Bray denied

DUNDALK made a remarkable comeback against Bray at Oriel Park last night to grab three valuable points in their efforts to stave off relegation.

Dundalk were reduced to 10 men shortly before half time and things were looking bleak. However, Bray made the mistake of trying to defend a one goal lead and paid the penalty.

In a very scrappy first half the deadlock was broken in the 27th minute when Ritchie Parsons made a good break from the halfway line and set up Robbie Coyle for an easy score.

Joe Gallen had a chance to equalise for Dundalk about six minutes later but shot over the bar when clean through.

Dundalk's troubles deepened in the 41st minute when their new signing from Hibernians, Steven Reynes, was shown a red card bye referee Hubert Byrne for a tackle on Graham O'Hanlon.

On the resumption it was the home side who did all the attacking as they forced 10 corners without any results.

Their luck looked to be out when Brian Byrne hit the inside of the post in the 73rd minute but within a minute Joe Hanrahan ran onto a pass from Tom McNulty to score the equaliser.

Dundalk kept up the pressure and were rewarded in the 83rd minute when Joe Gallen scored the winner with a left footed shot.

Bray now look doomed to go back down to the first division.