Galway sink as Gaughan walks

Bray Wanderers 4 Galway United 0

The Westerners had the worst of starts when defender Laurence Gaughan was red-carded by Cork referee Anthony Buttimer after just two minutes following a reckless two-footed challenge on Bray’s Shane O’Connor.

The Seagulls took the lead on 12 minutes when a cross by Dean Zambra on the right was pushed out by diving keeper Conor Wynn only for the ball to fall perfectly for winger Jake Kelly to fire home from close range.

Victor Collins and Alan Murphy missed chances for Galway and the visitors were to regret it when the excellent Danny O’Connor headed home Bray’s second goal from 12 yards after a Jake Kelly cross from the left.

The home side’s numerical advantage told further on 68 minutes when Shane O’Neill fired home from the edge of the box, the ball bouncing off the crossbar into the net after substitute Marty Waters had set up the chance on the left.

Victory for the home side was guaranteed on 85 minutes when after a short corner on the left was taken by substitute Kevin Knight, Zambra crossed and central defender Derek Prendergast to head powerfully home at the far post.

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; S O’Connor, Mitchell (Waters 60), Prendergast, Houston; Zambra, G Kelly, D O’Connor (Knight 71), J Kelly (Mulroy 80); Shields, O’Neill.

GALWAY UNITED: Wynn; E P Kelly, Gaughan, Brown, Holland (Gilmore 60); Kim, G Kelly, Sinnott, Walsh (Caldwell 83); A Murphy, Collins (Eduardo 60).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork).