- John O'Shea
- Tue, Aug 19 2014
Cork City and Bray played out a 1-1 draw at Turner’s Cross on Monday evening as the Rebels missed an opportunity to close the gap on table toppers Dundalk. Gareth McDonagh gave Bray the lead before Gary Buckley got City’s equaliser in the 2nd half.
City, who had most of the play and most of the goal chances, will feel this is two points dropped. The point is a crucial one for Bray as they bid to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
The game was an important one for both sides. City were looking to keep the pressure on leaders Dundalk, who were four points ahead of John Caulfield’s side prior to kick off.
Bray were just five points clear of bottom placed side Athlone Town and so Alan Mathews and his players were keen to avoid being dragged into an automatic relegation battle.
Cork had Colin Healy, Billy Dennehy and Garry Buckley available for selection after all three served bans for the 1-0 away win over Derry City on Friday night and all three were in the Cork starting eleven.
Bray made one change from their home game with Sligo Rovers, with Gareth McDonagh coming in instead of Philly Hughes.
After a slow start, it was City who had the first real attack of note. Morrissey played in Billy Dennehy on the left with a nice through ball and his cross was waiting to be attacked. But none of the City attackers could get a shot away and the Bray defenders were able to clear.
Just as it looked as though Cork were going to take control of the game, Bray went 1-0 ahead on the 14th minute. It was Gareth McDonagh who was the scorer after a neat finish into the bottom right hand corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Cork went close right away to equalising when Garry Buckley’s shot was tipped over by Bray goalkeeper Stephen Mc Guinness.
After 32 minutes, Michael Barker was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Cork’s captain John Dunleavy. Cillian Morrisson hit the bar from Billy Dennehy’s resulting free kick.
City evened up the scores on 49 minutes courtesy of a Gary Buckley strike. The move was created by Billy Dennehy who crossed and found Mark O Sullivan but he failed to control the ball. Buckley was on hand to finish in front of the shed and helped the City supporters find their voice.
Cork should have gone ahead through a move similar to the one which saw City get their first goal. Danny Morrissey shot wide after a low cross in by Dennehy.
Bray had a chance to go back ahead when McNulty’s fluffed clearance went straight to Akinade. He played in Hughes but his shot was cleared off the line by City captain Dunleavy.
As the 2nd half progressed, City were the side who were applying most of the pressure in the attacking third of the pitch. In a carbon copy to City’s leveler, Danny Morrissey shot wide from a Billy Dennehy cross when he could and should have scored.
City just could not break down the Bray defence and with Dundalk also drawing John Caulfield will surely feel this is as two points dropped.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Darren Dennehy, Dan Murray, Brian Lenihan; Gearóid Morrissey, Colin Healy, Garry Buckley (Josh O'Shea 87), Billy Dennehy, Cillian Morrison (Danny Morrissey 46); Mark O'Sullivan
Subs not used: John Kavanagh, Michael McSweeney, David O'Leary, Kevin O'Brien (gk), Liam Kearney.
Bookings: John Dunleavy (37)
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Niall Cooney, Adam Mitchell, Joe Gorman, Michael Barker; Graham Kelly, Dean Zambra, David Cassidy (Shane O Connor HT), David Scully; Ismahil Akinade, Gareth McDonagh (Phillip Hughes 55)
Subs not used: Shane Redmond (gk), Robert Maloney, Sean Hurley, Ryan Coombes, Jake Kelly.
Bookings: Cassidy (35), Akinade (42), G Kelly (86), Scully (90)
Sent off: Barker (32)
Referee: David McKeon
Attendance: 2,531
Extratime Man of the Match: Billy Dennehy (Cork City)
