Bray better UCD once more to secure First Division play-off final berth

Bray Wanderers' Paul Murphy makes a save. Pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho

First Division play-off semi-final second leg: Bray Wanderers 3 UCD 2  

Bray Wanderers pushed on to the final of the First Division play-offs with a 3-2 win on the night over UCD.

The Wicklow side held a slender 1-0 advantage going into the second leg, and they made a fantastic start in front of the biggest crowd of the season at the Carlisle Grounds.

The Seagulls won a corner in the third minute, and a lovely delivery into the box by Max Murphy was met by the deft head of Killian Cantwell to double Bray’s lead on aggregate.

Things could have gone from bad to worse for UCD when a long ball seemed to have fallen in behind for Cian Curtis, where he appeared to be pulled back by Eanna Clancy; however, referee Daniel Murphy thought otherwise and waved play on.

UCD pulled themselves back into the tie in the 26th minute when a corner by Ronan Finn was allowed to bounce in the Bray box, where first to arrive was Brian McManus, who smashed a half-volley into the net to level the game on the night and give hope to the Belfield side.

The home side were not deterred by this setback and pushed on for a second, with Justin Ferizaj flashing a shot from the edge of the box just wide in the 35th minute.

The second half opened tentatively, but that suited the home side, who put an end to UCD’s diminishing hopes in the 61st minute.

Substitute Sean Brennan drove forward with the ball before playing a great pass in behind for Cian Curtis.

The young Bray forward put his first attempt straight at the on-rushing Kavanagh, but the ball kindly fell back to his feet, where he slotted the ball into the empty net to the delight of the home crowd.

The Seagulls wrapped up proceedings in injury time as another substitute, Richard Ferizaj, raced in behind the vacant UCD defence and side-footed a composed finish into the goal for a fourth.

UCD pulled one back very late on through Ciaran Behan, but it will be Bray who now head into this weekend’s play-off final. 

Bray Wanderers: Corcoran, Kinzega (Duggan 66’), Cantwell, Warren, Murphy, Bartley, Cian Doyle, Conor Knight (Murphy 86’), Rhys Knight (Sean Brennan 56’), Justin Ferizaj, Curtis (Richard Ferizaj 85’). 

UCD: Kavanagh, Wells, Holohan (Cailloce 75’), Clancy, Adam Brennan (Raggett 90), Verdon (Smith 66’), Finn, McCullagh (Dignam 66’), Behan, Jake Doyle. 

Referee: Daniel Murphy (Dublin)