Bray Wanderers 3 Finn Harps 3 
 
Bray ended their EA SPORTS MU17 LOI Group A campaign with a thrilling draw with Finn Harps. 
Billy O’Neill’s 13-minute hat-trick had Wanderers on course for victory at Ballycorus on Sunday afternoon. 
But to their credit, the away side rallied, and fought back to claim a share of the spoils. 
The home team had won the reverse fixture 4-1 last April at the Letterkenny Community Centre. They appeared ton course to repeat that result by racing 3-0 up. 
The Seasiders took a fourth minute lead. Cristiano Bramley’s left wing cross was only cleared to the waiting Cian Dowling. He set up O’Neill to rifle in from 20-yards. 
The U16 Irish striker added to tally in the tenth minute. His disposed Harps’ defender Shane Sweeney, broke clear to round keeper Ryan McConnell and slot into an open goal. 
O’Neill then completed his treble in the 16th minute by heading in Ethan Cheese’s corner. 
With two substitutes made and several positional changes, the Donegal team regrouped. 
Conor McGranaghan’s right wing centre was parried by home custodian David Winkler with Conor Gibson converting at the back post in the 22nd minute. 
Four minutes later, substitute Eamonn MacBride got his 25-yard left footed free up and over the wall into the top right hand corner of the net for a stunning goal. 
The visitors levelled matters in the 65th minute. Mac Bride’s shot rebounded in the box. Sub Leighton Green – who looked offside – got a touch before Gibson – again debatably offside – rolled the ball in from close range. 
 
Bray Wanderers: David Winkler; Conor Lougheed, Max Free, Bailey Shelley, Ryan Owens; Aidan Kane, Kian Dowling; Bradley Byrne, Ethan Cheese, Cristiano Bramley; Billy O'Neill. 
 
Subs: Flynn Ryan, Jack Lawless, Sean Hennelly, Sean Howard, Alex Forde. 
 
Finn Harps: Ryan McConnell; Declan Patton, Daniel Cunningham, Shane Sweeney, Eoin Gorman; Josh Cullen; Conor Gibson, Conor McGranaghan, Tiarnan Callaghan McElwaine, Rowan McGroarty; Liam McLaughlin. 
 
Subs: Eamonn MacBride, Troy Preston, Ruairi Connaghan, Callum Maskery, Leighton Green, Vladyslav Onyshchenko. 
 
Referee: Pierce McKittrick. Assistants: Umre Akkilic, Daniel Gazze. 
 
Pictures: Ethan Finnerty. 
 
* Elsewhere in the section, Group winners Shelbourne beat Drogheda United 5-1 at the MDL Grounds. Second placed Bohemians defeated Derry City 1-0 at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. 
 
* Bray return to Ballycorus next Sunday (July 7) to host Drogheda United in the first round of the Mark Farren Cup. 
 
Tagged as: Men's Under 17s
Share this post:

Leave a comment: