Bray Wanderers 1 Galway United 2: JAY O’SHEA gave Galway the perfect parting gift as he scored the winner with what is most likely his last kick of a ball for the club.
The Ireland under-21 international, who appears likely to sign for English Championship side Middlesbrough this week, latched onto man-of-the-match John Russell’s pass to shoot past Chris O’Connor and snatch all three points with 90 minutes gone.
A big win for Galway it may be, but the result was cruel on Bray who deserved at least a point, but find themselves still rooted to the foot of the table.
Despite Paddy Kavanagh crying off after pulling a hamstring in the warm-up, Bray took the lead in the fifth minute. A long, low free-kick out of defence from Dave Webster surprised the Galway defence and Shane O’Neill controlled the ball to turn Garry Breen and drill a left foot shot from the edge of the box to the corner of the net. It was the first senior goal of the 20-year-old’s career.
A free-kick at the other end came within inches of bringing Galway level on 28 minutes. Derek O’Brien appeared to have initially lost control from his captain O’Shea’s square free-kick, but recovered well to turn and crack a right-foot shot off Chris O’Connor’s left-hand post.
That set the tone for Galway to finish the half the strongly. Shane Guthrie headed over from an O’Shea corner before Bray survived a right scramble in the final minute when another O’Shea delivery wasn’t cleared and Vinny Faherty eventually had his shot deflected over the bar off Bray captain Derek Pender.
Galway maintained the pressure into the second half with John Russell and substitute Jason Molloy having efforts on goal before they levelled on 57 minutes.
Another O’Shea corner picked out Molloy at the back post and his header deflected into the path of Breen who volleyed to the net.
BRAY WANDERERS: O'Connor; Pender, Webster, Foran, Knight (Massey, 56); D O'Neill (Coughlan, 38), Brennan (Mulroy, 77), Mulcahy, Shields, McCabe; S O'Neill.
GALWAY UNITED:Ryan; Conneely, Breen, Guthrie, O'Toole (Davoren, 74); O'Shea, Russell, Kelly, McBrien (Molloy, h/t), O'Brien; Faherty (Murphy, 67).
Referee:Alan Kelly (Cork).
