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Date Time League Season
13 May 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2022

Match Report

Fox delivers late draw for Bray against Treaty United

Bray Wanderers twice came from behind, as Paul Fox's late looping half-volley saw them snatch a point against Treaty United at the Markets Field in the First Division tonight.

The result means both remain as they are in the standings, their winless runs continuing, having failed to take their best chances just like during last month's reverse fixture.

Four goals were scored this time around, but were borne more from a mixture of sloppy defending and first-time finishing than anything.

Profligacy was again the buzzword here, with Treaty forward Dean George missing two promising opportunities before Jack Lynch had a goal correctly disallowed for offside.

In first-half stoppage-time, Conor McManus made an excellent last-ditch sliding challenge to deny Enda Curran as he bore down on goal at the near post.

Having broken the deadlock eight minutes in with a sweetly struck effort, his sixth goal this term, he was denied by a perfectly-timed defensive intervention.

This all happened before half-time. Bray, to their credit, battled back and would've been enthused by their narrow deficit - deceiving how poorly they had played in the first hour or so.

Curran, having tried unsuccessfully to play through pain, limped off just before the hour mark. Joe Collins, who created the hosts' opener, was also replaced. It felt like more than just coincidence that two minutes later, they conceded.

Bray were finding success down the channels and repeatedly stifling their hosts in transition, with Darragh Lynch showing great control and awareness to tee up an onrushing Kieran Marty Waters - who kept onside - before firing low and hard to the far post.

Just when it felt like Pat Devlin's men were beginning to establish control, Treaty retook the lead. Having been denied by the offside flag in the first-half, their overlapping captain Lynch wouldn't be denied a second time as he combined with substitute Conor Melody to slam home from close-range.

Treaty, who have shown a tendency to concede goals in spurts, saw their defensive frailties return late on and they were ultimately fortunate to come away with a point. Fox pounced on a cross, spotting Jack Brady in no man's land, to loop the ball over him and into the far corner.

That wasn't all, as a frantic goalmouth scramble ensued in stoppage-time, with goalline clearances and a loose ball causing havoc - without eventual reward - as Bray probed for a remarkable turnaround.

Sean Guerins' last-ditch block proved priceless, with the hosts again crumbling under pressure as they did against Galway a fortnight ago.

Somehow, this spectacle finished 2-2, but on the balance of this display, neither side will earn promotion through the play-offs if they continue defending as they have.

Devlin took positives from a frenzied finish, revealing post-match that four players - including Rob Manley and Vilius Labutis - were unavailable as they are currently doing their exams. 
All things considered, this was a gritty point to take home for a youthful side who haven't got going yet this season, but one which will feel like another two points dropped as far as Treaty are concerned.

Treaty Utd

1Jack Brady Goalkeeper
2Charlie Fleming Defender
3Marc Ludden Defender
5Sean Guerins Forward
6Callum McNamara Midfielder
8Joe Collins 22 Midfielder
10Dean George 21 Forward
12Lee Devitt Midfielder
19Enda Curran 7 Forward 8'
32Joe Gorman Defender
44Jack Lynch Defender 79'
13Conor Winn Goalkeeper
22Matt Keane 8 Defender
33Lee Mulready Defender
7Conor Melody 19 Midfielder
19Josh Quinlivan Midfielder
20Martin Coughlan Midfielder
21Colin Conroy 10 Midfielder
27Jack Arra Forward
31Fionn Doherty Forward

Bray Wanderers

25Michael Kelly Goalkeeper
3Kevin Knight Defender
12Jack Hudson Defender
18Zak O’Neill Midfielder 86'
11Paul Fox Midfielder 84'
21Conor Knight 16 Midfielder
24Darragh Lynch Forward 85'
10Kieran Marty Waters 7 Forward 60'
23Conor McManus 32 Midfielder
26Ben Feeney Forward 32'
27Dean Zambra Midfielder
1Stephen McGuinness Goalkeeper
7Keith Dalton 10 Midfielder
15Eoin Massey Midfielder
16Callum Thompson 21 Midfielder
28Darragh Livingston Midfielder
14Jamie Callaghan Midfielder
17Karl Manahan Forward
31Enda Douglas Defender
32Ugo Anny Nzekwue 23 Forward
  • Thanks for joining me tonight, I've been Mosope Ominiyi, be sure to stay tuned to the site for more coverage across the grounds... with my full match report to come.

