Match Report - Bray Wanderers 3 Cork City 3

 

In what could prove a valuable point in the race for the play-offs, Bray played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Cork at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday night. 

The First Division champions were on an 18-game unbeaten run against the Seasiders in all competitions. And the hosts had only scored just once in their last eight games against the Munster outfit. 

But the Wicklow club had netted twice by the 11th minute this time round. 

Wanderers twice lead through Cristian Magerusan’s double. But the visitors equalised through Sean Maguire and Ruairi Keating as they went level at the break. 

Maguire gave City the lead on the hour before home sub Ben Feeney made 3-3 with 12 minutes to go. 

In truth, how there was only six goals will remain a mystery with the amount of chances created – as both teams could have easily won the end-to-end contest. 

The result also meant that Wanderers have taken at least a point from the other nine clubs in the section this season. 

Having beaten Kerry 2-0 at the same venue last week, the Seagulls made one change to the team with Darren Craven replacing Harry Groome in midfield. 

As for the Leesiders – they made eight changes to their starting side – with just Aidan Dowling, Evan McLaughlin and Matthew Kiernan retained from the line-up who’d drawn 2-2 draw last week with Finn Harps at Turner’s Cross. 

It was a first half goal-fest. 

Bray got off to a great start and took a fifth minute lead. 

Away goalkeeper Aidan Dowling’s clearance was blocked by John O’Sullivan. The ball rebounded to Magerusan who bent the ball into the net for 20-yards. 

That advantage lasted just four minutes. Keating’s right byline cross was deflected off Zach Nolan. It dropped beyond Jimmy Corcoran. Both Cole Omorehiomwan and Maguire challenged with the ball bouncing over the line. 

But Wanderers hit back to go 2-1 up in the 11th minute. 

Magerusan was fouled in the ‘D. He picked himself to drill the free-kick to the net. 

That meant he became the team’s leading goal-scorer in the 2024 with nine in all competitions, and eight in the First Division. 

The goal saw the Green and White’s reach the 50 tally in 2024 league action. 

Dowling made a goal-line save to keep out Magerusan 37th minute header. 

Seconds later at the other end, City drew level. 

Malik Dijksteel embarked on a run off the left flank. He found Keating in the box to arrowed a stinging low shot from 15-yards to the far right bottom of the net. 

Cork took the lead for the first time in the 58th minute. Dijksteel played in Maguire into the box with the forward dinking over Corcoran from ten-yards. 

Then - seconds later, came the game’s biggest talking point. 

Cutting in from the right, Guillermo Almirall’s shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection. Magerusan reacted with a diving header from 15-yards and the ball looped over substitute goalkeeper Bradley Wade. 

However, a linesman flag ruled out the hat-trick for the striker. 

Yet, Video and photographic evidence afterwards proved it was the wrong decision – with Magerusan yards onside. 

Despite that, Bray made 3-3 in their 78th minute. 

Max Murphy's burst from the right and played a slide-rule pass to Feeney. In the danger zone, he turned well to evade a tackle, Then showed great close control to angle in a cracking low left-footed 14-yard effort. 

With Finn Harps playing out a 1-1 draw with Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park the same evening, the two results mean Bray occupy fifth place – four points clear of the Donegal side with three league matches remaining. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Cole Omorehiomwan, Zach Nolan; Darren Craven (Zayd Abada 90 + 2), John O’Sullivan (Ben Feeney 70); Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 82), Shane Griffin, Kieran Cruise; Cristian Magerusan. 

 

Subs not used: Callum Thompson, Jamie Duggan, Josh McGlone, Rhys Knight, Billy O’Neill, Stephen McGuinness. 

 

Booked: Magerusan 53, Omorehiomwan 68. 

 

Cork City: Aidan Dowling (Bradley Wade half time); Darragh Crowley, Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Matthew Kiernan; Cathal O'Sullivan (Joshua Fitpatrick 70), Greg Bolger (Sean Murray half time), Evan McLaughlin (Arran Healy half time), Malik Dijksteel; Ruairi Keating, Sean Maguire. 

 

Subs not used: John O’Donovan, Barry Coffey, Cian Bargary, Niall Brookwell, Cian Murphy. 

 

Booked: Keating 58, Lyons 65. 

 

Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin). 

 

Pictures: Mick Hanney (Bray Camera Club). 

 

Mint+ Man of the Match: Max Murphy.