- James Byrne
- Fri, Feb 16 2024
Ten man UCD defeated Bray Wanderers on the opening night of League of Ireland action in 2024, courtesy of goals from Ciaran Behan and Harvey O'Brien. Ben Feeney's late consolation was ultimately not enough on the night.
UCD have once again dampened the atmosphere at the Carlisle, having denied Bray promotion in their last competitive meeting back in 2021. Former UCD man Evan Osam started strongly on the left side of a back three which caused more harm than good for the Seagulls in the opening 45 minutes.
The Students started brightly with just five players over the age of 20 in their starting lineup, playing most of the football for the opening 20 minutes, albeit creating very little.
Ian Ryan’s men looked to use the flanks to their advantage in the opening half, with Shane Griffin floating to the right to whip in dangerous balls on numerous occasions. Freddie Turley also used his pace and strength to great effect when venturing down his right flank.
Just as it seemed that the Students were losing their foothold in the game, they took the lead through Ciaran Behan. The left winger was found by his right-back Alex Dunne with a lovely crossfield pass, catching Turley out of position. Behan went on to beat James Corcoran at his near post in the 22nd minute. This was the latest opening goal scored in all four of the First Division games tonight.
Bray attempted to equalise almost immediately with Darren Craven firing a rasper of a shot just wide of Kian Moore, wearing pink in the UCD goal. Three minutes later Bray had the ball in the back of the net, however it was ruled out for offside. Craven’s miscued shot from just inside the 18-yard-line struck Ben Feeney who was adjudged to be lying in an offside position.
In the 29th minute UCD lost their 19-year-old vice-captain to injury, Eanna Clancy was replaced by Harvey O’Brien. Only five minutes later they also saw Dunne, only returning from an ACL injury, dismissed for a foul on Cristian Magerusan.
Harry Groome’s incisive pass from midfield definitely caught the defence out, however the dismissal may be deemed harsh as UCD had two other men covering. Shane Griffin took the resulting free-kick from 19 yards and was almost expected to score by the Carlisle, but his effort hit the shins of the UCD wall.
Bray failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage and conceded a poor goal from a set-piece. Having not conceded in three Leinster Senior Cup games, this came as a shock to most at the Carlisle.
The lively Michael McCullagh played a one-two with Ciaran Behan and crossed to the back post, where ex-Bray defender Curtis headed back to substitute O’Brien who couldn’t miss from inside the six-yard box.
UCD nearly went 3-0 ahead just before half-time when Jake Doyle headed over from close range after Curtis hit the bar following another brilliant Behan delivery.
The second-half began in a similar fashion to the first in terms of chances, however this time it was Bray who dominated the ball but created nothing. Their performance lacked intensity and the atmosphere was drawn out of a previously optimistic crowd.
Aside from Ben Feeney hitting the side-netting and Bray having a weak handball appeal denied by Oliver Moran, Bray offered very little from an attacking point of view. UCD shifted veteran Ronan Finn to right-back and their one man disadvantage didn’t show
Moore remained solid with the small amount of work he had to get through and Bray failed to capitalise when he dropped a corner in his own six-yard box. His only save of the game came from Magerusan after 15 minutes.
Cole Omorehiomwan’s move to striker proved to be very profitable for the Wanderers as he set up Ben Feeney’s first league goal since August. Callum Thompson, who replaced Bray’s other starting striker, Magerusan, floated a high cross, which Omorehiomwan beautifully nodded into Feeney’s path at the back post.
Moore made his second save of the night from Guillermo Almirall in the 88th minute, having strongly punched away a Griffin corner shortly before.
Griffin floated another inviting cross into the UCD penalty area in the first of five added minutes, yet Omorehiomwan’s header just flew by the far post. That was the last of the very few chances that Bray created against the ten Students.
However it wasn’t the last involvement of the night as Omorehiomwan theatrically divided at the final whistle following a nudge from Finn. Adam Verdon arrived on the scene and received a yellow card for his troubles.
Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran, Evan Osam (Max Murphy, 61), Killian Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Kieran Cruise, Darren Craven, Shane Griffin, Harry Groome, Freddie Turley (Guillermo Almirall, 61), Ben Feeney, Cristian Magerusan (Callum Thomspon, 71).
Subs: Stephen McGuinness (GK), Jamie Duggan, Zach Nolan, Paul Murphy, Thomas Morgan, Alain Kizenga.
Bookings: Harry Groome (63) Darren Craven (90+4)
UCD: Kian Moore, Adam Wells, Eanna Clancy (Harvey O’Brien, 29), Harry Curtis, Alex Dunne, Sean Brennan, Adam Verdon, Ronan Finn, Ciaran Behan (Colin Bolton, 81), Jake Doyle (Danu Kinsella Bishop, 90), Michael McCullagh.
Unused Subs: Michael Raggett, Daniel Norris, Matthew Alonge, Donal Higgins, Dara Kavanagh, Sam Norval
Bookings: Alex Dunne (Red, 34), Jake Doyle (56)
Attendance: 780
Extratime Man of the Match: Harry Curtis (UCD)
Referee: Oliver Moran
