Bray Wanderers 1 CK United 0
Bray’s four-year wait for LOI Academy silverware was ended on Saturday as the U15 Plate was lifted at the Carlisle Grounds.
Daniel Oluwadara Olusola grabbed the vital score in the 78th minute to get the better of a dogged CK United in the decider, as the club claimed an underage trophy for the first time since 2021.
With 12 minutes remaining on the clock, Danny Howard won a tackle in his own half. Then broke down the left channel.
He was held up just outside the six-yard area but rolled the ball back substitute Olivier Gnutek who drilled low goalwards.
It was blocked just yards from the line. But it dropped to Olusola who struck a ten-yard left footed half volley low through a crowded goalmouth.
The match itself was tight, but with the Wicklow side having the bulk of chances.
With four minutes gone, Olusola burst clear off the right wing. His low drive was parried out by Ryan Duane. Conor Cunningham readied to pounce close in, but the covering Cian Long made a fantastic goal-line block.
Kyle Jackson then volleyed over for the hosts in the sixth minute with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Eight minutes later, Cunningham hooked over the bar on the turn from 15-yards.
United responded in the 29th minute as Alex Comerford flashed a snapshot from 20-yard just over the bar.
The visitors went close in stoppage time. But home custodian Elliot Homan claimed Aaron Nolan’s header off Long’s corner.
Bray started the second half with a flourish, as the impressive Lewis Brady clipped wide just seconds after the restart.
Wanderers substitute Zac Lawlor arguably had a goal chalked off for offside in the 72nd minute.
Moments later at the other end, away sub Paidi Connolly’s appeal for a penalty was waved away.
Olusola then broke the deadlock in the 78th minute to send the home faithful into raptures.
But deep into stoppage time, there was almost late drama. Nolan sent a back post header off a corner just wide at the back post
Bray Wanderers: Elliot Homan; Cillian Walsh, Jamie Lynch, Ryan Higgins, Rhys Behan; Lewis Brady, Alex Mernagh; Daniel Oluwadara Olusola, Danny Howard, Conor Cunningham; Kyle Jackson.
Subs: Kristofer Marku, Nathan Roberts Byrne, Olivier Gnutek, Zac Lawlor, Senan Dutton, Sean Goggin, Shane O'Dowd.
CK United: Ryan Duane; Cian Long, Bobby Connell, Aaron Nolan, Zak Fenton; Owen Walker, Daniel Fennelly; Charlie Mallon, Alex Comerford, Andrian Robu; Lee Jordan.
Subs: Ethan Lawlor, Paidi Connolly, Ethan Gregory, Emmanuel Elijah Agbetuyi, Tyler-Lee Farrell, Jun Xi Chong, Josh McEvoy, Ryan Tully, Oscar Cullen Gonzalez.
Referee: Keith Neville. Assistants: Ruben Collins, Mark Wynne (all Wicklow ISRS).
Player of the Match: Ryan Higgins.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* Before the match, a minutes silence for impeccably observed for the late Martin Lynch.
He was the father of former players Jody (current U15 coach) and Andy Lynch.
He was also grandfather of current underage players Evan and Jamie Lynch.
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