Phoenix Football Club’s home of Martin Savage Park, a new look Bray Wanderers side overcame Shelbourne early on Saturday evening.
The Seagulls took an early lead through Alan McNally before Robbie Creevy doubled their lead just after halftime. Energetic substitute James English halved the deficit for Shelbourne before Dean Kelly’s goal in final few minutes gave Wanderers a pre-season victory.
Bray started the match with quick passing in midfield and they had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute. Dylan Connolly used his skill and pace to get past Alan Kehoe and whipped a cross in towards the front post. Ger Pender got in front of his man but his flick hit the post and went out for a goalkick.
The Seagulls kept up the pressure and soon after nearly had a goal as Curtis Murphy’s corner into the box saw Jack Brady come out but miss the ball with his punch. Luckily for the goalkeeper, the ball hit Connolly in the back and was cleared for another corner.
However, the following set piece was to succeed as Murphy’s ball in was allowed bounce in the box and up rose McNally, one of the few familiar faces in the side, to head past Brady and give Bray the lead in the twelfth minute of the match.
The game became fought in midfield for most of the remainder of the half as both sides tried to build up play before attempting a shot.
The other major chance of the first half came from Shelbourne, as Conor Kenna gave away a close freekick after tripping Mark Sandford as he tried to break into the box. Gareth Coughlan stepped up to take the free and his curling shot was saved well by Evan Moran in the Bray goal.
The second half saw Shels start the brighter, with Sandford’s close header saved by Moran, after a great cross from Lorcan Shannon to the backstick, with Coughlan then putting the rebound wide.
Much to the annoyance to the Reds, Bray would score nearly straight after with Hugh Douglas crossing into the box after finding himself in acres of space. Robbie Creevy rose highest amidst a group of players and headed home to double the Wanderers’ lead.
Once again, the game became confined to midfield as defences stood firm despite good play from both teams.
Substitutions for Shelbourne turned the game more in their favor as James English was a willing runner up front for the Reds. It was his shot that deflected into the path of Robert O’Reilly on the edge of the box but the former Drogs man shot wide of the goal.
Shelbourne would get the goal they deserved soon after as in the seventy-fifth minute, a poor throw from Ryan Brennan saw the ball end up in no man’s land between the two Bray central defenders. English was the quickest to react and he took the goalkeeper out of the question before slotting home for Shelbourne
Sandford was next to show his pace as he nearly profited on substitute goalkeeper Sean Fogarty taking his time with a clearance. Sandford nicked the ball away from the keeper but his turn and shoot attempt was blocked by Fogarty before being cleared.
Brennan then made up for his earlier error as he made a marauding run at Bray’s defence after picking up on a header over the Shels defence. Once in the box, he passed across to Dean Kelly, who took one touch to set himself before sliding the ball inside the near post to give Bray Wanderers the win in Scribblestown.
Bray Wanderers: Evan Moran (Sean Fogarty 69); Sean Harding (Hugh Douglas HT), Alan McNally (Daniel Blackbyrne 62), Conor Kenna (Paul Finnegan HT), Curtis Murphy (Sean Noble 62); Karl Moore, Robbie Creevy, Mark Salmon (Alan Byrne HT), Ryan Brennan, Dylan Connolly (Gareth McDonagh HT); Ger Pender (Dean Kelly HT).
Subs not used: None
Booked: Karl Moore
Shelbourne: Jack Brady; Darragh Gannon (Adam O’Connor 70), Aidan Collins (Robert O’Reilly HT), Conor Keeley, Alan Kehoe (Dylan Kavanagh 70); Lorcan Shannon (Sodiq Oguntola 70), Cian Kavanagh (Dylan Grimes 70), Robert Duggan (Ryan Robinson 70), Gareth Coughlan (Jamie Doyle 59); Mark Sandford, Carl Walshe (Jamie English 59).
Subs not used: Greg Murray.
Booked: None
Friendly Report: Limerick FC 0 - 2 Dundalk
Friendly Report: Limerick FC 0 - 2 Dundalk
Limerick FC suffered a loss for the second time in a week as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of champions Dundalk at the University of Limerick on Saturday night.
Both clubs were playing their third official friendly of the pre-season period having endured contrasting results thus far.
