Bray Wanderers Cruise Into First Division Playoff Final After Easing Past Kerry

Seagulls book Play-off Final spot with 5-1 aggregate win, with UCD next on Sunday

Bray Wanderers are 90 minutes away from a shot at Premier Division football after a commanding 3-0 win over Kerry at a sold-out Carlisle Grounds on Tuesday night.

The Seagulls wrapped up a 5-1 aggregate victory in front of a 2,550 crowd, and now meet UCD in the First Division Promotion Play-off Final on Sunday. The winners will face the ninth-placed side from the Premier Division for a place in the top flight, with Drogheda United currently looking the likely opponents.

Bray started brightly, with Tyreik Sammy and Endri Mustali troubling the Kerry back line. Mustali had the first real chance on 10 minutes, but Jonas Hakkinen got in the way of his shot. Ajibola Oluwabiyi then went close on 24 minutes with a powerful effort heading for the top corner, only for Kerry keeper Matt Connor to produce a fine save.

Kerry grew into the half, with Cian Murphy leading the line and Robert Keane lively on the left, but Declan Osagie was commanding at the heart of the Bray defence.

The breakthrough came on 33 minutes from a free kick. Sammy headed the ball across the box and John Sesay reacted quickest to nod past Connor and make it 3-1 on aggregate. Tempers flared on the touchline afterwards, and Kerry coach Chris Collopy was sent off by referee Lucas Keating.

Kerry’s night got worse early in the second half. Despite a brighter start, they were reduced to ten men when Cian Brosnan was shown a straight red for taking down Sammy as he raced through on goal.

Sammy hit the inside of the post on 65 minutes, but he wouldn’t be denied for long.

On 73 minutes Oluwabiyi and Mustali combined in the box, and when Oluwabiyi’s shot was blocked, Sammy pounced on the rebound to make it 4-1 on aggregate.

Dean O’Shea’s header came back off the post on 80 minutes, before Jamie Duggan rose highest to power home a corner four minutes from time and complete the scoring.

Oluwabiyi was named Player of the Match.

Bray Wanderers: Rian Hogan; Alain Kizenga, Jamie Duggan, Declan Osagie, Dean O’Shea; John Sesay (Jamie Ryan 78); Richie Ferizaj (Ethan Cheese 78), Ben McCormack (Conor Knight 85); Tyreik Sammy, Endri Mustali (Aime Nyembe Azede 83), Ajibola Oluwabiyi (Ryan Kelly 85).

Kerry FC: Matthew Connor; Ewan Lee, Robert Keane (Arran Healy 62), Jonas Hakkinen, Samuel Aladesanusi; Vincent Borden; Cian Bargary, Cian Brosnan, Sean McGrath, Daniel Okwute (Luke Palmer 70); Cian Murphy.

View this post on Instagram