Dundalk 1
Bray Wanderers 3
TWO SECOND HALF penalties from Gary McCabe helped Bray Wanderers move level on points with second place Dundalk – and condemn the champions to their third league defeat in six games.
After a scoreless first half, the encounter between Cork City’s closest challengers in the league lived up to its billing in the second period. Referee Jim McKell played a big part and he was cast as the villain as far as the 3,000 Dundalk fans at Oriel Park were concerned. For them it was anything but a Good Friday.
Stephen Kenny took time from preparing for Bray’s visit this week to speak about the paucity of penalty kicks the champions are awarded. The Dundalk manager drew attention to the upcoming one year anniversary of the last time the Lilywhites benefitted from a penalty award.
Here, the story was not what penalty area decisions they got – but instead what went against them. In the space of 14 second half minutes, McKell pointed to the spot twice. On both occasions, McCabe beat Gary Rogers to put Bray in front.
The penalties came either side of Stephen O’Donnell’s equaliser while Drogheda-born Ryan Brennan got the Seagulls third goal, one he particularly enjoyed.
Perceived wisdom suggested this game would have goals and while that proved true, the first half ended goalless. Dundalk were the better side and could have gone in ahead. Jamie McGrath, who started well but faded later, tested Peter Cherrie while Patrick McEleney curled a shot from 25 yards out just over.
The home side were wasteful from a series of free kicks they won in the Bray half. Indiscipline looked like it might cost Harry Kenny’s outfit as they picked up four bookings in six first half minutes. They went close from their own set piece though. Niclas Vemmelund cleared off the line after when McCabe’s corner was headed towards goal.
Nine second half minutes had elapsed when McKell awarded Bray’s first penalty of the night. O’Donnell, a half time sub, shoved Aaron Greene in the back after the striker weaved his way into the area. McCabe calmly dispatched.
The lead lasted just eight minutes. After a fine move, O’Donnell exchanged a one-two with David McMillan before dinking the ball past Cherrie.
Bray were back in front when Massey was penalised for a foul on Brennan in the area. McCabe went the same way, Rogers didn’t and it was 1-2. Shortly after, Brennan finished smartly after Vemmelund did well to deny Connolly.
Dundalk now trail Cork – who made it nine from nine tonight – by nine points after just nine games. It’s starting to look like an emergency at Oriel.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers, Niclas Vemmuland, Brian Gartland, Sean Hoare, Dane Massey, Chris Shields, Conor Clifford (Stephen O’Donnell, 46), Jamie McGrath (Steven Kinsella, 74), Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy (Thomas Stewart, 80), David McMillan.
Subs Not Used: Gabriel Sava, Paddy Barratt, John Mountney, Ciaran Kilduff.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie, Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Derek Foran, Jason Marks (Karl Moore, 79), John Sullivan, Mark Salmon, Gary McCabe, Ryan Brennan (Darragh Noone, 88), Dylan Connolly (Anthony Flood, 85), Aaron Greene.
Subs Not Used: Lee Steacy, Alan Kehoe, Jamie Aherne, Ger Pender.
Referee: Jim McKell