St. Patrick’s Athletic 4 Bray Wanderers 1
For the second year in a row, there was EA SPORTS MU17 League of Ireland Mark Farren Cup Semi Final heartbreak for Bray.
The Seagulls went in level at 1-1 at half time at Richmond Park on Sunday afternoon.
But St. Patrick’s grabbed two late goals to seal a 4-1 victory.
Before the match, Leon Creighton pulled up in the warm-up for the visitors. Sean Howard replaced him in the starting line-up.
The Saint’s took a second minute lead. After Joseph Byrne cut in off the left flank, his shot was charged down. The ball rebounded to Jason Spelman who rifled in a stunning 22-yard drive to the net.
But Wanderers were back on level terms five minutes later.
Both Bily O’Neill and Richard Ferizaj were age eligible for the Wicklow outfit.
From Flynn Ryan’s seventh minute raking pass out to the right from his own half, O’Neill’s pace took him clear.
Home defender Sam Steward initially fouled with Assistant referee Adam O'Brien flagging. However, referee Ben O'Reilly let play continue.
O’Neill burst into the box only to be brought down by Steward with a penalty awarded. Cristiano Bramley made no mistake from the spot.
The Dubliner’s went close just after the half hour when Byrne’s corner was headed wide by Kian Quigley.
The second period was just three minutes old when the home side regained the lead.
Quigley switched play out right to Byrne. He cut infield and unleased a left footed drive from outside the box that found the top left hand corner of the net.
The Green and White’s nearly restored parity on 71.
From Bramley’s sliced across free off the right wing, Ferizaj’s glancing header took the ball to the back post. But the central defensive duo of Max Free and Bailey Shelley were unable to get the vital touch.
Bray keeper Alex Forde was required to superbly push over Saints sub Ryan Sheridan’s drive on 79.
Just 90 seconds later, following a scramble in the box, Sheridan fired low against the post.
But moments later, it proved third time lucky for the reserve. Slipped a pass by Byrne, Sheridan curled in brilliantly to the top left hand corner from 25-yards.
It became 4-1 in the 90th minute. Sub Niall Sullivan weaved into the box off the left flank. A Bray defender appeared to be fouled but play continued as the ball was slipped to Samuel Rooney convert close in.
Sheridan almost scored a spectacular fifth in injury time. But his 30-yard effort came back off the bar.
Wanderers went close to a consolation soon after. But O’Neill was denied by Saints custodian Darragh Brunton in a one-on-one.
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Darragh Brunton; Cian Corrigan, Dan Costello, Sam Steward, Brendan O'Connor; Jason Spelman, Kian Quigley; Billy Hayes, Ifeoluwa Samuel Ogungbe, Joseph Byrne; Samuel Rooney.
Subs: Joshua O Connor, David Ngesi, Harry Leonard, Leon Hudson, Niall Sullivan, Luke Chukwu, Ryan Sheridan, Sebastian Clarke.
Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde; Jack Lawless, Max Free, Bailey Shelley, Luke Burke; Sean Howard, Richard Ferizaj; Billy O'Neill, Flynn Ryan, Sean Hennelly; Cristiano Bramley.
Subs: Adeyemi Raphael Odogiyan, Albie Tormey, Romeo Fomenky, Aaron Murphy, Billy Feeney, Lewis Brady, Jamie Lynch, Jamie Dalton.
Referee: Ben O'Reilly. Assistants: Klaudia Pawula, Adam O'Brien.
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.
* In the other semi-final, Waterford FC defeated UCD 3-2 after extra time at the SETU Arena.
The Final is set to be played at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray in September.
* Bray return to the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday August 31 against Dundalk in the EA SPORTS League of Ireland Tier 2 North.
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