Bray Wanderers 0-0 Cork City
Bray Wanderers withstood a late barrage from second-placed Cork City to secure a deserved draw in an uneventful 0-0 draw at the Carlisle Grounds.
With Shamrock Rovers having drawn with Bohemians earlier in the day, it was an opportunity for John Caulfield's men to make second place more secure.
However the Leesiders were overpowered in midfield and starved of meaningful possession in a game that furthered demonstrated the gulf in class with champions-elect Dundalk and the chasing pack.
Caulfield made two changes to the side that comfortably beat St Patrick's Athetic at Turner's Cross on Monday.
Dan Murray replaced Alan Bennett in central defence, while Ireland international Colin Healy missed out completely as Steven Beattie returned to the side, with Liam Miller remaining on the bench.
Bray boss Cooke also made two changes to his side following their narrow loss in Longford last weekend. Daniel O'Reilly replaced the suspended Michael Barker in defence, while Graham Kelly returned from suspension in place of FAI Cup hero Peter McGlynn.
The game began at the leisurely pace commonly associated with sunny evenings in Bray, and it was a slack clearance from City goalkeeper Mark McNulty that led to game's first half-chance but Bray captain Dave Cassidy could only slice his effort from just inside the Cork half.
Cork's aggressively offensive forward line – Karl Sheppard, Beattie and Billy Dennehy lining up behind Mark O'Sullivan – tested Bray's defensive line from the start and, after a poor clearance from McNally, Dennehy raced through and beat goalkeeper Peter Cherrie to the ball only to be called back for offside.
Ryan McEvoy registered the first shot on target when he hit a low free kick into McNulty's arms, and McEvoy clipped the ball over the bar shortly afterwards, while Hugh Douglas forced a routine save when he got his head to Cassidy's free kick.
Neither side exhibited an attacking edge in a first half where Bray outnumbered and outpassed their opponents in midfield, something visiting boss John Caulfield sought to address at half-time by moving Dan Murray into midfield after Billy Dennehy departed through illness.
Again, Bray began the stronger and, from Cassidy's quick free kick, Chris Lyons cut inside Ross Gaynor and forced a good low save from McNulty.
City finally gained a foothold in the game as the hour approached, and substitute Alan Bennett forced a smart save from Cherrie when he drove a 25-yard free kick under the wall, before O'Sullivan shook the side netting with a volley after a neat piece of control to set himself up.
O'Reilly brought a good save from McNulty with a free kick 20 yards out, and McEvoy called the Corkman into action again with an angled header, but it was the away side who finished the stronger as they ended the game with four men parked up front following the introduction of Danny Morrissey and John O'Flynn for Beattie and O'Connor.
Sheppard thought he had stolen an unlikely victory for Cork with just three minutes remaining as, after Cherrie palmed away O'Sullivan's cross shot, he side-footed towards goal from 12 yards, only for man of the match Hugh Douglas to somehow divert the ball over the bar.
Bray withstood a siege of corner kicks in injury time, with Cherrie magnificent in the air, and a loud roar went up from the home support when referee Rob Rogers blew the final whistle after another decisive punch from the Scottish keeper.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Daniel O'Reilly, Alan McNally, Niall Cooney, Hugh Douglas; Ryan McEvoy, John Sullivan, Graham Kelly, David Cassidy (Emeka Onwubiko 88), Dave Scully; Chris Lyons (Peter McGlynn 76).
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Ross Gaynor, Darren Dennehy, Dan Murray, Michael McSweeney; Kevin O'Connor (John O'Flynn 81), Garry Buckley, Billy Dennehy (Alan Bennett 46); Karl Sheppard, Steven Beattie (Danny Morrissey 68), Mark O'Sullivan.
Referee: Rob Rogers.