Coming into the game, Dundalk had easily dispatched of both Cliftonville and Waterford United whereas Limerick came into the game off the back of a 2-0 loss to Bray Wanderers.
The task Limerick faced was difficult , especially considering they were without first team regulars Paul O’Conor, Lee- J Lynch and Shaun Kelly against a full strength Dundalk outfit.
During the opening exchanges, both sides enjoyed spells of possession without creating any chances of note. In the fourth minute, former UCD playmaker Robbie Benson took a shot from the edge of the box which travelled harmlessly wide of Freddy Hall’s goal.
Dundalk pressed Limerick all over the pitch with Robbie Benson and Patrick McEleney playing in behind lone striker Ciaran Kilduff. Stephan O’Donnell sat in a defensive position and the captain looked very comfortable throughout the game.
In the 20th minute the visitors should have taken the lead. Limerick full-back Tony Whitehead surrendered possession to Stephan O’Donnell, who in turn played a through ball to the impressive Sean Gannon who fired wide from ten yards out from inside the penalty area.
Dundalk began to dominate from this moment on and the Blues struggled to keep the ball in the opposition half for any length of time. The front trio of Chris Mulhall, Guillermo Torres and Stephan Kenny struggled immensely against the physical and hard-working Dundalk defence.
Just after the half hour mark, Dundalk were awarded a free-kick at the edge of the box but McEleney smashed his effort straight at Hall in the Limerick goal. Limerick’s only chance of the half arrived on the 39th minute, as Shane Tracey forced a great save from Gary Rogers with a free-kick from 25 yards out.
As the half-time whistle was edging closer, Dundalk created the best chance of the half as the overlapping Shane Grimes drilled the ball across the six-yard box, but Kilduff could only divert his effort over the crossbar.
Dundalk began the second half at a ferocious pace and a McEleney shot was saved by Hall immediately after the restart. However, McEleney had an even better chance three minutes later as he intercepted a Robbie Williams pass but struck a poor effort wide.
The pressure was certainly building and it appeared like it was only a matter of time before the Lilywhites would open their account.
The inevitable occurred on the 56th minute as Darren Meenan switched the ball to right-back Gannon, who skipped past Colm Murphy before sending a low cross for Kilduff to finish the move from six yards out.
Dundalk doubled their lead on the 70th minute as Brian Gartland met a John Moutney corner and finished with a right footed shot at the second attempt after the initial header was blocked.
Limerick failed to test Rogers in the second period as the visitors upped the tempo. However, Ross Mann was very positive in attack after his introduction which will please Martin Russell.
With eight minutes remaining Dundalk created the game’s final chance when a quick corner from Dave Macmillan to Chris Shields resulted in the latter forcing a great save from Hall with a curling shot.
This game was a timely test for both Limerick and Dundalk as both sides have ambitions of winning the SSE Airtricity League First Division and Premier Division respectively.
On the basis of this game, it is clear that the drive and quality which led Dundalk to win back to back league titles has not diminished. They played with urgency throughout and worked incredibly hard to close Limerick down, particularly in the midfield area where Shane Duggan and Shane Tracey found it difficult to create space.
Limerick FC will be quite happy with their display against the team currently the top side in the country, restricting the champions for much of the game, and the Blues will look at this game as a positive experience heading into the new season.
Limerick FC: Freddy Hall; Tony Whitehead (Liam McCartan 45), Paudie O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Colm Murphy; Chris Mulhall, Shane Tracy, Shane Duggan © (Shane Lowth 88), Stephan Kenny (Ross Mann 52), Garbhan Coughlan (Clyde O’Connell 73); Guillermo Torres (Shane Costelloe 80).
Subs not used: Tommy Holland, Killian Brouder.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon. Brian Gartland, Paddy Barrett (Andy Boyle 45), Shane Grimes (George Poynton 45); John Moutney, Stephan O’Donnell ©, Patrick McEleney (Ronan Finn 64), Robbie Benson (Chris Shields 64), Darren Meenan (Ciaran O’Connor 68); Ciaran Kilduff (Dave Macmillan 64).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava.
Referee: Padraig Sutton
Attendance: 200 (Estimate)
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Gannon (Dundalk)
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