry Curtis.

Booked:Éanna Clancy (65).

Bray Wanderers:Jimmy Corcoran; Killian Cantwell, Kieran Cruise (Paul Murphy 43), Max Murphy, Cole Omorehiomwan; Guillermo Almirall Peñalver (Jamie Duggan 63), Darren Craven, Shane Griffin, Harry Groome, John O'Sullivan; Cristian Magerusan (Ben Feeney 73).

Subs not used:Stephen McGuinness, Evan Osam, Josh McGlone, Conor Knight, Billy O'Neill, Rhys Knight.

Booked:Cristian Magerusan (7).

Sent off:Paul Murphy (58).

Referee:Declan Toland.

Attendance:1,112.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Jimmy Corcoran (Bray Wanderers).

'Bray are going up' cries the away end as @BrayWanderers advance in the playoffs. Probably deserved it over the two legs. Athlone up next for them at Dalymount Park on Saturday... pic.twitter.com/NbyBiUfJCh

— Andrew Dempsey (@AndrewDempsey98) October 28, 2024