U17 Mark Farren Cup Semi Final Match Report - Kerry FC 1 Bray Wanderers 0

Posted on 16th September 2024 at 21:08

Kerry FC 1 Bray Wanderers 0

Bray’s brave bid to reach the final of the U17 EA SPORTS MU17 LOI Mark Farren Cup ended in Semi Final defeat.

One goal was the difference between the teams on Sunday afternoon at Mounthawk Park as Kerry booked their place in the decider.

The Wicklow club had seen off Drogheda United (2-1) and then Dundalk (2-0) back in July in the competition before defeating Treaty United 4-0 last month.

The club’s had met last month at the Carlisle Grounds In the LOI Academy Tier Two (South) which ended in a 2-2 draw.

This meeting in Tralee was again a tight affair. But the decisive score arrived on the half hour in Kerry’s favour.

Jamie Forde played a slide rule pass off the left of the box to slip in Luke Palmer. He got there ahead of the challenging Rocco Byrne to lift the ball into the roof of the net from ten-yards.

Wanderers, not for the first time this season, were left to rue a string of missed chances.

Despite having the majority of possession, the Seagulls – playing in the third strip of Sky Blue - couldn’t find a way past the home goalkeeper Harvey Mangan and bowed out of the Cup at the last four stage.

Billy O’Neill’s 14th minute free-kick went just wide while Sean Hennelly’s bicycle kick was off target just before the interval.

Davidson Amechi and Forde failed to make the most of early opportunities in the second period for the team from the Kingdom.

Mangan made a number of important interventions after that, claiming a number of crosses, free-kicks and corners.

No less than nine minutes of time added on was allowed.

O’Neill had to the chance to force extra time in the fourth minute of stoppage time. But blasted wide.

There was still time for the hosts to have a penalty claim as Palmer went down in the area in the 97th minute under Rocco Byrne’s challenge. But no foul was given.

That allowed Wanders another attack. From a free into danger zone, substitute Isaac Millington sent a header just wide of the post.

Bray Wanderers: Rocco Byrne; Conor Lougheed, Alain Kizenga, Luke Smith, Ryan Owens; Eric Schütte, Ronan Dawson; Kian Dowling, Ethan Cheese, Sean Hennelly; Billy O'Neill.

Subs: Jack Nolan, Max Free, Cristiano Bramley, Flynn Ryan, Bradley Byrne, Aidan Kane, Isaac Millington, Bailey Shelley, Alex Forde.

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.

* The other Semi Final saw Shelbourne beat Bohemians 2-1 at the Oscar Traynor Centre.

* Bray are due to return to U17 LOI Academy Tier Two (South) action on Sunday September 22. They will host Limerick FC at Ballycorus.

In that section on Saturday, leaders Waterford FC beat Limerick 6-0 at Charleville AFC. It also finished scoreless at St. Colman’s Park between Cobh Ramblers and Shamrock Rovers.

Wanderers are current joint-fourth in the section. But have a game in hand on Waterford and Cobh in third.