History 

Again. 

Bray created a new club record of seven successive SSE Airtricity First Division victories as they powered past bottom of the table Kerry to move joint top of the table. 

Two goals in four minutes saw the Seagulls lead 2-0 by the 11th minute on Friday at the Carlisle Grounds. 

Striker Danú Kinsella Bishop scored once in each half while Cian Doyle registered his first senior score for the home outfit. 

But they had to withstand a late rally by the visitors before sealing the points, 

The result meant that the Wicklow side – for the first time since entering the League of Ireland back in 1985 – secured seven wins on the bounce. 

It moved them level on points with leaders Dundalk. But behind the Lilywhites – who play Longford on Saturday - on goal defence. 

It also meant that the Seasiders continued their hoodoo of never losing to the side from the Kingdom since they joined back in 2023 – now totalling nine fixtures. 

The Green and White’s made two changes from the lien-up who’d defeated UCD at the same venue lats Monday, with Kinsella Bishop and Richard Ferizaj coming in. 

Despite a solid start by the visitors, it was Wanderers who made the chances count. 

In the eighth minute, Richard Ferizaj curled a pass down the right channel for Billy O’Neill to chase. His deflected cross from the right endline dropped for Kinsella Bishop to score with a close range header. 

Then in the 11th minute, Jamie Duggan clipped a pass from his own half wide right. 

O’Neill showed great pace to burst past two defenders off the right flank. His low centre picked out Doyle who slotted in low from 12-yards. 

That prompted away Head Coach Conor McCarthy to make a triple substitution on the quarter hour to re-group and alter shape. 

But Bray claimed a third six minutes into the second period. 

Duggan took a throw from his own half. Kinsella Bishop gathered, held off two opponents and sprayed play wide left. Conor Knight threaded a pass down the left wing for Doyle to run onto. 

He turned provider as his low centre from the left was converted at the near post by Kinsella Bishop for his third goal in two games. 

Kerry pulled one back in the 82nd minute. Okwuy Okwute got to the left byline to cut back and the unmarked Ryan Kelliher tapped in. 

Then in the 88th minute, sub Ronan Tehan crossed for Kelliher to score with a glancing header. 

But in the first minute of stoppage time, Bray made it 4-2 

After initial good work by substitute Callum Costello, he was blocked off by Abel Alabi. Buit span off the defender to roll the ball fellow reserve Cian Curtis. The forward got ahead of his marker to deftly flick in a back-heel from eight yards to sela victory. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Jamie Duggan; Rhys Bartley (Jordan Tallon 76), Cian Doyle; Billy O'Neill (Thomas Considine 76), Richard Ferizaj (Guillermo Almirall 59), Conor Knight (Calum Costello 64); Danú Kinsella Bishop (Cian Curtis 64). 

 

Subs not used: Alain Kizenga, Rhys Knight, Benjamin Fagbemi, Stephen McGuinness. 

 

Booked: Bartley 42, Graham Kelly (coach) 90 + 1. 

 

Kerry FC: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Akex Dunne (Samuel Aladesanusi 16), Chris McQueen, Abel Alabi, Stevan Stanic-Floody (Sean O’Connell 16; Cian Brosnan 90 + 3); Okwuy Okwute, Niall Brookwell, Sean McGrath, Joe Adams (Ronan Teahan 16); Ronan Kelliher, Luke Palmer (Robert Keane 70). 

 

Subs not used: Oran Crowe, Carl Mujaguzi, Kevin Williams, Mathyas Randrianmamy. 

 

Booked: Palmer 40, Conor McCarthy (Head coach) 90 + 1 

 

Referee: John S. Walsh (Wexford). 

 

Mint+ Man of the Match: Cian Doyle. 

 

Pictures: Harry and Stefan Teehan.