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Saints and Seagulls end scoreless

Friday 22nd June 2007, 9:42 pm

Referee Dave McKeon sends off St. Pats Alan Kirby.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Despite a lack of goals, there was plenty of incident and excitement as Bray Wanderers and League of Ireland leaders Saint Patrick's Athletic played out a 0-0 draw at a drenched Carlislie Grounds tonight.

The early sending off of the Saints Alan Kirby swung the match in favour of the home side after an even opening to the game. The Saints midfield man was shown a straight red card after an off the ball clash, spotted by referee Dave McKeon's assistant.

Before that 13th minute incident, both sides had chances. Bray's Paul Dunphy threatened to get in after an Alan Cawley free kick. The same Bray player had a low snapshot saved in a lively opening. At the other end Mark Quigley had a shot saved by Steve Williams.

Anthony Murphy flicks on despite the attentions of Gary McCabe.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Although Bray naturally looked livelier having a man extra, the Saints almost took the lead when Keith Fahey brought a stunning save out of Williams after a centrally placed free kick.

Bray missed a number of great chances to take the lead. First up was Clive Delaney who failed to direct his close range header from Cawley's corner kick with Pats keeper Barry Ryan stranded.

Ryan then saved superbly with his foot as Dunphy broke on goal from Mark Duggan's knock-down shortly after.

Stephen Brennan drove a shot across goal and just wide after a break by the visitors at the other end.

Gary O'Neill could well have snatched the lead for St. Pats just minutes after half-time as slack defending let him in. However, O'Neill just flicked his header wide of Williams' post, with the former Shelbourne team-mates chasing each other to the end-line, only to see the ball creep wide.

James O'Shea and Mark Quigley tussle for possession.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Bray's top scorer Dunphy again looked the man most likely for the home side. Ryan was forced to push away a stinging near post shot just before the hour.

Midway through the second half, the Saints had the chance of the game. Colm Foley powered a header against the underside of the home bar with Williams beaten. Gary Cronin was the most alert man on the pitch as he cleared away the loose ball with Saints strikers running in to try and force home the opening goal.

Bray's James O'Shea missed a glorious chance as he somehow contrived to completely miss the target from a great position at the back post, collecting a knock off Ryan for his troubles.

Another Bray set-piece might have decided the game in stoppage time but the Saints just about cleared after a brief bout of ping-pong in the area.

Keith Fahey hold off Mark Duggan at the Carlisle Grounds.

Photo by Tom Carey.

The visitors might have grabbed a win deep into added time as substitute Kevin Cornwall broke. However, the young striker lost his footing at the crucial moment to allow Bray retrieve the situation.

In the circumstances, St. Pats will have been relieved to avoid a third straight league loss but Drogheda have closed the gap. Bray continued their good recent run but some might feel they failed to take advantage after playing for well over an hour against a side with just ten men.

Bray Wanderers : Williams, Tresson, Cronin, Delaney, Deans, McCabe, Cawley, O'Shea (Georgescu 83), Fox, Duggan, Dunphy.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Brennan, C Foley, Paisley, Frost (M Foley 82), Mulcahy, Murphy, Fahey, Kirby, O'Neill (Cornwall 86), M Quigley (Guy 78).