Dundalk FC suffer defeat against Bray

Dundalk FC suffered only their second defeat of the season on a disappointing evening at the Carlisle Grounds, where a clinical Bray Wanderers side secured a 2-0 victory to reignite their push at the top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division.

Despite commanding the majority of possession and creating a host of chances, The Lilywhites were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal. The result denied them the opportunity to widen their four-point cushion at the summit, particularly frustrating given second-placed Cobh Ramblers’ 2-1 loss to Treaty United in Limerick.

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It was Bray who emerged as the night’s true victors. A 43rd-minute penalty from Max Murphy and a stoppage-time strike by Danu Kinsella-Bishop not only secured the points but drew The Seagulls to within two of Cobh and just six of Dundalk, reinvigorating the race at the top.

The match began with Bray on the front foot. Inside five minutes, Jimmy Corcoran’s quick distribution set Billy O’Neill away down the right, his effort falling to Cian Curtis, whose low drive was comfortably collected by Enda Minogue in the Dundalk goal.

Dundalk responded with intent. Dressed in all black, the visitors began to assert dominance. Eoin Kenny’s dangerous delivery found Gbemi Arubi, but Bray skipper Kilian Cantwell produced a timely block.

Moments later, Arubi turned provider, sliding in Kenny, only for Paul Murphy to intervene decisively.

Dean Ebbe and Harry Groome were both wayward with speculative efforts, while Daryl Horgan’s dazzling solo run saw him dance through the Bray defence before dinking narrowly wide. Groome, facing his former club, then tested Corcoran with a curling strike from distance, the goalkeeper parrying before Cantwell cleared the rebound.

Dundalk pressed relentlessly—Kenny flashed a shot across the face of goal before heading over from a Horgan cross—but it was Bray who struck first, and against the run of play.

O’Neill was felled on the edge of the box by Sean Keogh, and Max Murphy coolly dispatched the resulting penalty, sending Minogue the wrong way. It was déjà vu for Murphy, who had netted from the same spot against Dundalk in March, though on that occasion it proved mere consolation.

In the second half, Dundalk threw everything forward. Kenny escaped Max Murphy’s attentions to cross for Ebbe, whose header was parried by Corcoran before Horgan’s rebound was cleared off the line by Paul Murphy.

Horgan’s corner soon found Sean McHale, but Cantwell, under pressure, nearly turned it into his own net—only for Corcoran to react superbly once again.

Arubi thought he had drawn the visitors level, only for the linesman’s flag to deny him.

Minutes later, Ebbe rose to meet another Horgan cross, but Corcoran somehow clawed the header off the line in what was becoming a man-of-the-match performance.

Kenny showcased his immense talent with a stunning solo run from midfield, evading four Bray players before again being thwarted by the outstanding Corcoran.

Substitute Andy Paraschiv fired narrowly wide, while Keith Ward’s free-kick found John Ross Wilson, whose fierce effort was blocked by O’Neill.

Declan McDaid was next to go close, dancing past Paul Murphy after being released by Horgan, only to curl inches wide of the far post.

Yet despite the onslaught, it was Bray who nearly killed the game off late on, with O’Neill intercepting Wilson and dragging his shot just past the post.

The Seagulls had another chance moments later—Max Murphy’s free-kick met by Cantwell at the far post, but Minogue stood tall to deny him.

Dundalk’s final flurry, including efforts from Ward and Wilson, lacked conviction. And in the third minute of stoppage time, Kinsella-Bishop made sure of the result. Latching onto a through ball, the substitute coolly rounded Minogue and slotted home to cap a memorable night for Bray.

For Dundalk, it was a night of missed chances and growing frustration. For Bray, a statement of intent in the promotion race.

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Max Murphy; Rhys Bartley, Cian Doyle; Billy O’Neill, Conor Knight (Benjamin Fagbemi 85), Rhys Knight (Guillermo Almirall 72); Cian Curtis (Danu Kinsella-Bishop 72)