Soccer

Blunt Bray have it all to do after stalemate with Galway at Carlisle Grounds

Colm Whelan scores twice as UCD win 3-0 in Limerick against Treaty United

Galway United’s Conor O’Keeffe and Ryan Graydon of the Bray Wanderers in action during the SSE Airtricity League First Division playoff semi-final at the Carlisle Grounds. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Paul Buttner
Wed Nov 3 2021 - 21:58

Bray Wanderers 0 Galway United 0

Shot-shy Bray Wanderers failed to make their possession pay as they couldn’t break down Galway United at the Carlisle Grounds. Advantage now swings the way of John Caulfield’s favourites ahead of Sunday’s second leg of this First Division playoff semi-final.

Gary Cronin’s Wanderers can have few complaints as, despite enjoying plenty of the ball, they couldn’t manage to get a shot on target in the whole 90 minutes and have it all to do way out west.

Belying the fact they finished the season in poor form, with just one win in eight games, Bray passed the ball well with Conor Clifford orchestrating their play in the middle of the park.

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For all their promising approach play, though, Wanderers lacked a cutting edge in the final third as Galway defended efficiently.

More direct when they got forward, Galway had perhaps the only clearcut chance of the first half on 32 minutes, Ruairí Keating planting a free header straight at Brian Maher from Conor O'Keeffe's cross.

Though Bray continued to dominate the ball into the second half, it was Galway who looked more likely to score, Joe Gorman shooting wide following a corner while Maher saved with his feet from Wilson Waweru after Stephen Walsh played him through on goal.

Treaty United 0 UCD 3

UCD have one foot in the final after Colm Whelan scored twice in a 3-0 win over Treaty United at the Markets Field.

A howler by Treaty's Tadhg Ryan gifted UCD the lead on 32 minutes, the goalkeeper appearing to punch Paul Doyle's free-kick into his own goal.

Doyle was central to UCD’s second goal on 80 minutes, skipping to the end line to pull the ball back for Ireland under-21 international Whelan to turn a defender and calmly slot home.

Whelan then added his second, his 21st goal of the season, in stoppage time.

Brian MaherColm WhelanConor CliffordConor O KeeffeGary CroninJoe GormanJohn CaulfieldPaul DoyleRuairi KeatingStephen WalshTadhg RyanWilson Waweru