  • 94'

    Full-time! Treaty United 2-2 Bray Wanderers, a typically frantic finish to another slow-burning affair... one that neither side will be happy with the result, for completely different reasons. Treaty were dominant in the first-half, didn't take their chances, and couldn't hold out defensively -- but Bray were better in the latter stages and could've won it at the death.

  • 92'

    Bray, unconvincingly, clear their lines amid a goalmouth scramble with some head tennis... Melody flicks goalwards but Kelly watches the effort trickle beyond his far post and out for a goal-kick.

  • 90'

    Four minutes of stoppage-time to be added on at the end of this frantic second-half now...

  • 88'

    How has he missed? Matt Keane through on goal for the hosts, loses his footing and fires wide!

  • 85'

    FOX FIRES BACK FOR BRAY! ANOTHER EQUALISER! It's all happening at both ends now, with Paul Fox the latest to benefit from a Treaty mistake with Jack Brady in no man's land...

  • 79'

    TREATY BACK AHEAD, GREAT FINISH! JACK LYNCH CAN\'T BE DENIED A SECOND TIME! All props to substitute Conor Melody, whose surge and subsequent cross towards the danger zone was well controlled, then emphatically finished off the roof of the net by his captain! 2-1.

  • 78'

    Conroy is on, in place of Dean George... who was involved in their opener, but could've easily had a brace tonight.

  • 69'

    Close! Waters whips a delicious ball into the box for Lynch, who is unmarked, six yards out and has a free header with the goal gaping... but misses the cross as it flies through the air! Treaty are on the ropes here.

  • 65'

    Lynch's pace and composure in the final third is proving a nuisance for the hosts now, he shapes to shoot but hits a Treaty player - rather than a block - as the visitors are surging into the ascendancy suddenly.

  • 61'

    It's imperative you take those chances when they come, because you just never know what might happen! Darragh Lynch showed great touch and awareness in the build-up, teeing up an onrushing Waters - who was onside - who didn't hesitate to let fly, firing low and hard to the far post! The ball bounced out back off the back stanchion, but it was already in. Treaty 1-1 Bray, game on again.

  • 60'

    GOAL! JUST LIKE THAT, BRAY EQUALISE!

  • 58'

    Double substitution for the hosts, with the first-half goalscorer and creator both being replaced now: Curran and Collins off, Keane and Melody on.

  • 56'

    Curran was noticeably limping from the restart and is still struggling from that aforementioned knock earlier, so expect he'll come off shortly in the first of a few changes here...

  • 54'

    Fleming gets caught in possession, Gorman's defensive intervention proves key as he takes the sting out of Feeney's goalbound effort... Brady gratefully clutches the ball in his gloves.

  • 52'

    A lot of ticky-tack fouls committed by both to start the second-half, nothing much of note to really report on -- though as I type, goalkeeper Jack Brady does well stifling a potentially dangerous Bray cross in its tracks.

  • 45'

    No substitutions for either side, it'll be Bray to start the second-half.

  • 47'

    Half-time: Treaty United 1-0 Bray Wanderers, Enda Curran's brilliant finish separates the sides at the interval but they've had ample opportunity to essentially wrap this match up already. Still game on here, though it's Treaty's to lose.

  • 44'

    Somehow, it\'s still only 1-0 as Treaty beat the offside trap with Curran's deft touch taking him goalwards.. only for an excellent last-ditch sliding challenge by Conor McManus to deny the hosts!

