U14 Eddie Wallace Cup

 U14 Eddie Wallace Cup Group D

Bray Wanderers 2

Galway United 3

Ballychorus

Eoin Horkan

Bray’s youngsters were narrowly beaten by Galway in what was a

great cup tie between the two sides in tough conditions on Saturday

lunchtime .

Galway broke through the home defence in the opening five

minutes . Striker Cillian Tollett who rounded the keeper and finished

into an empty to open the scoring for his side . Bray started to gain

control the game after the early goal with Max Free creating a

chance for Cristiano Bramley who couldn’t level the tie .

Bray managed to level the tie inside the ten minute mark as

dangerous striker Billy O’ Brien disposed the centre back before

finishing neatly into the bottom corner of the net . With both

strikers causing havoc any time they touched the ball it was clear

that this game wasn’t going to be a drab draw. O’Brien had the next

half chance as his blocked effort from a clearance nearly flew past

the keeper. The visitors responded with a glancing header from

Tollett whose effort grazed the post on its way past the goal.

The second third of this game paved way too many more chances

from both sides but neither chance really threatened the goal till the

end of the half . Billy Martin was left almost one on one with the

Galway net minder , his goal bound effort was expertly blocked by

Daithi Casey . The home side’s biggest chance of the half came from

Jack Maguire whose header from a corner grazed the top of the bar

as it went over .

The away side started piling on the pressure in this final quarter as

they looked to extend their lead . This pressure finally paid off when

the aforementioned Tollett whipped in a sublime effort twenty yards

out. Minutes later Galway midfielder Darragh Sherlock let fly from

even further out . As the ball left his boot the crowd knew it was

destined for the net as it flew into the top corner .

Bray had to start pushing forward after these two sucker punches to

narrow the gap . With minutes left on the clock that man O’ Brien

again controlled the ball on the edge of the box before turning his

man and expertly finishing into the far corner of the net . This was

unfortunately just a consolation goal for the home side.

Bray Wanderers :1 Alex Forde,2 Tadhg Worthington 3 Evan Lynch 4

Callum Kenna 5 Jack Maguire 6 Max Free 18 Josh Delves 8 Darragh

Sherlock 9 Billy O’ Neill 20 Jake O’ Neill 17 Cristiano Bramley.

Subs Used : 14 Jake Fulton 13 Liam Billings 10 Billy Martin 15 Noah

Byrne 16 Ethan Doyle 11 Adam Keane 19 Sean Howard

Galway United : 1 Noah Carroll 20 Dara Flanagan 3 Luc Grialaid 21

Niall McCarthy 5 Harry Faherty 4 Michial Gauvasel 6 Daithi Casey

James Morahan 13 Shane Quirke 14 Shay Brady 9 Cillian Tollett

Subs Used : 10 Paraic Heinz Ward 12 Eoin Doyle 11 Dara Hislop 2

Stephen Martin 7 Pady Ryan 19 David Mcloughlin