Bray Wanderers 2 Longford Town 1:BRAY WANDERERS edged through to the semi-finals when first-half goals from John Flood and Chris Shields gave them an unconvincing victory at the Carlisle Grounds last night.
Only a series of superb second-half saves by Aussie goalkeeper Chris O’Connor denied a battling Longford the chance to force the game into extra-time.
Bray had their noses in front on 12 minutes when a long cross from the left by Derek Foran was knocked back across goal by Dave Mulcahy for striker Flood to fire home from six yards.
And Bray stretched their lead on 26 minutes when winger Gary McCabe pushed back a perfect ball for midfielder Shields to rocket home a shot into the top right corner from 25 yards.
O’Connor came to Bray’s rescue on 52 minutes when he blocked an Adrian Murphy effort at close range.
Longford were desperately unlucky not to break their duck on 75 minutes when a header by Derek Glynn struck the crossbar. Murphy kept the ball in play to set up Liam Lynch only for the striker’s shot to be taken off the line.
O’Connor performed more heroics side when he got down to block another Lynch effort.
But there was nothing he could do about Longford’s deserved consolation goal in the fourth minute of added time when Glynn headed home from 10 yards after a McCartney cross from the left.
BRAY WANDERERS: O'Connor; Doyle (Coughlan 83), Foran (Deans 67), Mulcahy, Pender; McCabe, Brennan, Shields, Massey; Kelly (Mulroy 86), Flood.
LONGFORD TOWN:O'Leary; Kenny, McCarthy, Cronin, McCartney; King, Jinks (Curran 67), Gough, Lee (Glynn 57); Lynch, Murphy.
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).
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