  • 35'

    Curran can continue, at least for now, as play resumes. Treaty 1-0 up but Bray should be glad the scoreline is so narrow given how many chances they've already conceded inside 35 minutes here.

  • 33'

    Goalscorer Curran appears to be down in pain, clutching his ankle, so there'll be a stoppage in play to see if he's okay to continue or will need to be replaced. Water break time.

  • 32'

    Feeney gets the game's first booking after a clumsy, late challenge on Lynch. Zambra was fortunate not to join him in the official's book, though a yellow was certainly coming - resulting free-kick is wasted though, a Bray reprieve.

  • 30'

    Treaty score through Lynch but it's correctly ruled offside, minutes after Kelly makes an outstretched leg stop to deny Curran as Bray make a mess of their attempts to play out from the back. It's not looking good for the visitors.

  • 26'

    Over the bar! As soon as the commentators suggest Bray are gradually getting into this game, George could and should\'ve doubled the Treaty lead! A big long kick is headed on by Curran, he races to the loose ball and dinks it over an onrushing \'keeper, but it floats over the bar too. Still just a one-goal lead, but it could easily be 3-0.

  • 17'

    Ben Feeney drives forward on a marauding run and unleashes a hopeful effort from distance, though it's one that won't trouble goalkeeper Jack Brady as it whistles past his near post.

  • 15'

    Some fiesty, fierce but firm challenges being committed by both sides - Treaty still having the better of the early exchanges, owning possession so far.

  • 9'

    It was certainly a great finish, leaving Michael Kelly no chance in the visitors' goal, and it's no surprise given how Treaty - utilising their width - have begun this encounter intently.

  • 8'

    GOAL! Treaty break the deadlock, Joe Collins' lofted ball into Enda Curran is struck sweetly and arrows into the bottom corner, it's 1-0 to the hosts and Curran's sixth goal of the season!

  • 6'

    First big chance and it goes Treaty's way: Ludden's corner delivery is an enticing one, Dean George gets his head on it from close-range... but can only watch the ball flash over the bar as Bray's blushes are spared.

  • The referee blows his whistle, and we're underway! Will either side improve upon last month's goalless draw?

  • Check the line-ups tab for the full team news across both sides, with the players already through their warm-ups and preparing to arrive before kick-off in a few minutes' time now.

  • Five changes to the starting eleven inbound for the visitors, including a rare start for Michael Kelly in goal. First-choice 'keeper McGuinness, who has conceded ten in their last five games, is dropped down to bench duty.

  • Without further ado then, team news is as follows..

  • There\'s seven matches across Ireland's top two divisions taking place elsewhere tonight, two directly impacting this pair. Title challengers Galway travel to fifth-placed Wexford, while Waterford entertain second bottom Cobh Ramblers - results which could swing the table in multiple ways, especially if there\'s a winner in this fixture.

  • Before any team news is released shortly, be sure to check out my match preview. I covered the reverse fixture on April 8 and while both sides threatened with big goalscoring chances, it ended in a goalless draw. For some reason though given what's at stake, I\'m convinced this will not be the same end result tonight...

  • Good evening and welcome to tonight's live commentary, as Treaty United look to snap their winless run at home against a similarly unpredictable Bray Wanderers side tonight with kick-off a few hours away now! My name's Mosope Ominiyi, I'll be describing the night's play-by-play action as it unfolds from Markets Field.

Past Meetings

(Round 9)
0 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Treaty United

(Round 19)
1 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds

Bray Wanderers v Treaty United

(Round 10)
2 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
Jackman Park

Treaty United v Bray Wanderers

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

Bray Wanderers v Treaty United

Ground

Markets Field
Markets Field, Limerick City, County Limerick, Munster, V94 AY9C, Ireland

Mosope Ominiyi is a freelance sports journalist and sub-editor with over a decade's worth of experience, having graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons degree at Staffordshire University. His work has appeared in The Times, MailOnline and Sportskeeda, among other platforms.