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Date Time League Season
2 April 2021 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2021

Match Report

Kavanagh Lights Up Tolka Park

In an entertaining match which could have gone either way between two teams who are vying for promotion this season, a draw was probably the fairest result. 

In what began as a very physical encounter, there was little to separate both teams in the first ten minutes. Shelbourne looked in control of general play at times, playing with three defenders at the back while in possession. They also played with three front players who never seemed to stay static, constantly moving looking for the ball.

Gary Shaw was very unfortunate as he pulled up while sprinting for a ball in the penalty area after eleven minutes. Brendan Maher made a few outstanding saves, one of which provided Shelbourne with a corner. This corner in the fourteenth minute fell to George Poynton who struck well to put Shelbourne in front.

However, within ten minutes, a mix-up in the Shels defence allowed Bray to steal possession in the box and Brandon Kavanagh scored his first of the night. The lead only lasted four minutes however as Ryan Brennan scored for Shelbourne on the 29th minute.

Ryan Graydon was a thorn in the side of Shelbourne defence as his speed and direct play was a noticeable highlight of the first half. Kavanagh’s technical ability was a class above but Shelbourne led at the interval 2-1.

In the 50th minute, his ability would be the difference again. Receiving the ball in a pocket of space after the breakdown of a Shelbourne attack, he played an exquisite pass to play in Graydon behind the Shelbourne defence. He calmly slotted the ball into the net and it was level again.

The pace of Graydon was a constant threat throughout the game and he gained his just rewards for all his effort. Then, the man of the moment, Brandon Kavanagh, stepped up yet again finding the ball in space and he unleashed a rocket of a shot into thee top right hand corner. It was a fantastic strike and it displayed his superb quality, which was evident from the first whistle.

Shelbourne made changes on the hour mark, bringing on Fernandes and Cetiner. Shelbourne continued to attack to try to force an equalizer and George Poynton won a penalty kick when he shoved over in the area in the 75th minute. Brian Maher made a good initial save but it squirmed under him. 3-3.

With fifteen minutes left, it was all to play for. Both sides tried to force something in the final stages but a draw was the fairest result tonight. It was a game that had it all, lots of tackles, a screamer of a goal and a penalty.

Shelbourne

26Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
2John Ross Wilson 18 Defender
8JJ Lunney Midfielder
9Yoyo Mahdy 21 Forward
10Ryan Brennan 12 Midfielder 27'
17Kevin O’Connor Defender
19Sean Quinn Midfielder
23Ally Gilchrist Defender
26George Poynton Midfielder 14', 76'
Michael O’Connor Forward
#Maxim Kouogan Defender
25Jack Brady Goalkeeper
#David Toure Midfielder
12Denzil Fernandes 10 Midfielder
17Shane Farrell Forward
18Dayle Rooney 2 Midfielder
21Alex Cetiner 9 Forward
22Brian McManus Midfielder
23Michael Barker Defender

Bray Wanderers

1Brian Maher Goalkeeper
3Dylan Barnett Defender
4Andrew Quinn Defender
5Aaron Barry Defender
6Conor Clifford Midfielder
7Ryan Graydon Forward 51'
8Mark Byrne Midfielder
10Gary Shaw 17 Forward
11Brandon Kavanagh Midfielder 23', 56'
14Richie O’Farrell Midfielder
16Darren Craven Midfielder
25Kian Clarke Goalkeeper
9Joe Doyle Forward
12Dean O’Shea Defender
17Luka Lovic 10 Midfielder
18Sean Callan Defender
20Charlie Gallagher Defender
22Steven Kinsella Forward
23Glen Hollywood Midfielder
24Cian Maher Defender
  • 94'

    Full-time and 3-3 is probably the fairest result.

  • 94'

    A break away from BRay almost gets through. Free-kick Bray

  • 94'

    Shelbourne win a free in a good area.

  • 90'

    Bray have a penalty shout ignored.

  • 90'

    5 additional minutes to play.

  • 87'

    Both teams are looking for another goal which would surely clinch it. CAn anyone score?

