Sean Boyd goal secures win for Shelbourne over Bray in FAI Cup

WINNER: Shelbourne's Sean Boyd celebrates after scoring his side's only goal. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

FAI CUP: Bray Wanderers 0 Shelbourne 1 (Boyd 15')

Sean Boyd’s early goal might have signalled a comfortable afternoon at the Carlisle Grounds for Premier Division leaders Shelbourne.

But they had to labour throughout much of the second half against their First Division play-off challengers who wouldn’t have been flattered to have at least forced extra-time.

Indeed, Shels fans had to hold their breath in stoppage time when Wanderers’ Max Murphy first shot wide across goal before bringing the save of the game from Lorcan Healy.

Bray have won the FAI Cup twice in their history, in 1990 and again in 1999, on each occasion putting out Shelbourne along the way.

Despite a spirited second 45 minutes, there was to be no surprise here as Shelbourne did just enough to get their name into the hat for the third round draw on Tuesday.

With the kick off delayed for 15 minutes due to crowd congestion at the turnstiles, Shels, with eight changes from Thursday’s Conference League win in Gibraltar, laid virtual siege to the Bray half from the start.

And they were deservedly ahead on 15 minutes with a fine team goal.

John O’Sullivan, who slotted in at right-back, got forward to link with Ryahaan Tulloch who was making his debut.

Boyd, wearing a protective mask following his facial injury in Gibraltar, timed his run onto Tulloch’s pass to perfection to side-foot past Jimmy Corcoran to the bottom corner of the net.

Owning the ball, Shels might have added to that within minutes, Boyd having a shot blocked before he flashed a header wide from a Matty Smith cross.

It was the 32nd minute before Bray threatened, though Ben Feeney’s header scarcely troubled Lorcan Healy, likewise a Harry Groome shot from distance close to half-time.

Bray certainly had more about them in the second half with Healy worked again on 57 minutes when Fenney set up Guillermo Almirall to turn and shoot.

Having lost their way, Shels brought on skipper Mark Coyle, JJ Lunney and Will Jarvis in the hope of re-igniting their first half dominance.

But it was Bray who remained on the front foot, Feeney heading over the top from a Max Murphy corner on 71 minutes as they probed for an equaliser.

And though Evan Caffrey rifled narrowly wide for Shelbourne, Bray pressed till the end, but just could muster an equaliser.

Bray Wanderers: Corcoran; M. Murphy, Cantwell, P. Murphy, Nolan; Almirral, Groome; Thompson (Grogan, 83), Craven (Abada, 90+2), Cruise (Morehiomwan, 90+2); Feeney.

Shelbourne: Healy; O’Sullivan, Bone, Ledwidge, Griffin; Caffrey; Smith (Lunney, 59), Coote (Coyle, 65), Wood (Martin, 74), Tulloch (Jarvis, 65); Boyd.

Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).

Attendance: 2,339.