Bray Wanderers - 2 Shamrock Rovers - 1: Jason Byrne ended a 14-match goal drought to score twice in the second half as Shamrock Rovers were left hopping mad at Waterford referee Dick O'Hanlon as they finished the match with 10 men.
Byrne opened the scoring on 64 minutes as Rovers appealed for an offside after a linesman initially raised his flag only to put it down again.
Paul Keegan raced to the end line from Stephen Fox's ball to cross for Byrne to turn the ball home at the near post.
Rovers' right-back Greg Costello was booked for protesting while, three minutes later, captain Pat Scully was sent off for dissent as Rovers' frustration boiled over. Byrne then sealed the win on 81 minutes. A slip by Costello gifted him the ball and he held off the challenge of Terry Palmer to shoot past Tony O'Dowd.
Rovers, who in truth hadn't played well, got their consolation in stoppage time. Billy Woods lobbed the ball over Bray goalkeeper Matt Gregg from Jason Colwell's pass for substitute Sean Francis to tap home.
Needless to say, Rovers manager Damien Richardson couldn't hide his anger after the game. "Why was the first goal allowed?" asked Richardson. "The linesman put his flag up and then took it down. Answer me why he did that? Then when you ask politely for an explanation and they laugh in your face."
In a first half that only flattered to come to life, both sides might have expected to be a goal to the good at the half-time interval.
Bray had more of the possession but chances from Byrne and Philip Keogh and then Fox were missed as the finish failed to match the build up play.
Rovers threatened early on through Woods down the left, but it was from the opposite flank that their only real first half opening emerged, just seconds before the interval.
Shane Robinson was the provider with a pacey, low ball into the near post.
Tony Grant met the ball first time with some power and accuracy, only for Bray goalkeeper Matt Gregg to react well and push the shot out for a corner.
Gregg then thwarted Stephen Grant early in the second half before the relevant action arrived with Byrne's opening goal on 64 minutes.
BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; Tresson, Lynch, Doohan, Farrell; Williamson (Forsyth 87), Gormley, Fox, Keogh; Keegan, Byrne.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Costello (Cousins 84), Scully, Palmer, Byrne; Robinson (Kenny 75), Colwell, Deans, Woods; A. Grant, S. Grant (Francis 57).
Referee: R. O'Hanlon (Waterford) ends
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