17.45 19 Sep 2015 -
Referee: Ray Matthews
League Report: Bray Wanderers 2 - 2 Limerick
- Dave Donnelly
- Sat, Sep 19 2015
Ryan McEvoy netted each side of half-time to earn a 2-2 draw for Bray Wanderers against Limerick in a high-quality encounter at the Carlisle Grounds.
Limerick – who are unbeaten in seven since their defeat to Shamrock Rovers in July – led twice thanks to first half goals from Dean Clarke and Vinny Faherty, but were pegged back each time by Mick Cooke's excellent side.
The visitors will feel unlucky not to have taken the three points that would have lifted them above Sligo Rovers at the bottom of the table, and will curse the form of Bray netminder Peter Cherrie, who pulled off two stunning second-half saves to deny Martin Russell's men.
Bray controlled the majority of the play in the opening quarter, limiting the visitors to long balls and counter attacks, and they threatened in the early stages as first captain Dave Cassidy and then Ryan McEvoy shot across goal when a little more composure would have forced saves.
Limerick gave an early indication of their goalscoring threat when a superb through ball from captain Shane Duggan forced Bray goalkeeper Peter Cherrie to act as a sweeper and make a vital interception as Faherty lurked.
The visitors again showed their ability to turn defence into attack from Bray's first corner of the match, Freddy Hall claiming in the air and immediately releasing Lee Lynch down the right wing with a pin-point throw.
Lynch switched the ball across flanks to Dean Clarke, who skipped past three retreating defenders before, off-balance, digging out a shot that forced a theatrical punch over the bar from Cherrie.
From Ian Turner's corner, Limerick's impressive centre-half Patrick Kanyuka headed back across goal and Clarke was unmarked and on hand to tap the ball home from close range and give Limerick the lead.
Within a minute, Bray were level as Robbie Williams could only clear a Peter McGlynn cross as far as Graham Kelly. His shot was misdirected but, fortunately, straight into the path of McEvoy, who stabbed past Hall.
Clarke could have grabbed his and Limerick's second from a poor Cherrie clearance, but his attempted lob only found the side-netting, however the Blues did eventually re-take the lead from Faherty's sweet volley.
Limerick keeper Hall produced a howler of his own when he stepped outside his area while attempting a quick kick-out, and was booked for his troubles, but Bray couldn't make anything from the resulting free.
The Seagulls did have the ball in the net before half time, when a well-worked four-pass corner routine ended up with Chris Lyons, who stabbed the ball high into the net, only to be denied by a correct offside call.
Limerick were unlucky not to extend their lead to two goals early in the second half as a mistake from Alan McNally allowed Clarke to run in behind the defence. Clarke pulled the ball back for Ian Turner, whose shot was destined for the bottom corner only for an outstretched leg from the wrong-footed Cherrie to somehow divert the ball wide.
Bray could have equalised immediately had Chris Lyons done better from Kelly's through-ball, and definitely should have been on level terms when McEvoy met Daniel O'Reilly's deep cross in the box but the midfielder headed badly over.
The former Bohemians player made amends 10 minutes from time when, after good work from Cassidy to keep the ball alive in the corner and cross, McEvoy scrambled to a loose ball and hit an unstoppable shot low into the corner of Hall's net.
It was little more than the Seagulls deserved for the industry they showed across the 90 minutes, but they had to endure a nervy finish as Limerick substitute Darragh Rainsford forced another outstanding save from Cherrie in injury time to ensure Limerick remain bottom of the pile for at least one more week.
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Michael Barker, Alan McNally, Niall Cooney, Daniel O'Reilly; Ryan McEvoy, John Sullivan, Graham Kelly, David Cassidy (Adam Wixted 89), Peter McGlynn (Adam Hanlon 62); Chris Lyons.
Subs not used: Sean Fogarty (gk), Luke Fitzpatrick, Luke Gallagher, Adam Mitchell, Adam Wixted, Emeka Onwubiko.
Booked: Michael Barker (65), David Cassidy (89)
Limerick: Freddy Hall; Tony Whitehead, Patrick Kanyuka, Robbie Williams, Shane Tracey (Darragh Rainsford 84); Shane Duggan, Ian Turner, Lee Lynch (Prince Agyemang 84), Sean Russell; Vinny Faherty, Dean Clarke.
Subs not used: Tommy Holland (gk), Paudie O'Connor, Shane Costelloe, Val Feeney, Cyril Guedjé.
Booked: Freddy Hall (40).
Referee: Ray Matthews.
Attendance: 500 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Dean Clarke (Limerick FC).
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dundalk | 33 | 23 | 9 | 1 | 78 |
2 | Cork | 33 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 67 |
3 | Shamrock R | 33 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 65 |
4 | St Patrick's Athl. | 33 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 58 |
5 | Bohs | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 53 |
6 | Longford | 33 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 39 |
7 | Derry | 33 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 35 |
8 | Bray | 33 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 33 |
9 | Sligo | 33 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 31 |
10 | Galway | 33 | 9 | 4 | 20 | 31 |
11 | Limerick | 33 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 29 |
12 | Drogheda | 33 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 28 |
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