FINN HARPS’ unbeaten run came to an end as Conor Kenna’s first-half header handed Bray Wanderers a deserved win at the Carlisle Grounds.
Bray Wanderers 1 Finn Harps 0
Kenna struck the only goal of the game on 32 minutes to condemn Harps to their first defeat in five games.
For long spells, the Donegal side was limp in the final third and rarely threatened Peter Cherrie, the Bray goalkeeper.
Picture caption: Finn Harps midfielder Barry Molloy in action against Bray Wanderers’ Hugh Douglas. Picture by Gary Foy, newsandsportfiles
Bray’s shutout means a club record fifth straight clean sheet with Harry Kenny’s team not having conceded a goal since a 2-0 loss to Derry City on May 29th.
They didn’t look in danger of letting one in tonight with Harps struggling to create much and it felt like an inevitable blow when the goal came just past the half-hour mark.
Karl Moore floated in the corner and Kenna’s bullet header flew high into Richard Brush’s net for a goal that left Ollie Horgan furious on the sideline.
[adrotate group=”38″]Bray captain Kenna burrowed his way into a crowded area and slammed his header home, much to Horgan’s dismay and the strike means that Bray have closed the gap between themselves and Harps to seven points.
Yet, the goal was no more than Bray deserved for the hosts had been the better side in the opening half-an-hour.
The Seagulls could were close to an opener after just three minutes. When Hugh Douglas’ low drive was only partially cleared, John Sullivan pounced and his dipping effort beat Brush, but was marginally over the crossbar.
It was a fine off-the-cuff effort by Sullivan and Harps were fortunate to survive.
Dylan Connolly should have bagged the lead goal in the 11th minute.
After being set on his way by Darragh Noone, Connolly opted for power, but was without precision as he smashed wide with only Brush between him and the target.
[adrotate group=”37″]Brush was called upon a minute later to save well with his legs from Andrew Lewis at point-blank range after a cross by Kevin Lynch was touched into is path by Noone.
Brush was tested by Douglas, with the Harps ‘keeper gathering at the second attempt before the resistance gave way as Kenna powered home his first Bray goal.
The best Harps mustered in an otherwise poor opening half was a tame shot by Adam Hanlon from 25 yards that didn’t overly trouble Cherrie. It was to prove Harps’ only shot on target all night.
Hanlon was one of three former Bray players included in the Harps line-up, with Dave Scully and Sean Houston also counting the Carlisle Grounds as a former place of work.
[adrotate group=”46″]Horgan’s selection showed three changes from the team that began last week’s 1-0 win over Galway United.
Packie Mailey and Ethan Boyle returned from injury and suspension respectively and came back in while Kevin McHugh made his first League start of the season, only to be withdrawn at half-time in place of Ruairi Keating.
It was only McHugh’s third start in all competitions this season, his previous outings from the off the EA Sports Cup games against Cockhill Celtic and Galway United.
Keating flashed wide from Harps’ first real purposeful venture forward in the 62nd minute, turning just the wrong side of the post after connecting with Packie Mailey’s cross in a position from which the Castlebar man would usually be fancied to convert.
[adrotate group=”70″]Another substitute, Raymond Foy, clipped over from 20 yards as Harps began to grow into the game.
Keating charged down a clearance from Cherrie, but the goalkeeper got back to avert the danger while Michael Funston surged back to stop Ryan Brennan in his tracks after Barry Molloy’s shot was blocked down well outside the Bray penalty box.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Damien McNulty (Michael Funston 63), Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan; Adam Hanlon, Barry Molloy, Seán Houston, Ethan Boyle, Josh Mailey; Dave Scully (Michael Funston 63), Kevin McHugh (Ruairi Keating half-time).
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Hugh Douglas, Tim Clancy, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch; Karl Moore (Gareth McDonagh 74), John Sullivan, Darragh Noone (Ger Pender 89), Dylan Connolly; Ryan Brennan; Andrew Lewis.
Referee: Robert Hennessy (Clare).
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