- Finbarr O'Sullivan
- Sat, Sep 13 2008
Galway made a lively start to the match and had their first chance inside two minutes. John Russell crossed into the box for Jonathan Keane who controlled before firing at goal. With keeper Alan Gough beaten, Keane’s effort rebounded off the post.
Bray’s first chance of the night fell to Daryl Robson in the 22nd minute. Following a good run by Patrick Kavanagh down the left, he crossed into the box for Aidan O’Keefe. O’Keefe couldn’t get the space for a shot and after turning, he played the ball back to Robson on the edge of the area. The midfielder curled his shot goalwards but it went inches over.
In the 25th minute, Alan Cawley’s clever ball in behind the Galway defence gave Ger Rowe the space for a shot but he fired his shot inches wide of the far post. In the 45th minute, Galway went close through Jason Molloy. Good play between Jonathan Keane and Russell saw the ball played into Molloy in the Bray area. Molloy shot from the edge of the six-yard area but his effort was saved by the feet of a surprised Alan Gough. The ball was then cleared by the Bray defence.
With Bray hoping for the half-time whistle, Galway picked up the ball in the midfield and John Russell played a sublime pass across the park to Marc McCulloch. McCulloch controlled before shooting from 30-yards. His effort took a noticeable deflection of Gavin Whelan and flew past Alan Gough in the Bray goal.
The second half was not as entertaining as the first and the first real chance did not come until the 64th minute when Bray’s Andy Myler equalised. Alan Cawley’s corner from the right was flicked on by Kevin Doherty at the near post and fell perfectly at the feet of the unmarked Myler at the far post. Myler swept the ball under Gary Rogers in the Galway goal to level the scores.
Galway tried to restore the lead and came very close in the 71st minute. Molloy’s free from the left of the area was weakly punched by an under-pressure Gough and Russell was on hand to hook the ball goalwards. However, sub Colm Tresson got back in time to clear the ball to safety.
Galway went close again in the 79th minute. This time McCulloch went on a run down the left before passing inside to Molloy on the edge of the area. He controlled and spun around before forcing Alan Gough into a good save.
The game fizzled out after that with a succession of substitutions breaking up the flow of the game. A draw was the fair result on the night and both sides will be confident that they can progress to the semi-final with a win on Tuesday night.
Galway United: Gary Rogers; Seamus Conneely, John Fitzgerald, Marc McCulloch, Alan Keane; Jonathan Keane (Levi Tierney ’76), John Lester, John Russell (Vinny Faherty ‘75), Ciaran Foley; Jesper Jorgensen (Ollie Fenn ‘83), Jason Molloy.
Booked: Foley, McCulloch (90+2).
Bray Wanderers: Alan Gough; Derek Pender, Ray Kenny, Gavin Whelan, Gary Cronin; Paddy Kavanagh, Aidan O'Keefe (Kevin Doherty 46), Alan Cawley, Daryl Robson (Colm Tresson ‘70); Andy Myler (Jake Kelly 86), Ger Rowe.
Booked: Kavanagh (14), Robson (53).
Referee: Alan Kelly.
Man of the Match: John Russell (Galway United).
