Dundalk FC Stunned! Bray Wanderers Snatch Victory – What Went Wrong?
Colaboradores
Dundalk FC suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds, missing a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division. Despite dominating possession and creating a host of chances, the Lilywhites were undone by a late first-half penalty and a stoppage-time goal.
First-Half Frustrations for Dundalk
Ciarán Kilduff’s men controlled the first half, dictating the tempo and creating numerous opportunities. Gbemi Arubi and Eoin Kenny were particularly lively, constantly testing the Bray defence. Kenny came close on several occasions, with a deflected strike and a half-volley narrowly missing the target. Daryl Horgan also provided a pinpoint cross, but Kenny's header flashed wide.
However, against the run of play, Bray Wanderers were awarded a controversial penalty. Billy O’Neill was deemed to have been fouled by Seán Keogh in the area, and Max Murphy coolly slotted the penalty past Enda Minogue, giving Bray a surprising lead.
Second-Half Onslaught Denied
The second half saw Dundalk launch wave after wave of attack, but they were met by a heroic performance from Bray goalkeeper Corcoran. He produced a stunning save to deny Dean Ebbe's point-blank header, and Bray defenders cleared the rebound off the line. Dundalk continued to press, but Corcoran and the Bray defence stood firm, frustrating the Lilywhites at every turn.
In the dying moments of the game, Danu Kinsella-Bishop sealed the victory for Bray with a late goal, compounding Dundalk's misery. This result breathes new life into Bray’s promotion challenge, while Dundalk will need to regroup and bounce back quickly.
Key Takeaways:
- Dundalk dominated possession but lacked clinical finishing.
- Bray's goalkeeper Corcoran delivered a man-of-the-match performance.
- Controversial penalty decision proved pivotal.
- Bray Wanderers reignite their promotion hopes.