Bray Wanderers 0-3 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers ensured they kept pace with the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division’s top two on Monday night as Pat Fenlon’s side made light work of Bray Wanderers in a 3-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds.
Mikey Drennan’s sixth goal of the season set the Hoops on their way in the first half and two further goals in the space of four minutes after the interval saw the visitors coast to the points by the seaside.
Ryan Brennan and Maxime Blanchard headed home Keith Fahey set-pieces as Bray lost their first game under the guidance of caretaker boss Maciej Tarnogrodzki.
Drennan finally broke the hosts’ resistance on the half-hour mark with a cushioned header after Brandon Miele’s centre and Bray were unable to cope with Rovers as they clicked into gear thereafter to stay third, four points behind early pacesetters Dundalk.
Bray, meanwhile, sit just outside the red zone after their three-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt.
Since the acrimonious departure of Alan Mathews, the Seagulls had collected seven points in three outings, and were content to sit tight in a rigid defensive shape from the outset.
With David Cassidy playing at the head of a five-man midfield, Bray made it difficult for the visitors to find any sort of fluidity in a congested engine room during a disjointed opening quarter.
Fahey, who was recalled as one of four Rovers changes from Friday’s draw with Dundalk, was forced to drop deep regularly to pull the strings and it was his clever header in the eight minute which created an opening for Ryan Brennan.
With just Stephen McGuinness to beat, the midfielder’s effort was tame; however, and the hosts were given an early reprieve. It was an indication of what was to follow, but Bray failed to take heed.
Rovers enjoyed the majority of possession, and as the half wore on they began to find pockets of space between the lines. Brennan - in particular - was picking holes in the Seagulls rearguard.
Drennan, who was preferred to Danny North once again, was marshalled well by Hugh Douglas throughout, but having fluffed his lines with an attempted chip finish after Brennan’s measured ball, the former Aston Villa striker made no mistake from close range.
With space at a premium infield, the right wing proved a profitable avenue of attack for the Hoops as Brendon Miele and Fahey combined before the former’s cross was headed home by the unmarked Drennan.
From that moment, Rovers were able to operate in cruise control as Fahey’s influence on proceedings grew.
Tarnogrodzki sacrificed holding midfielder Luke Gallagher at half-time in search of a route back into the contest, but Cassidy’s half-chance just before the break apart, Bray rarely threatened.
Rovers ensured there would be no slip-up by the seaside with two goals, both from set-pieces, in quick succession.
Firstly, Fahey’s inswinging free was clinically finished by Brennan and then Blanchard enjoyed similar freedom inside the six-yard box as he powered a corner past McGuinness.
Fenlon’s side were able to take their foot off the pedal for the final half hour as they strolled to their fifth win of the campaign with consummate ease.
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Michael Barker, Alan McNally, Hugh Douglas, Daniel O'Reilly; Emeka Onwubiko (Daniel Blackbyrne 83'), Ryan McEvoy, Luke Gallagher (Gareth McDonagh 45'), Graham Kelly (David Scully 65'), Peter McGlynn; David Cassidy.
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, David Webster (Gavin Brennan 71'), Maxime Blanchard (David O'Connor 65'), Luke Byrne; Patrick Cregg (Kieran Marty Waters 60'), Keith Fahey; Gary McCabe, Ryan Brennan, Brandon Miele; Michael Drennan.
Referee: Ben Connolly.
