Dundalk defeat Bray to earn three precious points

Dundalk FC preserved their six-point cushion at the top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division with just five games remaining, dispatching Bray Wanderers 3-1 at Oriel Park.

A first-half brace from the lively Gbemi Arubi set the tone for The Lilywhites, before Eoin Kenny—fresh from international duty—added a composed third shortly after the interval.

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Harvey Warren struck late for the visitors to spark a flicker of unease, but Dundalk’s superiority had long since secured the points.

The hosts signalled their intent early, fashioning the first opportunity inside five minutes when Aodh Dervin’s free-kick was headed wide by Mayowa Animasahun.

Within moments, Dundalk had their reward. Harry Groome released Kenny down the right, and the forward outpaced Benjamin Fagbemi—once of Dundalk’s youth ranks—before delivering a precise cross that Arubi nodded home at close range.

Arubi’s appetite for goal was evident, first turning provider for Kenny, whose effort was parried by Jimmy Corcoran, while on the opposite flank, Declan McDaid cut inside to test the Bray goalkeeper once more.

The visitors, clinging to faint automatic promotion hopes, threatened sporadically, Guillermo Almirall drawing a low save from Peter Cherrie after 16 minutes.

McDaid’s mazy run for Dundalk ended with a shot rippling the side netting, while Groome’s ambitious strike sailed harmlessly wide.

The deserved second arrived on 34 minutes: a quick throw by McDaid freed Groome, whose clever pass found Arubi, the striker steadying himself before applying a clinical finish for 2-0.

Bray nearly struck back instantly through Billy O’Neill, but Cherrie denied him with a sharp stop.

Arubi, meanwhile, was only denied his hat-trick by the reflexes of Corcoran, twice thwarted before the break.

The Seagulls rallied after half-time, with Sean Brennan dragging an effort agonisingly wide, yet it was Dundalk who landed the killer blow.

On 54 minutes, Kenny—only back in the country 24 hours after duty with Northern Ireland’s U21s—sparked a move that ended with Shane Tracey’s charge forward. When Fagbemi’s challenge broke the ball loose, Kenny was on hand to steer home with a first-time finish, his eighth league goal of the campaign.

Dundalk continued to press, with O’Keeffe’s dipping strike narrowly missing the target, while Tracey and Leonard both tested Corcoran.

Bray’s consolation came 10 minutes from time, substitute Max Murphy driving forward before slipping in Warren, who beat the advancing Cherrie.

But the hosts remained composed thereafter, seeing out another significant victory in their march toward promotion.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe (Luke Mulligan 81), Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, JR Wilson; Aodh Dervin, Shane Tracey (Andy Paraschiv 76); Eoin Kenny (Norman Garbett 76), Harry Groome (Dean Ebbe 76), Declan McDaid (Keith Ward 81); Gbemi Arubi

Subs not used: Enda Minogue (gk), Sean Spaight, TJ Molloy, Rohan Vaughan

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Alain Kizenga, Kilian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Benjamin Fagbemi (Max Murphy 68); Rhys Bartley, Cian Doyle (Sean Brennan HT); Guillermo Almirall (Cian Curtis HT), Rhys Knight (Richard Ferizaj 84), Justin Ferizaj (Conor Knight 68); Billy O’Neill

Subs not used: Stephen McGuinness (gk), Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Jamie Ryan

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin)

Attendance: 1,961