Enda McGuill Cup

Brandywell
21 October 2007

Heartbreak for the Seagulls at the Brandywell, as their attempt to recapture the Cup they won in 2005 failed at the final hurdle.

There was little to choose between the sides in the early stages, with the exception of rather more accurate passing from the home side.

Aidan McLaughlin had a 22m attempt just over three minutes in when he spun and shot, and Craig Hyland took well when Gareth Harkin's cross missed McLaughlin and was only cleared as far as Peter Gallagher.

Jamie Duff got through, but a free out resulted from a clash between Lloyd Massey and home keeper Eugene Ferry.

Gallagher was proving a threat up the Bray right, and drew some of the defence when Ferry provided a long ball upfield for McLaughlin, who cut in and fired against the near post with Craig Hyland beaten. The rebound fell loose, and as Dave Webster attempted to clear away under pressure from David McDaid, he sliced the ball into his own net.

In fairness, he had to do something, as the net was wide open to the Derry striker.

After that, Bray did well to hold the score, and towards the end of the period began to win more of the action.

Just after the half-hour, Sam Keating burst upfield, threaded a little pass to Duff whose effort was touched away by Ferry, and when Bray recovered the ball, a second attempt by the winger was cleanly taken.

Massey was proving stalwart in defence blunting the threat of Gareth Harkin and McDaid, as well as making forays into attack.

A Ross Zambra free from 20m two minutes from the break curled over the Derry wall and was goalbound until deflected for a corner, but the left-back's flag-kick was pounced on by the Candystripes, who streaked away in an attack that might have doubled their advantage.

However, Aaron Nash's cross was neatly blocked by Hyland, and the next effort was cleared away by Massey.

And Davy O'Sullivan had the final chance of the half, shooting just left of the home posts.

A pint-sized non-streaker toddled across the face of the Derry goal in the opening seconds after the break, while stewards and ballboys stood mesmerised, and didn't leave the pitch until he saw the black-clad form of referee Terence Moyne approaching.

(Apparently, a dog and a cat also shared the pitch for short periods with the players, but didn't register in the Press Box.)

The visitors were a much livelier lot in the second period and looked close to equalising on several occasions.

But it was the hosts who had the early chances, Nash just failing to keep the ball in play after a throw in the righthand corner, and McDaid heading wide when Ruairi McCreadie put back in after Neil Harkin's corner was half cleared.

O'Sullivan came close with a shot on 55 minutes, and the Derry defence had to concede a corner to defend Keating's cross after a good run by Shane Cranny, but Zambra's kick was cleared off Gallagher's back.

Derry had a copuple of corners that simply flew out over the end-line without any intervention

On the hour, John Broderick skipped his way past three men across the midfield to create a chance, but Cranny couldn't get to it before Ferry did.

Five minutes later, following a throw in the righthand corner, O'Sullivan won a corner off MacCreadie, and Duff's kick was evenmtually put out for another at the far side. Zambra's effort was cut back where Niall Merriman was lurking, but the midfielder was unable to keep his shot down.

O'Sullivan was off target again after good attacking work, and though his shot appeared to be assisted ever so slightly on its way, a goal-kick was the decision.

One of Bray's best chances came after O'Sullivan reached a ball up the wing. His cross was blocked by Thomas Burke, but fell to John Mulroy who seemed to be hindered as he tried to shoot with a second swing after the ball appeared to get a touch on the ground – possibly with a hand – and trickled bizarrely to a halt at the foot of Ferry's lefthand post before the defence woke up and cleared.

Neil Harkin might have sealed the tie with seven minutes left when his free dipped nicely, but Hyland was ready to claim.

Cup matches are decided on the day, the day's play – and the day's luck. There was little between the finalists on the play, but the new Cup-winners had the luck.

Mícheál Ó hUanacháin

Bray Wanderers: 1 Craig Hyland; 2 Dean Fletcher, 5 Lloyd Massey, 4 David Webster, 3 John McElwee; 7 Shane Cranny, 8 Sam Keating, 6 Niall Merriman, 11 Jamie Duff; 10 Chris Burgess, 9 David O'Sullivan (c)
Subs: 12 Sam Keating, 14 Chris Burgess (for Keating 84), 15 John McElwee (for Webster 79), 16 Dean Zambra, 17 Nicholas Byrne, 18 Shane Cranny (for Duff 75), 19 Shane O'Neill
Derry City: 1 Eugene Ferry; 2 Thomas Burke, 4 Martin Hamilton, 5 Seamus Sharkey, 3 Ruairi McCreadie; 7 Aaron Nash, 6 Neil Harkin, 8 Gareth Harkin, 11 Peter Gallagher; 9 David McDaid, 10 Aidan McLaughlin
Subs: 12 John Carlin (for Gallagher 73), 14 Paul King (for Nash 82), 15 Pearce Little (for McLaughlin 92+), 16 Anthony Havelin (gk), 18 Patrick McDonnell
Referee: Terence Moyne