  • 84'

    Fernandes wins a yellow for a slightly over-enthusiastic tackle

  • 78'

    Mikey O'Connor with a tasty tackle but he does not earn a second yellow of the match.

  • 76'

    Brian Maher saves the shot but it squirms under him into the net. 3-3. 15 minutes to play

  • 75'

    Poynton recieves the ball in the box, slight push from the defender and the ref gives a penalty to shels

  • 75'

    Penalty for Shels!!!

  • 74'

    A cushioned head from Kouogun gives Quinn a chance, slightly behind him, he tries the overhead kick and it goes over

  • 71'

    A frustrated tackle rather than a bad tackle by Mikey O'Connor and perhaps it was the words to the ref which earned him that yellow.

  • 59'

    Mahdy off. Fernandes on

  • 59'

    Mahdy off. Fernandes on

  • 59'

    Cetiner on, Brennan off

  • 59'

    Cetiner on, Brennan off

  • 59'

    Cetiner on, Brennan off

  • 55'

    Brandon Kavanagh hits an absolute worldie of a shot!! He has been the best player on the pitch and he is showing real quality. 3-2 Bray

  • 52'

    O'Connor finds the ball in space and unselfishly sets up a team-mate but the shot is palmed away for a corner.

  • 50'

    The Bray defence win the ball from a Shels free-kick. Kavanagh gets the ball in a pocket of space and sets off Graydon who calmly finishes into the back of the net. 2-2

  • 48'

    Mikey O'Connor almost sets off Mahdy for a shels attack

  • 45'

    Half-Time. Shelbourne 2 Bray Wanderers 1. Overall, it is an interesting contest. Shelbourne deserve their lead with a very good team performance. For bray, Graydon's speed is troubling Shelbourne and their goalscorer, Brandon Kavanagh, is displaying his wide range of technical ability once he is in possession.

  • 45'

    Mikey O'Connor shows his quality with a good dribble and run to set up a chance for Shels.

  • 35'

    Yellow card for Andrew Quinn (Bray) as he is adjudged to have pulled back a Shels attacker as they counter-attacked.

  • 35'

    Good play from Lunney down the right wins a free for sHels. A great in swinger from O'Connor but there are no heads there to meet it.

  • 31'

    Brandon Kavanagh looks a step above. Good play from him down the left and he whipped in a good cross but nobody was in the box.

  • 30'

    30 minutes played in Tolka. 3 goals so far. Shelbourne look in control of the game at the moment and aside from the goal, Clarke has not been troubled too much.

  • 27'

    Shels are back in front after a great finish from Brennan, courtesy of a flick-on from O'Connor.

  • 23'

    A mix-up at the back from Shels allows Bray to steal possession and Brandon Kavanagh in the box has an easy finish. 1-1.

  • 20'

    Shelbourne almost counter-attack at speed brilliantly. However, Barnett makes a really good recovery tackle.

  • 19'

    Graydon wins a free-kick for Bray after a great run and turn of pace through the middle. He is pulled back.

  • 15'

    Lovic in Shaw off

  • 15'

    Lovic in Shaw off

  • 14'

    The resulting corner kick drops to Poynton outside the box and he fires it home. 1-0 Shelbourne

  • 14'

    The resulting corner kick drops to Poynton outside the box and he fires it home. 1-0 Shelbourne

  • 13'

    O'Connor with an absolutely brilliant free-kick brings out a wonderful save from the Bray keeper

  • 11'

    Gary Shaw was very unfortunate tonight as he looks to have pulled his hamstring.

  • 7'

    JJ Lunney wins the ball in midfield and gets a shot off after a good one-two. Corner to Shels

  • 4'

    A few early tackles in the middle of the park and Brennan gives away a free to Bray.

  • 1'

    Bray win an early free-kick but it sails out over the crossbar and it's a goal kick to Shelbourne.

  • And we are underway in Dublin on a fantastic evening.

Ground

Tolka Park
Tolka Park (Shelbourne FC), Drumcondra South A ED, Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

A sports nut who has coached at underage level in the League of Ireland. Passionate about domestic football.