Leinster Senior Cup

Evergreen Park, Kilkenny
26 Jan 2024

New-look Bray started the 2024 season with a hard-earned point in the revamped PTSB Leinster Senior Cup.

The Seagulls dominated possession against Evergreen from Kilkenny on Friday evening in the Group C fixture.

But lacked the clinical finishing that their approach play should have rewarded from the chances they created.

The hosts put in a dogged defensive display but without really threatening the Wicklow sides defence.

In their first competitive outing since October 2023, Wanderers had no less than five different players in the starting line-up making their club debuts – goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran; defender Evan Osam; midfielders Shane Griffin and Kieran Cruise along with striker Cristian Magerusan.

Substitutes Freddie Turley and Peter Grogan also made their inaugural first team appearances in the second half while there was a welcome return from injury from 2023 joint-leading goal-scorer Ben Feeney from the bench.

Full back Max Murphy volleyed wide when Darren Craven’s sixth minute corner was cleared to him.

A minute later, Griffin’s 25-yard free was well gathered by home custodian Nathan Owens.

Evergreen went close in the 16th minute. After a home corner, the ball fell to Lee Delaney 20-yards out. His drive clipped the crossbar and over.

In a tight second half, Corcoran easily gathered Jamie Owens’ 22-yard drive in the 56th minute.

Feeney headed wide on 64 when getting on the end of a Cruise cross from the left.

Then three minutes later, Magerusan sent a glancing header off target from Griffin’s free kick.

With 20 minutes remaining, Feeney pounced on a back-pass. He rolled the ball low past Nathan Owens. But wide of the gaping goal.

The only blot on the evening was an injury to new signing Grogan.

The current U18 Schools International Player of The Year of the year picked up a knee problem, late on in the fixture.

And left the pitch on crutches as the visitors finished the game – strongly – with only ten players having already used all five substitutes.

Yet Wanderers had the opportunity for victory at the Kells Road venue in the 86th minute.

Craven’s free was spilled by Nathan Owens. Close in, Cole Omorehiomwan followed up. But blasted high over the bar.

Report from braywanderersfc.ie

Bray Wanderers: 1 Jimmy Corcoran; 2 Max Murphy, 4 Kilian Cantwell (c), 5 Cole Omorehiomwan , 3 Evan Osam; 8 Harry Groome, 19 Darren Craven; 7 Callum Thompson, 10 Shane Griffin, 18 Kieran Cruise ; 9 Cristian Magerusan
Subs: 9 Guillermo Almirall (for Thompson 62), 11 Peter Grogan (for Griffin 72), 12 Jamie Duggan, 15 Ben Feeney (for Groome 62), 17 Thomas Morgan (for Magerusan 72), 24 Freddie Turley (for Cantwell 62), 25 Benjamin Clark (gk)
Evergreen: 18 Nathan Owens; 2 Damian Kelly, 5 Lee Delaney (c), 15 Adrian Cleere, 3 Sam Hickey; 8 Michael Drennan , 16 Dean Cornally; 11 Chris Whearty, 10 Jamie Owens, 7 Ethan Phelan (; 9 Andrew Wall
Subs: 1 Vincent O’Grady (gk), 12 David Grincell (for J Owens 76), 13 Anthony Mulvihill (for Kelly 76), 14 Declan McQuillan (for Phelan 66), 17 Dillon Lawless (for Cornally 76), 19 Ryan Butler, ?? Tommy Earls
Referee: Jason Moore