Bohemians crowned league champions

Bohemians were crowned League of Ireland Premier Division champions despite their five-game winning run coming to an end at a sodden Carlisle Grounds.

In a match that petered out towards the end, Jason Byrne (69) gave the Gypsies a second-half lead that was cancelled out by Bray's Mexican defender Alejandro Reyes (74).

But the result did not stop the biggest crowd of the season at the seaside venue of 3,500, mainly made up of away fans, celebrating the Dublin side's back-to-back titles.

A through ball up the middle in the 69th minute saw Wanderers' Dave Mulcahy shield it back to debutante custodian Brian Kane.

However, the 19-year-old's poor header left Jason Byrne with the
simple task of volleying into an empty net from 20 yards for his 22nd top-flight goal of the season.

But the already relegated Wanderers hit back within five minutes.
A Gareth Coughlan corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Stephen Brennan nudged the ball forward and set to shoot.

But Mexican defender Alejandro Reyes nipped in and his left-footed volley over his shoulder went past a crowded area and into an unsighted Brian Murphy's net.

The match was somewhat marred just after the hour when a section of supporters caused a five-minute stoppage.
A number of seats were thrown on to the pitch, which led to a delay as stewards and Gardaí got the situation under control.

With mounting speculation that the Seagulls could be involved in the Premier Division play-off with Drogheda United next Tuesday, Bray boss Eddie Gormley made several changes to his starting 11 that was beaten 3-0 last week.

Goalkeeper Kane and right winger Ian Tuohy were handed full league debuts while Reyes made his first appearance at the Wicklow venue.

As for the Dubliners, manager Pat Fenlon retained the same team who'd beaten Sligo so handily at Dalymount Park. The rain that fell just before kick-off made the surface slippery, and the pitch cut up badly as the contest wore on.

But it didn't stop Conor Powell unleashing a 30-yard rocket that
nearly gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead.

After his call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad earlier in the day, Brian Murphy was almost embarrassed in the 18th minute. His poor clearance went straight to Dane Massey, but his first-time
40-yard effort fell into the fortunate net-minder's arms.

Joseph Ndo's 22-yard snap-shot flashed wide in the 22nd before Paddy Madden's close-range volley off Killian Brennan's cross dropped just wide in the 34th minute.

Yet Wanderers nearly went in front in the 38th minute.
Paul Byrne flicked on Kane's goal-kick and David O'Neill got in down the left flank. His cross-shot caught out Murphy but dropped
agonisingly just over the crossbar.

Bohs almost snatched victory in the 84th minute.
Brian Shelley met Killian Brennan's corner but Kane parried the
header on the line and recovered to thwart Jason Byrne off the
follow-up.

Bray Wanderers: 1 Brian Kane; 2 Derek Pender, 4 Alejandro Reyes, 5 Dave Mulcahy, 3 Gary Cronin (16 Philip Knight 87 mins); 8 Ian Tuohy, 7 David O'Neill, Stephen Brennan, 10 Dane Massey, 11 Gareth Coughlan; 9 Paul Byrne (14 John Mulroy 76 mins).
Subs not used: 12 Chris Deans,15 Shane O'Neill, 25 Chris O'Connor.

Booked: Ian Tuohy 28 mins.

Bohemians: 1 Brian Murphy; 2 Glenn Cronin, 5 Brian Shelley (14 Owen Heary 86 mins), 6 Anto Murphy, 3 Conor Powell; 11 Killian Brennan (16 Mark Rossiter 86 mins), 4 Gary Deegan, 7 Paul Keegan, 8 Joseph Ndo; 9 Paddy Madden (15 Glen Crowe 73 mins), 10 Jason Byrne.