U17 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 2 Kerry FC 2

 

For the second home U17 LOI Academy Tier Two (South) match in four days, Bray had to come from behind to claim a point. 

Despite taking a first half lead on Wednesday evening at the Carlisle Grounds, Wanderers trailed 2-1 at the interval. But levelled late on against Kerry. 

However, it was a case of what might have been a several chances to seal victory went abegging. 

Playing in the third strip of sky blue. the Seagulls were denied an 21st minute opener by Harvey Mangan’s point-blank save to thwart Ryan Owens close in. 

But seconds later, the Wicklow side took the lead. Ronan Dawon’s 25-yard free took a deflection off the wall and dropped to the net. 

However, the visitors levelled in the 31st minute. Robert Keane’s cross from the right was only partially cleared. The ball ran to Shayne Stack who drilled in from 16-yards. 

After Aidan Kane shot straight at Mangan when well placed in the 40th minute, it got even better for the team from the Kingdom seconds later at the other end. Stack’s free wide right into the box rebounded kindly for Keane who slotted in low from 14-yards. 

Dawson went close again in the 43rd minute. But Mangan tipped the defender’s free-kick over the crossbar. 

The second period saw the away outfit sit back and try to counter-attack as the hosts pressed for an equaliser. 

On 50, Sean Hennelly latched onto Bailey Shelley’s through ball. But his curling effort was kept out by Mangan. 

Dawson had a 65th minute penalty shout turned down. Substitute Cristiano Bramley scuffed wide when well placed soon after. Then centre half Max Free saw his header off a 73rd minute corner go into Mangan’s arms on the line. 

Having been under the cosh, Kerry almost snatched a third against the run of play in 76th minute. 

Keane chased as sub keeper Alex Forde and fellow reserve Jack Nolan collided 30-yards from goal. Forde blocked Keane’s effort with Darragh Taylor’s follow-up half volley going wide of the target. 

Bray’s pressure paid off in the 79th minute. From sub Kian Dowling’s corner, Mangan challenged Hennelly at the back stick. He cut the ball back for Dawson to side foot in low from ten-yards. 

Less than a minute later, Dowling latched onto a through pass along the right channel. His delivery picked out the inrushing Hennelly at the back post. But the forward’s hooked shot struck the upright. 

Dowling got clear on the right flank again in the first minute of stoppage time. His centre picked out Bramley who skied over the ball from 12-yards 

 

Bray Wanderers: Rocco Byrne; Conor Lougheed, Max Free, Ronan Dawson, Bailey Shelley; Eric Schütte, Aidan Kane; Bradley Byrne, Ethan Cheese, Ryan Owens; Sean Hennelly. 

 

Subs: Jack Nolan, Kian Dowling, Cristiano Bramley, Alex Forde. 

 

Kerry FC: Harvey Mangan; Nathan Aherne, Rooney Nono, Cian Beirne, Nikita Hoare; Ethan Ballard; Davidson Amechi, Shayne Stack, Darragh Taylor, Jamie Forde; Robert Keane. 

 

Subs: Marcel Kowalczyk, Cody McMahon, Darragh Lynch, Carl Michels, Ramadan Hadi. 

 

Referee: Jack Keating. Assistants: Matthew Moore, Brian O'Connor 

 

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty. 

 

* Elsewhere in the section, leaders Galway United played out a 3-3 draw with Shamrock Rovers at Roadstone. Cobh Ramblers defeated Limerick FC 4-1 at Charleville AFC. 

 

* Bray are on the road on Sunday August 18. They will travel to Limerick FC. Kick-off at Charleville AFC is set for 2.00pm.