- Finbarr O'Sullivan
- Tue, May 06 2008
Bray Wanderers advanced to the quarter-finals of the League Cup tonight with a 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers. Bray were made to work hard for their victory but Rovers were unable to make their dominance in possession count.
Bray took the lead on four minutes when John Mulroy bagged his second goal of Bray‘s League Cup run. After a Chris O’Connor goal-kick, Andy Myler headed the ball down for Mark Duggan. Duggan’s pass was deflected into the path of Mulroy who beat the offside trap. The striker advanced on goal and shot. Karl Coleman saved but the rebound fell straight to Mulroy who rounded the keeper and fired past Barry Ferguson on the line.
On 26 minutes, Bray had the next chance. Following an Alan Cawley free on the right, Kevin Doherty rose highest to connect with the ball but he couldn’t direct it and his header went over. Rovers failed to create any real chances and were restricted to shooting from range. Danny O’Connor and Dessie Baker both fired wide with efforts from outside the box.
On 40 minutes, Rovers had their best chance. From an Alan Murphy corner, Danny O’Connor headed powerfully at goal. Wanderers keeper Chris O’Connor was on hand to stop the ball on the line and Bray cleared.
After the break, Rovers played with more purpose going forward. On 51 minutes, Dessie Baker had a half-chance. Following a corner, the ball fell to him inside the box. He controlled well before blasting across the face of goal.
Rovers kept the ball for most of the second half but they couldn't create any real chances. Bray were happy to sit back and break on the counter attack when the opportunity arose. In the final ten minutes, Rovers lay siege to the Bray goal with a series of corners and free-kicks. With four minutes to go, Ger O'Brien crossed from the left and Eoin Doyle connected with the cross. From six yards out, he headed goalward but it was straight at Chris O'Connor.
On 88 minutes, Sean O'Connor's corner from the right missed everyone in the box, except for Daragh Maguire. The defender was unmarked at the far post but again Chris O’Connor was on hand to save.
Bray were reduced to ten men with a minute to go. Mark Duggan was given a second yellow card for a foul on Ger O’Brien. Duggan had been booked earlier on for a foul on Pat Flynn. Rovers continued to press for the five minutes of injury time but they failed to make the extra man count and it will be Bray Wanderers who go through to the quarter-finals.
Bray Wanderers: Chris O’Connor; Ronan Ivory, Kevin Doherty, Ray Kenny, Dane Massey; Paddy Kavanagh (Dave Webster ’81), Alan Cawley (Andrei Georgescu 46), Mark Duggan, Paul Dunphy; Andy Myler, John Mulroy (Emika Onwubiko 72).
Subs not used: Stephen Lawless, Sam Keating.
Bookings: Duggan (66), Ivory ‘87), Dunphy (90+4)
Sent off: Duggan (89)
Shamrock Rovers: Karl Coleman; Pat Flynn (Ger O‘Brien 52), Corie Tracy, Barry Ferguson, Darragh Maguire; Alan Murphy, Danny O’Connor (Eric McGill 59), Stephen Rice, Sean O’Connor; Dessie Baker, Padraig Amond (Eoin Doyle 68).
Subs not used: Barry Murphy, Derek Tyrell.
Bookings: None
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
Man of the match: Kevin Doherty (Bray Wanderers).
