St Patrick’s Athletic 2 Bray Wanderers 3

 

BRAY WANDERERS produced a stunning second half revival to bounce from 2-0 down and claim the three points against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.

 

 

Substitute Conor Murphy was the Wanderers hero with a late double to level matters before a Joe Kendrick free-kick was deflected past a bemused Gary Rogers for a 82^nd minute Bray winner.

 

After a slow start to the fixture, Bray had the game’s first attempt on goal in the 16th minute. Chris Shields laid the ball off to set up a firm strike by John Mulroy but Saints keeper Gary Rogers got down comfortably.

 

The home side took the lead in a most fortunate fashion in the 24^th minute when Wanderers defender Derek Prendergast inadvertently volleyed past his own keeper attempting to clear a Daryl Kavanagh free-kick.

 

Two minutes later Under-21 international Ian Daly had a decent chance for the Saints but his close range effort was well well saved by Bray keeper Matt Gregg.

 

Gregg made a comfortable save to keep out an Anto Murphy free-kick five minutes before the break as the visitors struggled to make much impact.

 

St Pat’s went 2-0 up three minutes into the second half when Evan McMillan headed home from a Daryl Kavanagh corner.

 

Pat Devlin made a double substitution on 66 minutes by introducing Conor Murphy and Shane O’Neill and it paid immediate dividends.

 

Former Shamrock Rovers youngster Murphy tapped home at the back post from a low cross by Joe Kendrick in the 70th minute to give Bray hope.

 

Four minutes later Murphy pulled the same trick when he scored from eight yards after an excellent delivery by Jake Kelly from the left.

 

St Pats were denied a chance to regain the lead when Gregg saved from Kavanagh before Bray remarkably snatched an 82^nd minute lead.

 

Saints keeper Rogers was completely deceived by a Joe Kendrick free-kick that took a wicked deflection and the turnaround was complete for the Seagulls.

 

 

St Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Pender, Bermingham, Kenna, E McMillan, A Murphy (Doyle 60), Mulcahy, McFaul, Kavanagh (Keegan 87), McMillan, Daly (North 78).

 

Bray Wanderers: Gregg; Webster, Kendrick, Mitchell, Prendergast, Dempsey, Zambra (C Murphy 66), D O’Connor (O’Neill 66), Shields, Mulroy, Kelly (Doyle 85).

 

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).

 

Ends