Bray Wanderers 2-0 Killester United
By Dave Donnelly
Bray Wanderers sealed passage to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Leinster Senior League side Killester United at a wind and rain-soaked Carlisle Grounds.
Goals either side of half-time from player of the match Hugh Douglas and winger Dave Scully gave Mick Cooke's side a result they deserved on the balance of play, although the visitors created a number of chances of their own.
Killester – returning to the last eight for the first time since losing to Sligo Rovers in 2006 – played a full part in the game against their more illustrious opponents, and on another night could have earned at least a replay.
Bray manager Cooke made two changes to the side that drew with Cork here last week. Michael Barker returned from suspension along with Peter McGlynn, who scored the controversial winner against Bohemians in the last round, in place of Daniel O'Reilly and the cup-tied John Sullivan.
Killester boss Gerry Davis made three changes from the side that comfortably beat Tolka Rovers 4-0 in the last round, with former UCD defender Michael Kelly, Stephen Browning and Michael Keogh coming into the side.
There were barely five minutes on the clock when Bray midfielder Ryan McEvoy got on the end of a neat passing move and forced a good block from Adam McCormack, off whom the ball ricocheted out for a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, taken by McEvoy, right-back Hugh Douglas found himself unmarked 10 yards and the big defender powered his header past a helpless Keith Donoghue in the Killester goal.
The Seagulls could have doubled their advantage moments later when a swift counter attack saw Graham Kelly race beyond the Killester defence, and Donoghue did just enough to get his fingertips to Kelly's deft chip and steer it wide of the target.
Bray's quick passing game was making it difficult for the Leinster Senior League side to gain a foothold in the game but they almost equalised when, after Alan McNally had headed another McEvoy set-piece narrowly wide, Michael Keogh hit the Bray post.
The Dublin side's first fluid passing move of the game ended with the ball at the feet of the winger just outside of the box, and side-footed effort left goalkeeper Peter Cherrie rooted to the spot, though he was on hand to save well from David Lacey's follow-up.
Killester came close once more as Alan Talbot's weighted through-ball set up Lacey and his shot forced an excellent save from Cherrie, who had done well to close down the space, while Scully should have at least forced a save after Barker picked him out inside the box.
Killester started the second-half strongly and Lacey would almost certainly have levelled within five minutes were it not for an impeccably-timed challenge from the covering Douglas as the Killester striker prepared to pull the trigger.
And the visitors had an even better chance moments later when the ever-impressive Lacey shoveled the ball quickly to his left to leave Talbot one-on-one with Cherrie, but the winger was loathe to shoot with his right foot and eventually scooped the ball over.
They were shown the level of clincal accuracy required at this level when the home side doubled their advantage very much against the run of play, with Cassidy given all the time in the world to pick out Scully at the far post to head into an empty net.
Chris Lyons struck the crossbar with a furious right-footed shot, before Cassidy and substitute Emeka Onwubiko forced good saves from Donoghue in injury time as the Premier Division's side superior class shepherded them to the semi-finals for the first time since 2005.
BRAY WANDERERS: Peter Cherrie; Michael Barker, Alan McNally, Niall Cooney, Hugh Douglas; Ryan McEvoy, Peter McGlynn, Graham Kelly, David Cassidy, Dave Scully (Emeka Onwubiko 83); Chris Lyons (Adam Wixted 89).
KILLESTER UNITED: Keith Donoghue; Philip Hand, Michael Kelly (Francis Matthews 74), Adam McCormack, Darren Kavanagh; Stephen Chambers (Eoin Mooney 79), Stephen Browning, Peter O'Reilly, Alan Talbot (David Lee 67); David Lacey, Michael Keogh.
Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin).
