Match Report - Bray Wanderers 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 3

 

 

A young Bray side bowed of the Leinster Senior Cup at the Quarter Final stages of Monday. 

A more experienced St. Patrick’s Athletic team advanced to the Semi Finals after a 3-0 last eight win at the Carlisle Grounds. 

Under the stewardship of U20 Head Coach Gavin Teehan, the Seagulls fielded an experimental line-up that included a host of U20 and U17 players. 

Conor Knight skippered the side, with Thomas Morgan and Josh McGlone the other members of the first team squad to feature. 

Zayd Abada made his full senior debut as well as Leon Ajala. 

There was half a dozen other debuts with goalkeeper Jack Ellis, defenders Luke Smith, Abdurahman Bouderbala, Joshua Kerr, and Destiny Avenbuan along with attacker Stefan Ugbesia all featuring. 

Winger Alan Seruga came off the bench in the second period to make his debut with U16 Irish international Billy O’Neill making his first appearance of the 2024 season as a second period substitute. 

After Ugbesia headed McGlone’s deflected shot narrowly over five minutes, McGlone then saw his curling shot gathered by Marcelo Pitaluga on 12. 

Ellis made a fine double save to deny both Michael Noonan and Anthony Dodd four minutes later. 

The Saint’s broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. 

A short corner off the left saw Jason McClelland’s whipped cross met by Alfie Taylor’s diving header. 

Ellis then denied McClelland in the 40th minute before Pitaluga pulled off a fantastic fingertip push over save to keep out Abada’s 22-yard drive right on half time. 

The Dubliner’s grabbed the vital second score in the 72nd minute as substitute Daniel McHale powerfully headed in McClelland’s corner to the roof of the net. 

With ten minutes to go, Pitaluga got down to his right to prevent O’Neill registering what would have been his first senior goal. 

The visitors sealed the last eight win in the 83rd minute. 

From a through ball, Jason Oyenuga raced clear of the home defence off the centre circle to slot in low on the run from 15-yards. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jack Ellis; Joshua Kerr, Luke Smith (Caleb O’Neill half time), Abdurahman Bouderbala, Destiny Avenbuan; Zayd Abada, Leon Ajala (Alain Kizenga 84); Conor Knight, Thomas Morgan (Billy O’Neill 61), Stefan Ugbesia (Alan Seruga 70); Josh McGlone (Rhys Knight 84). 

 

Subs not used: Daniel Chukwu, Alex Forde. 

 

Booked: Avenbuan 54, Kerr 78, Abada 90 + 3. 

 

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Marcelo De Araujo Pitaluga; Kieran Freeman (Adam Deans 85), Alfie Taylor, Tom Grivosti (Daniel McHale half time), Ivan Graminschii; Aaron Bolger (Jamie Gray 62), Rhys Bartley; Jason Oyenuga (Billy Hayes 85), Anthony Dodd (Matthew O'Hara 73), Jason McClelland; Michael Noonan. 

 

Subs not used: Ruari Morgan, Matthew Boylan. 

 

Booked: Bolger 22, Freeman 27, O’Hara 76. 

 

Referee: Robert Dowling. 

 

Pictures: Gerry Scully.