Galway Utd 1 Bray Wanderers1:A LIFETIME spent in football ensures Jeff Kenna is capable of dealing with adversity, but his first managerial briefing has brought significant trials and tribulations.
Galway United's season has brought a curious mixture of Cup pleasure and League pain, and this joust with Bray Wanderers was one of the season-defining variety. Judgment will now take place at the Carlisle Grounds in what promises to be an intriguing replay.
Survival is the issue that dominates Cup football and two teams craving a berth at the penultimate stage rolled into Terryland Park. Vexed by struggles and strains since the start of 2008, Galway United have still surprisingly managed to reserve their most polished performances for knockout fare, ensuring a packed house.
The home side settled briskly. Performing with passion and a rare purpose, Galway struck timber after a mere 100 seconds as John Russell's close-range shot thundered off the post.
Eventually Bray attained a level of composure and before the interval the visitors might have filched the lead.
Daryl Robson, Ger Rowe and Alan Cawley all went close for Wanderers who contributed to a first half that ended in a welter of drama.
It was a tad unfortunate on Bray that they departed at the break trailing, as there was a touch of the bizarre about Galway's goal. Left full Marc McCulloch unleashed a shot from distance and the ball spun viciously off Gavin Whelan before creeping over the line.
Despite leaking a goal Bray remained cool and composed in the third quarter. Cawley's midfield work steered them into dangerous positions and an equaliser was scrambled in the 64th minute.
Cawley's corner dripped with danger and Andy Myler tucked the ball through a thicket of bodies.
GALWAY UNITED:Rogers; Conneely, A Keane, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; Lester; J Keane (Tierney, 85), Foley; Russell (Faherty, 75); Molloy, Jorgensen (Fenn, 84).
BRAY WANDERERS:Gough; Pender, Kenny, Whelan, Cronin; O'Keefe (Doherty, 46), Robson (Tresson, 70), Cawley, Kavanagh; Myler (Kelly, 85), Rowe.
Referee:A Kelly (Cork).
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