Leinster Senior Cup Preview: Bray Wanderers -v- St Patrick's Athletic

BRAY WANDERERS

Bray have picked themselves up dramatically from the barren days of the first half of last season’s Premier Division, offering themselves a new lease of life for another season in the top division.

 

The Leinster Senior Cup is unlikely to be high on Mick Cooke’s list of priorities for 2016 but Saturday’s outing will at the very least offer him the opportunity of giving playing time to the many new faces brought in during the off-season.

 

Bray hauled Ryan Brennan, Alan Byrne, Dylan Connolly, Robbie Creevy, Mick Daly, Dean Kelly, Conor Kenna, Jason Marks, Karl Moore, Curtin Murphy, Ger Pender and Mark Salmon into Wicklow for the new campaign.

 

Adam Hanlon, Dave Scully, John Sullivan, Peter McGlynn, Daniel O’Reilly, Chris Lyons, Michael Barker and Graham Kelly have all left the club. Kelly and Barker, most notably, departed for Richmond Park and to the Carlisle Grounds for the first time.

 

Bray were knocked out of the Leinster Senior Cup this time last year when Alan Mathews' side were beaten on penalties by Bohemians at Dalymount Park.



 

They have however looked promising in pre-season, most recently beating Shelbourne 3-1 in a friendly in Martin Savage Park last Saturday to add to their 2-0 victory over Limerick at the Carlisle Grounds a week earlier.

 

 

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Eight times winners St. Patricks Athletic will be looking to continue their remarkable form in cup competitions of recent year when they face Bray.



 

Under the guidance of Liam Buckley the side have won every domestic honour available, most recently last year’s EA Sports Cup in September.

 

His side were however knocked out of last year’s Leinster Senior Cup as reigning champions in the semi-finals 1-0 against eventual winners Dundalk at Richmond Park in September.

 

Manager Buckley will be keen to continue integrating new arrivals Keith Treacy, Mark Timlin, Dinny Corcoran, Billy and Darren Dennehy, Dylan McGlade, David Cawley as well as former Bray duo Michael Barker and Graham Kelly before their season opener against Galway United on March 4th.

 

St. Pats too have had a promising pre-season with wins against Athlone, Cabinteely and a 7-1 drubbing of Shelbourne that included a Conan Byrne hat-trick and a Christy Fagan brace last week.

 

Referee: Unknown

 

 

MATCH STATS

St. Patrick’s Athletic were infamous for their 53 year wait for an FAI Cup – losing seven successive finals before winning the competition in 2014 – however they have also lost a total of seven Leinster Senior Cup finals.

 

Bray have conceded one goal in their two pre-season games this year, but conceded 29 goals in their opening 12 Premier Division games of last season.

 

Both sides maintained their home advantage when playing against one another last season – St. Pats winning twice at Richmond Park (1-0 and 3-0) with Bray winning 1-0 at the Carlisle Grounds in May.

 

 

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 13/5 Draw 14/5; St. Patrick’s Athletic 4/5

 

PREDICTION

Bray Wanderers 1-2 St. Patrick’s Athletic

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Unknown

Doubtful: Unknown

Suspended: None

 

St. Patrick’s Athletic

 

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Uknown.

Suspended: None

    About Aaron Gallagher

    Aaron is a Dublin-based freelance writer currently studying journalism at Dublin City University. You can follow more of his work on Twitter @AaronGallagher8 View Full Profile