3 v 2 
Kerry FCVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 June 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Bray Wanderers had a great start back to their first Division campaign courtesy of two wonder strikes as they saw off Kerry FC 3-2 at the Carlisle Grounds. Two fantastic strikes from Darren Craven and Ben Feeney sandwiched a Kerry equaliser in the first half. Chris Lyons put the icing on the cake for the Wanderers with a third in the second. Kerry applied plenty of pressure however and forced a squeaker end to the game through Brosnan in the 88th minute. The game was barely three minutes old when the “Wanderers” took the lead. A loose ball into midfield was intercepted by Harry Groome who played forward to Darren Craven. The midfielder drove forward and then, from about 25 yards out, let fly and the ball rocketed into the top corner, an unstoppable shot to open the scoring for the home side. Just as it looked as though Bray would kick on, the away side found their way back into the game. A goal-kick was poorly defended, with Kerry winning a flick on. The resulting pass from Ryan Kelliher played through Leo Gaxha, who slotted past an on-rushing McGuinness into the bottom corner. The game became a lot tighter after that, with one big chance coming for Bray as Ben Feeney hit the post from a corner and plenty of offsides against the home side. As the game hit the 46th minute of the first half however, Conor Crowley punched a crisp pass into the feet of Feeney out wide. The young forward cut inside on his weaker left foot and curled an outstanding effort past the diving Callan Scully to put the home side back in front just before the break. The game continued in much the same vain in the second half as Kerry pressed forward for an equaliser. They found themselves caught out once more however in the 56th minute as Luka Lovic played a relatively simple through ball to Chris Lyons who, after two disallowed goals spoiled his first half, made no mistake here and calmly rolled the ball into the net to put the Seagulls out of sight at 3-1. Kerry did not go down without a fight and in the 88th minute, pulled a goal back. A deep free kick looked to all like it was heading out, except for Matt Keane. He did exceptionally well to keep the ball in play and was rewarded with a fine goal by Cian Brosnan after he squared it to him. It was not to be however for the Tralee side and Bray picked up an important three points to restart their campaign. Bray slay Kingdom at the Carlisle Grounds
Timeline
| 7. Darren Craven | 3' | |
| 16' | 12. Leo Gaxha | |
| 40' | 12. Matt Keane | |
| 45+2' | 26. Togor Silong | |
| 10. Ben Feeney | 46' | |
| Harry Groome Guillermo Almirall | 46' | |
| 46' | Rob Vasiu Sean O'Connell | |
| 48' | 15. Kevin Williams | |
| 50' | 14. Cian Barrett | |
| 9. Chris Lyons | 56' | |
| Ben Feeney Ger Shortt | 64' | |
| 64' | 18. Samuel Aladesanusi | |
| 70' | Seán McGrath Cian Brosnan | |
| 70' | Ryan Kelliher Kennedy Amechi | |
| Darren Craven Callum Thompson | 72' | |
| Chris Lyons Jake Walker | 72' | |
| Luka Lovic Conor Knight | 87' | |
| 88' | 17. Cian Brosnan | |
| 6. Guillermo Almirall | 89' | |
| 89' | Matt Keane Alex Ainscough | |
| 89' | Togor Silong Graham O'Reilly |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 15)
0 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Mounthawk Park Kerry FC 0-2 Bray Wanderers FC |
|
(Round 2)
3 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Carlisle Grounds Bray Wanderers FC 3-1 Kerry FC |
Ground
| Carlisle Grounds |
|---|
| Carlisle Grounds, Seapoint Road, Bray No 2, The Municipal District of Bray, County Wicklow, Leinster, A98 T9D9, Ireland |
Gary Dowling
This second year journalism student in Dublin City University has an avid Soccer and League of Ireland fan since his first visit to the Carlisle Grounds over a decade ago.
Full time here and it finishes Bray 3-2 Kerry. A nervy end to the game for the home side but a vital three points in the end. Thanks for joining me this evening.
Two Kerry changes as Ainscough and O'Reilly replace Silong and Keane.
In for a lively end of the game here as Kerry pull one back. A deep free kick floats towards the back post, Bray think it is going out but Keane does not and does excellently to keep the ball in play. He squares to Broslin and he rifles it into the top corner.
Final Bray sub as Knight comes on for Lovic.
A double Bray change follows, on come Thompson and Walker for Lyons and Craven.
A double Kerry change see's McGrath and Kelliher being replaced by Amechi and Broslin.
Second Bray change sees goalscorer Feeney replaced by Shortt.
Kerry's discipline has evaporated as a fourth enters the referee's book, this time it is Aladesanusi
The home side now 3-1 up! A lovely through ball finds Chris Lyons who, after two previous offside goals, finally manages to keep himself in line and slots past the Kerry keeper.
A third Kerry player enters the book as Barrett sived down Feeney out by the touchline.
Back underway here and both sides make a change at the break. Almirall on for Groome for Bray and O'Connell on for Vasiu for Kerry.
Williams into book with a dangerous free kick to Bray given. Craven strikes a wicked effort which catches Scully off guard and an almight scramble occurs before it is eventually cleared. The end of the half comes there too and it is Bray in front.
What a strike from Ben Feeney to put Bray ahead at the break! He collects it on the edge of the box, cuts inside onto his weaker left foot and curls a beauty in the top left hand corner. 2-1 Bray.
A minute added on here at the end of the first half.
A very tough tackle by Matthew Keane results in the first yellow of the night brandished.
Bray had the ball in the back of the net again but Feeney was deemed offside, flag was very late however.
Another big chance for Bray, another big chance for Feeney. A corner is whipped in by Crowley and it finds the head of the Bray forward but his effort crashes back off the post and out.
Kerry equalise! Sloppy defending on part of the home side as they don\'t win the first ball, with Gaxha being played through on goal as a result. He is composed and slots past an on-rushing McGuinness to make it 1-1.
A huge chance for Bray to double their lead. It comes again from poor Kerry defending as an attempted clearance is deflected into the path of Ben Feeney but his sliding effort rolls agonizingly wide.
With two minutes gone Bray are already 1-0 up! It is a wonder strike too from Darren Craven, who lets fly from all of 25 yards out and the ball rockets into the top corner.
Underway at the Carlisle Grounds.
Teams are in with both sides mixing it up from their previous fixture. Bray make two, with Massey and Hudson coming in for Omorehiomwan and O\'Sullivan. As for Kerry, there are 3 changes with the return of Leo Gaxha amongst them.
Good evening and welcome back to League of Ireland action after the summer break. Bray Wanderers host Kerry tonight in search of their first win in 4 games. Team news to follow.