GALWAY UNITED

0-1

BRAY WANDERERS

Oji 93 og

Winn s/pen 21

Premier

Eamonn Deacy Park
24 Jul 2015

Bray took three points back east with a controversial injury time winner when David Cassidy's cross spun off Galway substitute Sam Oji into Conor Winn's net.

In fairness, it was only a finely judged stop by Winn that had denied the Seagulls an early penalty, and in a hard-fought encounter the sides traded chances.

But the early loss of striker Ryan Connolly to injury didn't help the Tribesmen's cause.

It was a game marked by a lively opening period on both sides, Jake Keegan giving the home side the honour of the first effort, a shot narrowly wide of the goal after running through to test Peter Cherrie after barely threee minutes.

A minute later, the visitors seemed in the driving seat when after a Marc Ludden foul on Chris Lyons, Referee Sean Grant pointed to the spot.

Conor Winn saved Graham Kelly's kick with a flying stop to his right.

And the Galway keeper did well seconds later to push away a stinging Kelly drive as Bray should have taken an early lead.

Two minutes after that, the home side might also have claimed a penalty when Padraic Cunningham was put through by Ryan Connolly and lobbed over Cherrie before being clattered. The ball was cleared by Alan McNally before crossing the line, and Galway appeals for a penalty were waved away.

A David Cassidy free-kick into the box was touched over the bar by Alan McNally at the back post after some goal-mouth action, and Connolly's pass released Cunningham again but the striker didn't look confident before putting the ball the wrong side of Cherrie's far post.

And all before the first 15 minutes were up, and looking like going on that way.

But when the home side's influential forward Connolly needed treatment after a contact barely noticed during play, and had to be replaced, their tactics were set badly askew.

Bray turned on the pressure as Ryan McEvoy forced Winn into a good save as he smashed a shot on target that the keeper had to parry away.

Nevertheless, Galway - particularly in the person of Cunningham - continued to threaten from time to time: just after the half hour he passed the Bray back four but his finish failed to match the initial piece of skill as he shot straight at Cherrie who palmed the ball away.

For the same reason, he ran into sporadic trouble, needing attention after a clash with Niall Cooney.

And Bray ended the half on the attack, a brace of corners keeping Winn warm as Cassidy and Lyons combined to threaten the opening goal.

The second period opened with less fanfare, and Cherrie had the first goalmouth action fully ten minutes in.

Keegan jinked past Hugh Douglas in the middle of the pitch, drawing a foul (and a caution) for the Bray defender. The free-kick was floated into the area by David O'Leary, but Cherrie gathered the slight flick-on from Keegan himself.

Another ten minutes pass until Lyons works his way down the right to pull back for John O'Sullivan, who failed to make a good connectuion from close range, Oji and Walsh combining to boot the ball to safety.

And as the scrappy play continued, less than a quarter hour remained when Gary Shanahan and Colm Horkan worked well together before the ball broke towards Paul Sinnott but ran away from him as Cherrie gathered.

Then Galway broke forward again with sub Jason Molloy but instead of playing in Cunningham he shot a little wildly himself.

In the remaining minutes of normal time, Lyons came close with breakaway efforts three times, blocked twice and wide once, with Sinnott coming close in between times during a brief late spell of pressure by the home side, Cherrie doing well to stop his crisp 18m volley.

The goal, when it came, was somewhat fortuitous, Cassidy's dangerous cross from the right intercepted by Oji under pressure from Lyons. The Assistant Referee was flagging for what looked like offside, but after discussion the goal was awarded.

And with no time to do more than re-start, Galway were left with another home loss, and Bray with a fourth single-goal victory on the trot.

Compiled by Mícheál Ó hUanacháin

Bray Wanderers: 1 Peter Cherrie; 2 Michael Barker, 12 Niall Cooney, 5 Alan McNally, 20 Hugh Douglas; 15 John Sullivan; 8 David Cassidy (c), 24 Graham Kelly, 10 Ryan McEvoy, 11 Adam Hanlon; 18 Chris Lyons
Subs: 4 Daniel O'Reilly, 6 Adam Mitchell, 7 David Scully, 9 Adam Wixted, 19 Emeka Onwubiko, 23 Gareth McDonagh (for Hanlon 67), 50 Corey Chambers (gk)
Galway United: 25 Conor Winn; 2 Colm Horgan, 6 Paul Sinnott (c), 7 Stephen Walsh, 3 Marc Ludden; 17 Gary Shanahan, 4 Alex Byrne, 8 David O'Leary, 12 Jake Keegan; 10 Ryan Connolly, 18 Pádraic Cunningham
Subs: 1 Gerard Hanley (gk), 5 Kilian Cantwell, 9 Enda Curran, 11 Jason Molloy (for O'Leary 67), 13 Cormac Raftery, 21 Conor Barry, 24 Samuel Oji (for Connolly 21 inj)
Referee: Sean Grant

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