Dundalk and Bray misfire

JASON BYRNE was denied a penalty and then stretchered off six minutes from time as Dundalk and Bray Wanderers played out a poor scoreless draw at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk were hit before the start by the withdrawal of Daniel Kearns but the first real sight of goal came on 19 minutes when Conor Murphy drilled a 20-yard shot which Peter Cherrie did well to hold. Moments later, Colin Hawkins’ header back to his keeper almost beat the Scot but he recovered well to get his hand to it, with Michael Hector clearing the danger.

On 32 minutes, Dundalk created their best chance of the half when Simon Madden’s cross from the right found Byrne in space at the back post, but from 10-yards he fired over the bar.

On 53 minutes, Stephen McDonnell’s cushioned header almost ran into the path of Keith Ward but Matt Gregg raced from his goal to gather. Before the hour, a mistake by Hector allowed Murphy in but he shot over from 18-yards.

Mark Quigley’s low 30-yard free-kick was inches off target before the midway point of the second period, before, on 70 minutes, Jake Kelly shot from distance, forcing Cherrie to push around the post.

Late on, after Hector hit the post, Byrne was taken down in the box but no penalty was given, with the sides having to settle for a point apiece, as Ian Foster’s injury woes appeared to deepen.

DUNDALK: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne, Breen (Griffin 61).

BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg, Webster, Mitchell, Prendergast, Massey, Mulroy (Kendrick 90), Dempsey, D O’Connor (G Kelly 83), Shields, Murphy (O’Neill 81), J Kelly.

Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin).