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Premier•First•Underage
 
 
 
Bray Wanderers 2 Galway United 2
Friday, 20 March 2009 12:29
 
Galway United stay top of the Premier Division table on goal difference after a hugely entertaining clash with still unbeaten Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

On a night of high drama, Bray winger Gary McCabe scored a dramatic 87th minute equaliser with a penalty. But then missed another spot kick in added time when seeing his effort brilliantly saved by the diving Barry Ryan.

Bray had a disastrous start when striker Darren Forsyth had to limp off after just seven minutes after a strong but fair midfield challenge by Shane Guthrie. John Flood came on as an immediate replacement.

It got worse for the Seagulls just 60 seconds later when a corner on the left by former Bray man Jay O'Shea was headed on by Shane Guthrie for lone striker Vinny Faherty to nod home from close range.

Bray made an immediate response when midfielder Dave Mulcahy had a looping header  which clipped the crossbar and over the top after a midfield free by Dean Massey.

But the home side were level on 16 minutes when Jake Kelly skipped past defender Seamus Conneely on the left and crossed for striker Paddy Kavanagh to head home from eight yards.

Defender Iarfhlaith  Davoren then set up Galway's second goal when his probing through ball on 22 minutes enabled Cian McBrien to shoot past Bray 'keeper Chris O'Connor from the edge of the box. It was a clinical finish of the highest quality.

Galway might have stretched their lead when a clever move between O'Shea and Conneely set up a chance for Michael McGrath only to see his long-range effort brilliantly pushed away by the alert O'Connor.

O'Shea, watched by scouts from West Ham and Celtic, went close for the Westerners early in the second half when shooting just wide from the edge of the box after good work by McBrien on the right. Another chance went abegging with McBrien just wide of the target after O'Shea and Faherty combined well on the right.

Bray did close to an equaliser when a McCabe shot was grabbed at the second attempt by 'keeper Ryan and then a Dane Massey free from 22 yards was just over the top.

Then came that dramatic finish when McCabe fired home a penalty on 87 minutes after a Jake Kelly effort from 22 yards was handled by defender Gary Breen in a crowded box.

McCabe had the chance to win the game with another penalty in added time after he was taken down by Davoren. But this time 'keeper Ryan dived brilliantly to his left to block the spot-kick. A draw was probably a fair result on a night of high entertainment.    
      
Bray Wanderers - O'Connor; Pender, Foran, Deans, Massey; Kavanagh (Mulroy 45), Mulcahy, Brennan, McCabe; Forsyth (Flood 7) (Tresson for Flood 86), J.Kelly.

Galway United - Ryan; Conneely, Breen, Guthrie, Davoren; O'Shea, McBrien, S.Kelly (Fitzgerald 69), McGrath (Murphy 77), O'Brien; Faherty (Edwards 83).

Referee - Neal Doyle (Dublin).   
 
 
 
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