Late goal sees Dundalk narrowly advance to FAI Cup Quarter Finals

Sports Direct FAI Cup Round 2

Bray Wanderers 0-1 Dundalk

Daryl Horgan’s first goal of his second spell with Dundalk FC sent The Lilywhites into the quarter-finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup for the 13th season in a row, after they defeated Bray Wanderers 1-0 in what was a difficult watch in the Carlisle Grounds.

Skippering the side on the night, Horgan’s 86th-minute goal was all that separated both teams, with The Lilywhites labouring into Tuesday afternoon’s draw for the last-eight. 

Dundalk dominated the opening half, and had their first chance after just five minutes, when Ryan O’Kane’s intended cross was pushed around the post by Matthew Connor.

Another ball on the left from the lively O’Kane was sliced off target by Daniel Kelly, as the visitors sought an early goal in what were treacherous conditions in Co Wicklow.

Indeed, they were given a golden opportunity to do just that on 25 minutes, when John Martin was needlessly fouled inside the penalty area by Bray defender Sean Quinn.

Referee Rob Hennessy pointed to the spot, and up stepped Connor Malley from 12 yards, but his attempt down the middle hit the crossbar as the game remained deadlocked.

Wearing their changed colours of red and black, The Lilywhites had another penalty appeal soon after, with Martin going down under the challenge of former Dundalk favourite and current Bray skipper Dane Massey, but Hennessy wasn’t at all interested.

Stephen O’Donnell’s side had further chances to go ahead in the first half, with Kelly turning wide from Malley’s long ball into the box, shortly before full-back Archie Davies was allowed to carry the ball towards goal and fire just wide of the intended target.

Bray’s best opening of the half arrived on 42 minutes, when Spanish midfielder Guillermo Almirall had a shot from outside the box deflected wide by Horgan.

Martin was looking dangerous up top for Dundalk, and had two more chances before half-time – first a diving header from a good Davies cross which came off the bar, not long before the Kilkenny native flicked a header wide, this time from a Kelly ball.

In the second half, Bray had an opportunity through Conor Crowley, who took it away from Davies before shooting off target, but soon after at the opposite end, it was Davies that launched an effort from distance which flew just wide following sustained pressure.

Horgan then had two attempts, neither of which ever looked like troubling Bray goalkeeper Connor, as this second-round tie entered its final 20 minutes of normal time.

The Seagulls thereafter had an excellent chance to take what would have been a shock lead; Len O’Sullivan’s cross was initially cleared by the head of Louie Annesley, but only as far as Bray forward Callum Thompson, who diverted over the bar from close range.

The brave travelling Dundalk support thought their team had finally broken Bray’s resistance 15 minutes from time, when Johannes Yli-Kokko slipped in Kelly, who slotted through the advancing Connor, only for Quinn to track back and clear off the line.

With the game looking poised for extra-time, Dundalk finally got their goal on 86 minutes; Malley’s ball was knocked down by substitute Patrick Hoban, allowing Horgan, with the aid of a Cole Omorehiomwan deflection, to crack a first-time volley home.

Though Bray very nearly levelled matters in stoppage-time through the impressive Darren Craven, Dundalk held out to claim their place in Tuesday’s quarter-final draw.

Bray Wanderers: Matthew Connor; Max Murphy, Sean Quinn, Cole Omorehiomwan, Dane Massey, Len O’Sullivan (Jake Walker 89); Darren Craven, Guillermo Almirall, Conor Crowley (Harry Groome 68); Callum Thompson, Ben Feeney (Yousef Mahdy 68) (Daniel Chukwu 81).

Subs not used: Alex Moody (gk), Jack Hudson, Dave Webster, Conor Knight, Zach Nolan.

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Darren Brownlie, Louie Annesley, Robbie McCourt; Johannes Yli-Kokko (Alfie Lewis 76), Connor Malley; Daniel Kelly, Daryl Horgan, Ryan O’Kane (Sam Durrant 39); John Martin (Patrick Hoban 76).

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mark Byrne (gk), Darragh Leahy, Andy Boyle, Greg Sloggett, Cameron Elliott.

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin).