20.00 29 Apr 2016 -
Referee: Tomas Connolly
League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Bray Wanderers
- Macdara Ferris
- Sat, Apr 30 2016
Shamrock Rovers got back to winning ways at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night as they overcame a resolute Bray Wanderers side 2-0.
The second half sending off of Bray’s Sean Harding was the turning point of the game. Killian Brennan fired home a free kick that came from Harding’s red card. Dean Clarke then wrapped up the win with a goal seven minutes from time.
The Hoops had come into the match on the back of three defeats from their last four league games. It was a deserved win for Rovers on the night though who had come underdone in recent weeks against the teams above them in the league – losing to Derry City, Dundalk and Cork City.
If they are to mount a title challenge, they need to be dispatching team’s like Bray and they managed that on Friday night although they made hard work of it at times.
The opening half was devoid of any real clear cut chances. Both teams were feeling each other out but the passing at times was ponderous as they tried to find gaps in each others defence. It was a quiet affair on the pitch, reflecting the small May Bank Holiday crowd that gathered at Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers club captain Stephen McPhail was making his first appearance of the league campaign as Pat Fenlon made three changes from the team that lost 2-0 in Cork last Monday.
With Luke Byrne out for the season, Rovers lined out with Gavin Brennan at left back while Rob Cornwell came into the starting XI to partner David Webster at the back in the absence of Max Blanchard.
Sean Harding was probably lucky not to go in referee Tomás Connolly’s book after a couple of fouls within two minutes of each other mid-way through the half.
Both were timed to thwart Rovers who were breaking at speed. The first foul was on Gary McCabe who was returning after his suspension following his Dundalk game sending off, with Pat Cregg clipped for the second.
Neither goalkeeper were tested from distance in the first half, with Killian Brennan blazing over the bar on 14 minutes and Harding doing likewise wasting a free kick earned off a Killian Brennan handball on the edge of the area.
Cherrie came and cleared a couple of a Killian Brennan corners. He also showed some great agility to flick over his head a dangerous McPhail cross that had him back backpeddling while also facing into the sharp setting sun 16 minutes in.
The most difficulty the Hoops had in the first half was not when they were put under pressure by Bray but by a mishit Gavin Brennan backpass. The ball looped up into the air and goalkeeper Barry Murphy trapped the ball under pressure before booting it clear.
Andrew Lewis got the first proper save out of Murphy with an early second half shot from outside the box that the Rovers ‘keeper caught diving forward.
Lewis went close again on the hour mark as Bray broke after a good Rovers attacking move involving Brandon Miele and Dean Clarke. Karl Moore’s deft pass with the outside of his boot freed up Lewis for a shot that required Murphy to clear for a corner.
Clarke created his own chance three minutes later taking the ball wide of Cherrie at the edge of the box but his shot, with the outside of his right boot from an acute angle didn’t curl enough to take it into the empty net.
A minute later Clarke got in again and Harding hauled him down on the edge of the box. The referee reached for his red card and awarded the Hoops a free kick on the edge of the area when it could easily have been a penalty.
Killian Brennan didn’t waste this free kick and he powered it home with the aid of deflection to beat Cherrie.
Seagulls caretaker boss Harry Kenny re-jigged his team after the red card taking off Lewis and bringing on Gareth McDonagh.
Gary McCabe started and ended a move that drew appreciative clapping from the home fans when he drove right through the Bray midfield, allowing Madden get wide and his cross was laid back to McCabe by North but he dragged his shot just wide.
The Hoops were able to exploit their man advantage late in the game when they doubled their lead. A sweeping move involving Danny North and Simon Madden was finished by Dean Clarke scoring his first league goal for Rovers.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, David Webster, Rob Cornwall, Gavin Brennan; Brandon Miele, Pat Cregg (Danny North 66), Stephen McPhail, Killian Brennan, Gary McCabe; Dean Clarke (Trevor Clarke 85).
Subs not used: Craig Hyland (gk), Sean Heaney, Richard Purdy, Gareth McCaffrey, Sean Boyd.
Yellow Cards: Gavin Brennan (69).
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Sean Harding, Conor Kenna, Alan McNally, Jason Marks; Dylan Connolly (Mark Salmon 82), Robert Creevy, Ryan Brennan, Karl Moore; Ger Pender (Darragh Noone 84); Andrew Lewis (Gareth McDonagh 65).
Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan, Sean Noble, Curtis Murphy, Daniel Blackbyrne.
Yellow Cards: None.
Sent Off: Sean Harding (64).
Referee: Tomás Connolly.
Attendance: 1,500 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Killian Brennan (Shamrock Rovers).
You can see pictures by Peter Fitzpatrick from the game here.
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …
Subs
Subs
P | Team | Pd | W | D | L | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dundalk | 33 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 77 |
2 | Cork | 33 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 70 |
3 | Derry | 33 | 17 | 11 | 5 | 62 |
4 | Shamrock R | 33 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 55 |
5 | Sligo | 33 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 49 |
6 | Bray | 33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 46 |
7 | St Patrick's Athl. | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 45 |
8 | Bohs | 33 | 12 | 5 | 16 | 41 |
9 | Galway | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 38 |
10 | Harps | 33 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
11 | Wexford | 33 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 23 |
12 | Longford | 33 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 14 |
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