IRISH SIDES DID not give a good account of themselves on Saturday as both League of Ireland clubs exited the Irn-Bru Cup at the first hurdle.
The 2017 edition saw the competition expanded to include Irish teams alongside Welsh Premier League, Scottish Football League, Northern Ireland Premiership teams, as well as U21 sides from the Scottish Premier League.
Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers made their bow in the annual Scottish Challenge Cup on account of their fifth and sixth place finishes in the 2016 Premier Division, however both exited to Scottish opposition in the first round.
Harry Kenny’s side’s season has been mired by off-field controversies, with opposing points of view seeing this weekend’s competition as either a hindrance or a welcome distraction for the struggling Seagulls.
Since catapulting themselves into contention for a European place early this season, Bray have won just three league outings in 13.
That poor run of form continued on Saturday afternoon as goals from Chris Dodd and former Derry City forward Jordan Allan compounded a 2-0 defeat to Scottish fourth-tier side Elgin City at Borough Briggs.
Incidentally, Bray were also denied a penalty after referee Arnold Hunter had initially pointed to the spot with the side 1-0 down with 15 minutes remaining.
Sligo, meanwhile, fell 2-1 to Scottish Premier League side Falkirk. Nathan Austin gave the side an early lead before Seamus Sharkey drew the sides level after 18 minutes.
James Craigen scored what proved the winner ten minutes later, with all three goals coming inside the first half as both Irish sides return home to focus on improving their league form.
Bray exited the FAI Cup to Cork City in August and have slipped to fifth in the table, while Sligo fight a battle for survival, currently in the drop-zone with just one win in their last seven in the Premier Division.
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