A goal from Harry Groome along with a Ben Feeney penalty gave Bray Wanderers the victory over Kerry in a tight game in Mounthawk Park this evening.

Groome had an easy job to slot home after the keeper parried a low cross towards the edge of the box to give his side the lead but until this moment Kerry were the better side.

The penalty came from a handball decision with ten minutes to go and despite the Kerry protests the spot kick was given, Ben Feeney slotting to the keepers left to double the advantage.

Bray face a massive game at home to Cobh next week in the battle for third whilst Kerry host Wexford FC.

Bray Wanderers took tip and from what seemingly was a training ground routine almost opened the scoring immediately. The Seagulls moved forward like the Mighty Ducks flying V formation and with only fifteen seconds on the clock the ball was played to the left to Ger Shortt who dragged his left footed effort just past the post.

From this though, Kerry were arguably the better side for the rest of the opening half. A couple of half chances from Kelliher, McGrath, Aladesanusi and Williams almost got the breakthrough but nothing that forced keeper Moody into much of a panic.

Down the other end, there was only one effort on target from Dane Massey at the half hour mark with a shot from the edge of the box off a failed corner clearance but his effort was a good height for the keeper Aaron O’Sullivan in his second start for Kerry as he parried out to his left to safety.

Going in at the break Billy Dennehy would be the happier of the two managers, as his side were able to force multiple turnovers in midfield, with Bray playing the same diamond in midfield from the first meeting between these sides in February. Ronan Teehan in particular was proving pivotal, gaining possession a number of times and looking to drive forward to pick out Sean McGrath who was floating around the centre of the park.

Moments after the break the away side took the lead. A low cross from the right hand side from Darren Craven was parried to the edge of the box by keeper Aaron O’Sullivan but to the navy shirt of Harry Groome who slotted high into the empty net.

Bray almost made it two in two minutes, the dangerous Ben Feeney with the ball at the edge of the box had his first attempt blocked but when it came back to him he waited out the Kerry defence who drove in but Feeney picked the bottom left corner. Aaron O’Sullivan was equal to this attempt though.

After the goal the game lacked any real moments of quality with Bray comfortable defensively. They were also showing signs of being lethal on the break, a performance similar to that Bray put in at home to Treaty United a couple of weeks ago.

Bray doubled their lead with just under ten on the clock with a shot from the edge that was blocked by a Kerry hand, and despite the protests by the home side the decision was upheld with O’Sullivan and Williams booked for protesting. Ben Feeney stepped up and notched his 5th of the season with a coolly taken spot kick that sent the keeper the wrong way and into the bottom right corner as the points were seemingly wrapped up.

The disappointment from a Kerry perspective would be their second half performance being much poorer than the first, with this young side struggling to find those full 90 minute performances you need to pick up points at this level.