U17 Match Report - Bray Wanderers 3 Shamrock Rovers 0

Posted on 17th March 2025 at 17:53

Bray Wanderers 3 Shamrock Rovers 0

Three second half goals saw Bray register their first home EA SPORTS MU17 LOI Group A victory of the season.

After a score-less first period at the new-look Carlisle Grounds on Sunday afternoon, Wanderers ran out 3-0 winner over Shamrock Rovers to make it two victories on the spin.

Playing in the third strip of Sky Blue because of a clash of the Green and White colours, the home team went close early on as Cristiano Bramley fired wide in the 13th minute when in on goal after Bailey Shelley’s through ball.

Rovers then had the better opportunities until the interval.

Alex Forde made a superb 13th minute save to thwart Archibald Quinn off a 13th minute close range header.

Then in the 16th minute, the netminder dived to his left to turn Evidence Ikechukwu’s 20-yard shot round the post.

In the 21st minute, Wanderers three times cleared before the line after a scramble in the box.

On the half hour, Forde again made a top-notch save to divert Samuel Cooke’s effort round the upright.

The second half though saw Bray hit on the break in devasting fashion.

In the 52nd minute., Flynn Ryan sprayed a terrific cross-field pass wide right to substitute Billy Feeney.

The winger held the ball up and then teed up Ryan – who’d continued his 50-yard ran forward – to blast to the roof of the net from 22-yards.

It got even better for the Seagulls in the 63 minute.

Ryan’s left flank cross was cleared back to him. But Karl Ralph reacted to strike a 20-yard half volley into the far right corner of the net.

The points were secured with 19 minutes of normal time remaining.

Ralph’s clever reverse lay-off saw Albie Tormey hit a stunning through ball from outside his own penalty area.

Playing on the last Rovers’ defender’s shoulder, Branley burst clear. Then he slotted past Alex Curtis.

The visitors did have a number of chances to pull one back before the final whistle. But the hosts held out for their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Bray Wanderers: Alex Forde; Adeyemi Raphael Odogiyan, Max Free, Bailey Shelley, Karl Ralph; Jack Lawless, Albie Tormey, Luke Burke; Sean Hennelly, Flynn Ryan, Cristiano Bramley

Subs: Lewis Brady, Billy Feeney, Sean Howard, Daniel Oluwadara Olusola, Jamie Lynch, Evan Lynch, Etan Kelly, Jamie Dalton.

Shamrock Rovers: Alex Curtis; Tadhg Prizeman, Alan Sattell, Alex Snow, Danny Burke; Brody Collins, Josh O'Dwyer; Samuel Cooke, Jack Greene, Evidence Ikechukwu; Archibald Quinn.

Subs: Cian Kenna, Desmond Armstrong, Robert Keane, Stephen Kelly, Stanislaw Wasilewski.

Referee: Ruben Collins. Assistants: Mark Wynne, Darren O'Brien (all Wicklow ISRS).

Pictures: Ethan Finnerty.

* Elsewhere in the section, leaders UCD defeated Wexford FC 3-0 at Marley Park. Bohemians defeated Klub Kildare 5-0 at the Oscar Traynor Centre.

* Bray are on the road on Sunday March 23rd next when they take on Wexford FC at Ferrycarrig Park.