Details

Date Time League Season
3 November 2021 7:45 pm LOI Men's Promotion / Relegation Playoffs 2021

Match Report

Bray and Galway scoreless in first leg

It was clear Galway United nor Bray Wanderers wanted to lose this promotion playoff in the Carlisle Grounds tonight, but neither side did enough to win either.

A 0-0 stalemate the final result, following a cagey yet tension filled affair, which leaves it all to play for this Sunday in the second leg.

Right from the off the visitors came swinging out of the gates, as did their wealth of supporters who remained cheering throughout the night.

United’s plunging forward was short lived however as they often had to resort to extensive build up play when Bray’s ball over the top consistently dropped short.

Wanderers were lucky that Conor Clifford didn’t receive a yellow card for his multiple fouls within the opening ten minutes, but they would have had other qualms with the referee over the full 90.

Wilson Waweru was dangerous for the Tribesmen as their forward threat, as was Gary Shaw for the hosts but neither could break the deadlock despite their best efforts.

Mark Byrne accumulated a yellow around five minutes before the interval but that was all to report after the first half’s conclusion.

Once the second passage was in play the substitutions began to fold in and out. Daniel Jones was the first player to leave the turf, as he was replaced by Luka Lovic, and Bray later supplemented this change when Darragh Craven entered the fray in Shaw’s spot.

Clifford did go on to pick up an inevitable yellow card for his successive infringements, and shortly afterwards it was Galway who were to swap their personnel.

Shane Doherty and Padriac Cunningham came on for Gary Boylan and Waweru in a last ditch hail Mary for the victory, but it came to no avail.

The 83rd minute saw one of the biggest contention points of the match when Cunningham was involved in a toss-up in the box. While pleas for a penalty ensued, there was nothing awarded to him but a yellow card for diving.

Tonight's result means Sunday’s 5pm kick off has become all the more crucial, with the winner progressing to the final and in with a chance of promotion.

Bray Wanderers

1Brian Maher Goalkeeper
4Andrew Quinn Defender
5Aaron Barry Defender
15Daniel Jones 17 Defender
6Conor Clifford Midfielder 62'
8Mark Byrne Midfielder 39'
9Joe Doyle Forward
11Brandon Kavanagh Midfielder
14Richie O’Farrell Midfielder
10Gary Shaw 16 Forward
7Ryan Graydon Forward
25Kian Clarke Goalkeeper
3Dylan Barnett Defender
28Sam Verdon Forward
16Darren Craven 10 Midfielder
17Luka Lovic 15 Midfielder
20Ryan Bowden Defender
22Steven Kinsella Forward
30Jack Ross Goalkeeper

Galway Utd

16Conor Kearns Goalkeeper
2Conor O’Keeffe Defender
3Stephen Walsh Defender
4Gary Boylan 11 Defender
6Maurice Nugent Defender
7Ruairi Keating Forward
18Luke Dennison Goalkeeper
10David Hurley Midfielder
14Mikie Rowe Midfielder
18Wilson Waweru 9 Forward
22Conor McCormack Midfielder
32Joe Gorman Defender
5Killian Brouder Defender
8Dean O’Shea Defender
9Padraic Cunningham 18 Forward 84'
11Shane Doherty 4 Midfielder
15Carlton Ubaezuonu Midfielder
20Mikey Place Midfielder
21Christopher Horgan Defender
25Alex Murphy Defender
  • 94'

    All over, 0-0 the end result

  • 90'

    4 minutes added time

  • 90'

    A Bray attack converts to a Galway one but a long range effort falls straight to the keepers hands

  • 88'

    Bray had most of the possession for the last five minutes, the question remains though can they capitalise before the final whistle

  • 86'

    Graydon's shot blocked by Kearns

  • 83'

    Galway penalty call but referee says no. Yellow card awarded for diving

  • 82'

    Throw in Galway near Bray's corner flag. Delivered into the penalty area but cleared out

  • 81'

    Brian Maher taking all of his allocated time for a kick out now, possibly suggestive that Bray would be happy for things to stay the way they are

  • 79'

    Corner Bray

  • 78'

    Bray undergoing a seldom push forward at the minute. Still 0-0 with just over 10 minutes to go

  • 76'

    Waweru off too, he's replaced by Cunningham

  • 75'

    Shane Doherty on for Galway, Boyle off

  • 74'

    Corner Galway

  • 73'

    Brian Maher consistently under pressure by Galway's attackers

  • 71'

    Gary Shaw off for Bray, Craven on

  • 70'

    Ball collected by Bray's keeper to dig them out of a hole. They appear to be tiring as the game progresses

  • 69'

    Tension rising in the Carlisle Grounds but no score to report as of yet

  • 68'

    Goal kick Bray

  • 67'

    Galway with a lot of the momentum as of late, Bray dropping deep

  • 64'

    Waweru chance there is cut out by Maher who came out off his line to put a stop to the run

  • 62'

    Yellow card for Clifford

  • 61'

    A myriad of throws in the last few minutes as we pass the hour mark

  • 57'

    Great ball into Doyle from Kavanagh but it just escapes him

  • 55'

    Sub for Bray, Daniel Jones off, Luka Lovic on

  • 53'

    Waweru calls for a free but to no avail, referee says play on

  • 51'

    Galway starting this half with tenacity. Corner kick for them now

  • 50'

    Free out for Bray after a confrontation with the Galway forward infront of their box

  • 46'

    Bray's free kick in a dangerous area goes askew

  • 45'

    2nd half is in play

  • Halftime, 0-0 stalemate thus far

  • 45'

    Bit of deliberation over some of the referee's decisions tonight in the Carlisle Grounds

  • 45'

    2 minutes added time announced

  • 42'

    Free in to Bray but the ball in goes out for a goalkick to Galway

  • 40'

    Galway get a head to it but Brian Maher gathers it

  • 40'

    Waweru fouled by Clifford again. McCormack over the ball

  • 39'

    Yellow card for Mark Byrne

  • 35'

    McCormack throws it to the far post but its headed away by Shaw

  • 35'

    Free to Galway just inside Bray's half

  • 34'

    Clifford shot from 30 yards dips beyond the crossbar

  • 32'

    The game has lost a touch of its sting in the last few minutes as both sides have gone quite defensive

  • 28'

    A stoppage as as Shaw receives medical treatment

  • 27'

    Shaw gets a touch to it and its out for a goal kick

  • 26'

    Corner to Bray and this could be their chance

  • 25'

    Galway goal kick

  • 22'

    Wawaru's cross goes across the face of goal and out for a goal kick

  • 21'

    Bray often resorting to long balls but Galway the better of them so far in this one

  • 18'

    Great ball into Galway's box sees Joe Doyle commit the foul and there's a free out called

  • 15'

    Kavanagh gets a shot off across goal but no joy as Kearns meets it with ease

  • 13'

    Another chance for Galway drifts over the crossbar

  • 11'

    Clifford's second foul in the opening ten minutes sees Galway earn another free kick

  • 10'

    Rowe and Waweru working well in tandem early on, rapidly getting forward when Galway gain possession

  • 8'

    Galway pressing high on Bray throughout

  • 4'

    Kavanagh hits the ball on a first time volley but its over the crossbar

  • 3'

    First corner of the game goes to Galway

  • 3'

    Galway looking more up for this of the two sides early on, pushing forward frequently. Freekick now for them on the right of the pitch deep in Bray's half

  • 1'

    Mikey Rowe drills a long range effort at goal but it's out over the endline

  • The match gets underway

  • A minute silence is taking place at the Carlisle Grounds

  • The teams are in and there's only five minutes until kick off in Bray

  • As we await the teams we will scan through the fundamentals! The referee for tonight's fixture is Gavin Colfer and according to Galway's twitter page it is currently 8 degrees at the Carlisle Grounds, with 6% precipatation, 82% humidity and a wind of 27km/h

  • While the second leg is still to be undertaken on the 7th of November, with the ultimate glory of a division upgrade on the line there is sure to be tumult and turmoil between the duo tonight in Wicklow.

  • Up front Kavanagh, Joe Doyle, and Gary Shaw are one to watch for tonight’s home squad, while Waweru, Ruairi Keating and Padraic Cunningham are firing on all cylinders for the visitors.

  • Uncharacteristic for Brian Maher to have that much of a mishap in net, the keeper had a cumulative 11 clean sheets throughout the campaign in contrast to Conor Kearns’s 10 for Galway.

  • On the other side of the coin Bray fell victim to Wexford FC on a scoreline of 4-2 last Friday. There Brandon Kavanagh’s goals were cancelled out by strikes from Daniel Dobbin, Thomas Considine, Evan Farrell and Jack Moylan.

  • That most recent affair yielded Wison Waweru the hero of the day when he converted a long ball put to him by Conor McCormack and sank the oppositions hopes. After that The Tribesmen suffered a 3-0 defeat to Cork City when Jonas Hakkinen, Alec Byrne & Cian Coleman were on target for the Munster outfit.

  • Throughout the course of the year, three encounters unfolded between the pair, with hap hazard results. Bray emerged triumphant from their first encounter in series seven, the spoils were shared in series 16 and United clinched a 1-0 champion over Wanderers in series 25 at Eamonn Deacy Park.

  • The second placed Westerners are favourites to win the tie, finishing the overall season 14 points ahead of fifth spot Bray Wanderers come the conclusion of the league. UCD and Treaty United face off in the corresponding fixture, with the winners scheduled to battle it out for the opportunity of Premier Division glory on November 19th.

  • The First Division promotion play offs get underway this evening with Bray Wanderers playing hosts to Galway United at the Carlisle Grounds (7:45pm). Tonight's match commentary is brought to you by Alanna Cunnane

Past Meetings

(Series 25)
1 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United v Bray Wanderers

(Series 16)
0 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Galway United

(Series 7)
1 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United v Bray Wanderers

(Semi Final)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Promotion / Relegation Playoffs
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Galway Utd

(Series 17)
0 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Galway United

(Series 8)
0 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United v Bray Wanderers

3 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Galway United FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bray Wanderers FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Galway United FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bray Wanderers FC

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Galway United FC

4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bray Wanderers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Galway United FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United FC v Bray Wanderers FC

5
LOI Men's Premier Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers FC v Galway United FC

Ground

Carlisle Grounds
Carlisle Grounds, Seapoint Road, Bray No 2, The Municipal District of Bray, County Wicklow, Leinster, A98 T9D9, Ireland

Alanna is currently pursuing her studies in journalism at Dublin City University and writes regularly for her local media outlets in Sligo.