Bray up early for the cup

They say that you need to be up early to achieve anything in life, which means that Setanta Cup newcomers Bray Wanderers should have at least some kind of edge on all the rest when they open their competitive season with a home game against Glentoran on February 13.

Like the Dublin gaelic football team, the Seasiders have taken to starting their training sessions at 6.30am. “There’s a few cranky heads and I’m probably the crankiest,” grins manager Pat Devlin. “But it’s just a matter of adjustment. It will be easier in the summer months.”

The latest addition to the Bray ranks is a very familiar one, veteran marksman Jason Byrne having returned to the club where he began his League of Ireland career.