Bray Wanderers 1-1 Dundalk
The SSE Airtricity League title race is set for a thrilling finale next week as Dundalk were forced to settle for a share of the spoils with Bray Wanderers at an extremely wet and windy Carlisle Grounds.
The Lilywhites are now a point behind Cork City who, with their victory over Bohemians, leapfrogged Stephen Kenny’s side with just one game remaining. The pair meet at Oriel Park next Friday for a title showdown.
It could have been a whole lot worse for Dundalk on a night that made moments of quality few and far between. It was more substance over style and Bray know more about that than most. It took them just 28 seconds to rattle their title-chasing opponents as David Cassidy fired home from close range.
Dundalk struggled to attune to the inhibiting conditions but rallied to find an equaliser shortly after the hour mark. Darren Meenan’s cross was swept into the top corner by Pat Hoban but that was as good as it got for the travelling supporters.
Bray, meanwhile, have almost certainly secured their Premier Division status as they have a vastly superior goal difference to UCD.
Despite playing on Monday evening, Stephen Kenny unsurprisingly opted to stick with the same side that drew with Shamrock Rovers. The visitors had barely emerged from the sanctuary of the dressing room before being caught cold.
For a defence that had kept four consecutive clean sheets until tonight, they were cut open alarmingly easingly. Dean Zambra was allowed to control Jake Kelly’s low cross from the right before turning and getting a shot away. His effort was parried by Peter Cherrie but the in-rushing Cassidy was first to react.
Some of the travelling fans hadn't even made their way into the ground. Most of the Dundalk players hadn't even touched the ball.
That said, they responded positively but failed to take advantage of the gale at their backs in the first period. On more than one occasion they were guilty of trying to do too much on a night that made even the simple things a difficulty.
When Dundalk did manage to surmount the conditions and get their foot on the ball, they found Stephen McGuinness in inspired form. It was more substance over style. Meenan’s overhit centre was pushed to safety by the Bray goalkeeper as the visitors looked to test his handling at every opportunity.
As they found, it was faultless. Daryl Horgan's industrious infield run from the left created the opening. McGuinness pushed his stinging drive around the post and minutes before the break, he stood tall to thwart Meenan after the midfielder latched onto Richie Towell’s through ball.
If Dundalk weren't putting him under enough pressure, Dave Scully's wayward header from an in-swinging set-piece forced McGuinness into action again - he wasn’t going to be beaten.
It wasn't all one way traffic, though. Cherrie ensured Bray's lead remained just the one as he acrobatically tipped Scully's rising shot over the bar.
Just as they did in the first-half, the home side very nearly scored within seconds of the kick-off.
Cassidy, playing between the lines, picked up the scraps and needed no second invitation to try his luck from range but his radar was narrowly off as his shot skipped wide of Cherrie’s upright. With the ferocious wind now behind them, Bray looked to double their advantage.
If truth be told, they probably should have. Graham Kelly’s cross picked out his namesake Jake, but he couldn't keep his header from six yards down and it rebounded off the bar.
Even with their backs against the wall, the top sides always manage to find a way out. There seemed little danger when Meenan picked the ball up on the right. His cross held up in the gust and on hand was the league’s leading marksman to emphatically fire into the top corner - McGuinness had no chance.
When it had seemed the visitors would go onto dominate the final quarter and push for a winner, it was the Seagulls who posed more of a threat. After Cherrie had failed to deal with a corner, a goalmouth scramble ensued but Kelly’s effort was hacked clear.
The result leaves Dundalk going into the final game of the season a point behind Cork City and knowing that only victory will do next Friday at Oriel Park.
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Eric McGill, David Webster (capt), Niall Cooney, Michael Barker; Jake Kelly (Philly Hughes, 89’), Owen Rossi, Graham Kelly, Dean Zambra, Adam Hanlon; David Cassidy; David Scully.
Subs not used: Gavin Sheridan, Ryan Swan, Shane O’Connor, Gareth McDonagh, Robert Maloney.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon (Stephen O'Donnell, 62’), Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle (capt), Dane Massey; Chris Shields (Donal McDermott, 88’), Richie Towell; Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (John Mountney, 45’), Daryl Horgan; Pat Hoban.
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Ruaidhri Higgins, Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter.
Referee: Dave McKeon
