FAI Cup Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Bray Wanderers

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The perennial cup fixture between St Patrick’s Athletic and Bray Wanderers sees the sides meet in the FAI Cup first round at Richmond Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

The two have met in the Leinster Senior Cup in each of the last three seasons, and twice in three years in EA Sports Cup, and will now renew hostilities in the big cup.

Saints boss Harry Kenny will face his former club to Richmond Park for the first time since assuming the reins this season, Bray having been relegated last year.

Last week saw the Inchicore side return to winning ways in the league, ending a four-game losing run with a last-gasp win away to Cork City.

Substitute Ronan Hale, who only received international clearance on the day of the game following his deadline-day move from Crusaders, scored the winner in injury time.

"I was really happy with last week's win over Cork,” Kenny told the club’s official website.

“I thought we were solid and deserved the win, and I was was delighted to see Ronan Hale come in and score the winner in his first game.

"Getting a home draw was great, but Bray will be difficult. They are a very capable side and have some good players in their ranks, be it a few who have been in the Premier Division a good bit before, or good up and coming young players."

"We are hoping to go on a good run in the cup this year and hopefully will start with a win on Friday."

Mikey Drennan misses out after receiving an additional three-game ban following his sending-off against Dundalk, while Gary Shaw and Kevin Toner are doubtful.

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray Wanderers take a short break from their battle to secure the last promotion play-off spot to make the familiar trip just north to Inchicore.

Gary Cronin’s side have taken ten points from a potential 12 to keep just about on the coattails of fourth-placed Cabinteely with just four games to go.

The last two weeks have seen the Seagulls score eight times in back-to-back wins over Limerick and Wexford.

Last Friday’s trip to Ferrycarrig Park saw the three points wrapped up inside the first half as Paul Keegan, Brandon McCann, John Martin and Dylan McGlade all found the target.

Danny Furlong had pulled it back to 3-1 just before McGlade added the fourth on the stroke of half-time, before Philip Gannon wrapped up a comfortable 5-1 win.

Dylan Barnett and Darragh Gibbons are the only potential absentees for Bray as they face late fitness tests.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

MATCH STATS

The sides have met countless times in the league in recent seasons as both were, until this season, near-permanent fixtures in the Premier Division.

They’ve been comparatively frequent bedfellows in cup competition, too, with five meetings between the sides in the past three seasons alone.

They met in the Leinster Senior Cup in each of 2016, 2017 and 2018, with Bray Wanderers winning the first meeting 3-1 and Pats subsequent games 4-0 and 3-1.

They’ve also met twice in the EA Sports Cup, both of which went the distance before going Pats way – a 3-2 extra-time win in 2017 and penalties in 2018.

BETTING

St Patrick’s Athletic 4/11; Draw 10/3; Bray Wanderers 11/2.

PREDICTION

St Patrick’s Athletic 2 – 0 Bray Wanderers

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Gary Shaw, Kevin Toner.

Suspended: Mikey Drennan.

Bray Wanderers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Dylan Barnett, Darragh Gibbons.

Suspended: None.