Bray Wanderers 5 Kerry FC 1
On yet another historic night at the Carlisle Grounds, Billy O’Neill became the youngest player to score a League of Ireland hat-trick in 88 years.
Needing victory to secure third place in the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division season, Bray defeated Kerry 5-1 to claim their 20th League victory of the campaign.
The result means Wanderers will travel to the Bowl next week to face UCD in the first leg of the Play-off Semi Final before retuning home to host the Students in the second leg.
In front of a crowd in excess of 1,000 supporters – for the 11th time in the last 12 home games, the Seasiders made nine changes to the line-up who’d gone down to Treaty away last week.
Just Cian Doyle (captain on the night) and Jamie Duggan were retained.
O’Neill returned from suspension while Alain Kizenga came back in after Republic of Ireland U19 duty.
Goalkeeper Stephen McGuinnes made his first League appearance of the season.
Defenders Paul Murphy and Benjamin Fagbemi were handed starts along with Rhys Bartley in midfield.
Matthew Britton earned his full League debut for the club alongside Guillermo Almirall and Richard Ferizaj in attacking roles.
On the bench, Philip Cooney joined the substitutes along with Jack Lawless and Edvinas Jakas
Having lost on their five previous visits to the Carlisle, the side from the Kingdom were set on their way to a sixth loss by the sixth minute.
Doyle intercepted on the left of the halfway line. He sent O‘Neill clear between the two defenders.
The 17-year-old jinked away from an opponent to poke with the outside of his right boot low from 12-yards in at the near post.
The Wicklow club doubled that lead in the 40th minute.
Breaking from the centre circle, Almirall passed out right to O’Neill. He stood up a defender when bursting to the box.
Then drove low with Darragh Foley getting a hand to the ball on its way to the left bottom corner of the net.
The second period was just a minute old when Duggan launched a ball from his own half down the right channel.
O’Neill span away from the attentions of Niall Brookwell, with the Kerry player bringing down the Irish U17 International in the box.
With Max Murphy not involved, O’Neill took the spot-kick to become the youngest player since 1937 to register three League goals in a game.
It got even better for Bray in the 52nd minute.
O’Neill harried Daniel O’Connor out of possession. Cutting in from the right, the centre half inadvertently diverted the ball over his own line when challenging O’Neill.
It became 5-0 in the 58th minute.
Almirall linked with Britton on the left wing. Britton passed infield to Doyle. The stand-in skipper shifted to the left to strike a 20-yard shot that flew into the righty corner of the net.
However matters, took a peculiar turn in the 61st minute.
About to be substituted, O’Neill was involved in a verbal exchange with referee Alan Patchwell.
With the forward removing his shin guards and being ushered to the dug-outs, the match official inexplicably brandished a red card to the teenager – much to the amazement of nearly everybody in the ground.
The away team bagged an 85th minute consolation. From Oran Crowe’s corner, substitute Christopher McQueen steered in a close range header.
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Alain Kizenga, Jamie Duggan, Paul Murphy, Benjamin Fagbemi; Rhys Bartley (Sean Brennan 54), Cian Doyle (Rhys Knight 60); Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 78), Richard Ferizaj (Cristiano Bramley 78), Matthew Britton (Phillip Cooney 78); Billy O'Neill.
Subs not used: Harvey Warren, Jack Lawless Flynn Ryan, Edvinas Jakas.
Booked: Bartley 45, Almirall 78, Kizenga 90 + 4.
Sent off: O’Neill 61.
Kerry FC: Darragh Foley; Samuel Aladesanusi (Christopher McQueen half time); Daniel O’Connor (Cian Brosnan 68), Niall Brookwell; Finn Barrett (Sean O'Connell half time), Oran Crowe, Arran Healy (Carl Mujaguzi 62),
Ewan Lee; Sean McGrath, Ronan Teahan; Luke Palmer (Luke Doolan half time).
Subs not used: Okwuy Okwute, Robert Cleary, Kevin Williams, Ryan Perez
Booked: Healy 30, Brookwell 82, Mujaguzi 88
Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin).
Pictures: Paul Barrett.
Mint+ Man of the Match: Billy O’Neill.
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