Goals in each half from Derek Prendergast and Shane O'Neill gave Bray Wanderers a deserved victory over Dundalk in a one sided Premier Division encounter at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

The Seagulls grabbed the lead on 18 minutes when Gary Breen conceded a corner on the left in attempting a clearance.

Gary Dempsey's corner on the left caused chaos in the visitors' defence with central defender.

Prendergast rising unchallenged to head home from close range past Cherrie.

Bray added a second goal on 55 minutes after skipper Danny O'Connor supplied a perfect ball from the left for striker O'Neill to rifle home a shot past 'keeper Peter Cherrie from eight yards.

Dundalk did have a chance of a consolation goal when Sean Houston took down Daniel Kearns inside the box. As a second bookable offence, the defender was shown the red card by Dublin referee Neil Doyle.

Matthew Tipton stepped up to take the penalty on 85 minutes only to see his spot kick brilliantly pushed away by veteran Bray 'keeper Matt Gregg.

Bray Wanderers - Gregg; Webster, Mitchell, Prendergast, Houston; Zambra, D.O'Connor, Dempsey, J.Kelly (Shields 38) ; O'Neill (Shaw 76), Mulroy (Massey 72) .

Dundalk - Cherrie; Madden, Breen, Burns, Hatswell; Kearns,  Bennett (Maher 56) , Miller, Gaynor; Kuduzovic (Lennon 76), Tipton.

Referee - Neil Doyle (Dublin).