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Bray and Cork end in stalemate despite chances

Friday 14th April 2006, 9:49 pm

George O'Callaghan in action against Bray's Phillip Keogh.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Much like their frustrating draw against UCD, Cork City couldn't find a way through against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds tonight. In some respects the defending eircom League champions were lucky to escape with a point while their supporters made a point of their own to the FAI's newest employee Pat Devlin.

In a slow opening, Denis Behan fired well over in the eighth minute with Eamon Zayed threatening at the other end. Goalkeeper Mark McNulty continued in goal for the Rebels but he was under pressure from an ambitious long ball from Bray midway through the half. Coming out of his area to collect, he misjudged the bounce, allowing it skip over him. However, he was quick enough to recover and cleared the ball under pressure from David Tyrell.

Bray's Colm Tresson keeps Cork City's Neale Fenn under pressure.

Photo by Tom Carey.

By that time Bray had already lost Wesley Charles to injury but the loss of such an influential player didn't adversely affect their outlook on the game. Stephen Fox fired wide for the home side moments after McNulty's flutter and it came after sustained Bray pressure.

Cork's Danny Murphy picked up a strange booking on the half hour after being reported to referee Paul Tuite by a linesman, obviously the defender said something out of line while preparing for a corner kick.

Roy O'Donovan looks on as his shot is just about cleared by Brian McGovern.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Cork were more than a little out of sorts and Robbie Doyle should have put the Seagulls ahead on 35 minutes. Fox played him through and with the visiting defence in pieces, he somehow missed the target.

Bray's Paul Caffrey picked up the second booking of the night on 39 but Fox and O'Callaghan would join him before the break. O'Callaghan's tussle with Fox proving crucial, as the Cork man did not return for much of the second half due to injury.

Cork's best chance of the half and possibly the game arrived just before the break with Joe Gamble forcing an excellent full length save from Bray keeper Chris O'Connor. Still it was Bray who almost had the last laugh in the half. Neal Horgan recovered after a slip to get back and deny Tyrell although the Cork clearance was less than text-book.

Robbie Doyle blazes wide in the first half.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Zayed seemed certain to open the scoring for Bray just after the break but McNulty pulled off a stunning save to push away the striker's point blank header. It was to be the story of the second half as McNulty spared the City blushes.

Fox volleyed wide as Bray continued to press. Just after the hour Phillip Keogh's dipping volley grazed the Bray crossbar and bounced to safety.
Neale Fenn fired off target at the other end as Cork rallied and Admir Softic brought a good save out of O'Connor.

Eamon Zayed and Danny Murphy battle for possession.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Gamble had a shot crowded out while Roy O'Donovan just couldn't get through as another long ball eluded a keeper. Brian McGovern got back to do just enough to get the ball away.

McNulty somehow denied Zayed with the Bray striker in one-on-one in the closing ten minutes. McNulty stood up well and saved with his feet with Murphy helping out with the afters. McNulty did well immediately after too as he pushed away Robbie Doyle's near post shot.

That was it as far as action went. Cork were totally out of ideas and they had faced enough scares to suggest a draw wouldn't be the worst result on the night.

Bray Wanderers : O'Connor, Tresson, Charles (W Tyrell 17), M Roche, McGovern, Fox, Keogh, D Tyrell, Caffrey, Doyle (Byrne 90), Zayed.
Cork City : McNulty, Horgan, Murphy, Murray, Bennett, Gamble, O'Brien, O'Donovan, O'Callaghan (Softic 54), Behan (Sullivan 81), Fenn.