Bray Wanderers 0-1 Dundalk
A 74th-minute goal from debutant Ciaran Kilduff proved decisive as league leaders Dundalk laboured somewhat in defeating Bray Wanderers by 1-0 in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division encounter at the Carlisle Grounds.
Dundalk struggled to create clear-cut chances in the opening half with both Ronan Finn and Daryl Horgan hitting the crossbar in injury-time with Peter Cherrie well beaten.
Kilduff entered the fray in the 65th minute and within nine minutes, he highlighted his talent with an excellent header from Horgan’s cross to grant him instant hero status with his new supporters.
It was the visitors who started the brighter with Alan McNally forced to concede a corner-kick in the third minute following a dangerous cross from the right by Darren Meenan.
The champions continued to show well initially, Ronan Finn looking to drive forward at every opportunity, but Bray were able to withstand sporadic pressure with the confidence of four successive clean sheets clearly evident.
The pace in the Dundalk attack was stretching the hosts however and Ryan McEvoy made a superb defensive clearance to thwart Finn in the 13th minute with Daryl Horgan firing the loose ball narrowly wide of Peter Cherrie’s left-hand upright.
Far from building on their territory, Dundalk lost a degree of momentum to their play. By the end of the first quarter, Bray were beginning to offer positive intent of their own and Graham Kelly should have tested Gary Rogers when released by Michael Barker but his shot from 22 yards proved wild and high.
As the half evolved, matters became increasingly even with the defensive solidity of Wanderers beginning to frustrate the league leaders, who lacked the precision normally associated with their play.
McMillan had another speculative effort in the 34th minute before Cherrie was finally forced into action as he palmed a powerful shot from Finn to safety after a clever pass by Stephen O’Donnell.
Finn went even closer in injury-time as his run from deep culminated in a cracking cross-shot that cannoned off Cherrie’s crossbar with Horgan equally unfortunate from the rebound as his chipped attempt also struck the woodwork before falling to safety.
As expected, Dundalk continued to press upon the resumption and they almost opened their account in the 51st minute but Richie Towell could not find the target from an acute angle after an excellent through ball by Finn.
Within four minutes, it was Cherrie’s turn to foil his former team-mates again when he reacted well to push McMillan’s powerful header clear following a pin-point centre by Meenan.
The procession towards the home goal continued with a by-now rampant Dundalk enjoying a greater threat down their right-flank and Horgan fired wastefully wide in the 57th minute after Towell had made fluffed Finn’s inviting low pull-back.
However, their desire to throw bodies forward left them susceptible at the back and both David Cassidy and Chris Lyons fired over from promising positions as the hosts sensed a fifth successive league win.
With Dundalk looking increasingly forlorn in their attempts, inspiration arrived in the form of new signing Kilduff. The substitute headed home Horgan’s flighted delivery in the 74th minute, his flicked effort proving too accurate for Cherrie’s despairing dive.
Another substitute, Gareth McDonagh, almost helped to restore parity ten minutes from time with his excellent centre met by Scully but Rogers reacted well at his near post to deflect the ball away for a corner-kick.
The insurance of a second goal failed to materialise for Dundalk with Towell inexplicably shooting wide when through on goal in the 85th minute but despite some late and concerted pressure on their penalty area, the champions held on for another critical three points, albeit in an unconvincing manner.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Alan McNally, Niall Cooney, Michael Barker; Peter McGlynn (Gareth McDonagh, 76), John Sullivan, Ryan McEvoy, Graham Kelly, David Cassidy; Chris Lyons (David Scully, 68).
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Darren Meenan (John Mountney, 88), Ronan Finn (Chris Shields, 80), Stephen O’Donnell, Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff, 65).
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
