- Niall Farrell
- Tue, Apr 10 2012
It took over 112 minutes of play, but Bray Wanderers sealed their place in the EA Sports Cup quarter-finals on Monday night with a win over Shelbourne in a gruelling Tolka Park clash.
Both Seagulls goals were spectacular curling efforts, with Jonathan Kelty putting them ahead and Sean Houston winning the match minutes away from a penalty shootout.
Stephen Last's own goal had drawn Shels level, but it was a spirited display from a Reds which finished the match with nine men following serious injuries to Lorcan Fitzgerald and Stephen Hurley.
Both sides looked a bit nervous on the ball in the opening stages, but Shels probably had the better chances. Early on Andy Boyle headed over from a corner and not long afterwards Philip Gorman shot well over in front of Brian Kane's goal.
They had their chances, but gradually the Seagulls came into the match more. Kelty at last ended the cagey opening on 26 minutes.
It was an outstanding finish by the striker, but it had its roots in a quick passing breakaway after a Shels attack. Kevin Knight strode out of the Bray area before passing short for Sean Houston. Houston then delicately laid the ball off for Kelty.
On the edge of the Shels box, he glanced up once before curling it superbly around Dean Delany. After the goal Wanderers tried to control the game by passing the ball about a bit more and but Shels were only able to have a few half chances before the break.
The Reds almost had a goal seven minutes into the second half, when Daire Doyle cleared the ball over his own goal after a John Sullivan shot across goal. Stephen Last almost succeeded where Doyle failed on 68 minutes.
Last hit a David Cassidy cross back towards his goal and Brian Kane had to scramble it away. The Shels players led the complaints though- they said it had crossed the line. For a time Shels were completely dominant, but failed to really test Kane- Philly Gorman's 73rd minute header across goal the closest they came.
With ten minutes left the Bray 'keeper capped an assured display with a terrific save. Kevin Dawson slid the ball through for David Cassidy inside the Seagulls box. Kane reacted quickly to close him down and then save the shot.
Cassidy's introduction at half-time provided a zest to the Reds attack, and the substitute had a big impact on the equaliser. With five minutes of normal time left, Cassidy broke into the Seagulls box and shot at goal.
It looked like Kane had it covered, but a deflection off Stephen Last took the ball out of his reach. With a minute left Lorcan Fitzgerald hit the ground hard, and the match was stopped for almost ten minutes while he was treated.
Playing on with ten men, Shels nearly won the match deep in added time when Cassidy shot over from close range.
In extra time, it always seemed likely that Bray could make their numerical advantage count. But a rejuvenated Shels attacked right from the start, with an on-form Andy Boyle at the back making sure that the players in front of him could go forward without fear.
Brian Kane was called into action a few times in the first half of extra time, with Paddy Kavanagh going close twice. The Reds looked the more threatening side going into the second half, but the tired legs began to show and Bray came back into it.
John Mulroy's and Adam Hanlon's forays into the Shels box were ominous early in the second half. The goal, when it came after 112 minutes, was as a result of a Seagulls counter-attack.
Wanderers were up the pitch quickly after a Shels attack was repelled, and it was Sean Houston who curled it in from 25 yards. There were roars of disapproval from the home support as Philly Gorman went down in a heap in the build-up, but the goal stood.
The late injury to Stephen Hurley meant that the home side ended the match down two men, meaning that it was a thoroughly disappointing night for the Reds.
Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Gareth Matthews, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley (c), Lorcan Fitzgerald; Barry Clancy, Stephen Hurley, John Sullivan (Paddy Kavanagh 77), Anto Murphy (Kevin Dawson '58); Philip Gorman, Paul Byrne (David Cassidy 46).
Subs Not Used: Paul Skinner, Brian Shorthall, Sean Byrne, Conan Byrne.
Yellow Cards: Stephen Hurley (48), Anto Murphy (50), Paddy Kavanagh (87), Barry Clancy (99).
Bray Wanderers: Brian Kane; David Webster, Conor Butler, Daire Doyle (c), Stephen Last; Kevin Knight, Ian Byrne (John Mulroy 63), Sean Houston, Dean Zambra; Jonathan Kelty (Marty Waters 69), Anthony Bolger (Adam Hanlon 81).
Subs Not Used: Darren Quigley, Danny O'Connor, Gerald Pender, Jason Byrne.
Yellow Cards: Sean Houston (52)
Referee: Graham Kelly.
Attendance: 280.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Brian Kane.
