BRAY WANDERERS ended Shamrock Rovers’ unbeaten run at the top of the Airtricity League after a tense encounter at Tallaght Stadium.

 

Danny O’Connor’s classy sixth minute strike was all that separated the sides at the end of a game that never really caught fire.

 

Rovers had a tremendous early chance to open the scoring in the fourth minute when Pat Sullivan made a dynamic burst down the right and cut the ball back for Gary Twigg but the striker side-footed inches wide.

 

Two minutes later the Seagulls soared into the lead with a brilliant goal from Danny O’Connor.

 

The midfielder found the net with a blistering strike after good work by Conor Murphy and Gary Dempsey in the build-up.

 

Despite plenty of enterprising football from both sides, it was surprising that neither keeper was unduly troubled for much of the rest of the opening half.

 

Ronan Finn had a couple of long distance efforts for the Hoops that were just off target but debutant goalkeeper Darren Quigley was not called upon to make a save in the first half.

 

The Hoops suffered a blow when leading scorer Twigg limped off midway through the half but with a replacement of the quality of Gary O’Neill, it was hard to argue that Michael O’Neill’s side were weakened.

 

With Derek Prendergast and Adam Mitchell in great form in defence and Gary Dempsey pulling the strings in midfield, Bray held firm as the game wore on.

 

It was not until the 70th minute that Quigley had a save to make when he gathered a Billy Dennehy free-kick at the second attempt.

 

Substitute Dean Kelly came close to ending the Hoops agony in the 79th minute but he reaction header after a scramble fell just the wrong side of Quigley’s right post.

 

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Sheppard 58), Rice, Finn, Dennehy, Twigg (O’Neill 36), Kilduff (D Kelly 75).

 

Bray Wanderers: Quigley; Webster, Massey, Mitchell, Prendergast, Dempsey, Zambra, D O'Connor (G Kelly 50), Murphy (Mulroy 75), Shields, J Kelly.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)