📰 Match Report | Dundalk FC 3–1 Bray Wanderers

Dundalk FC
Sep 13
2 min read

Arubi and Kenny Inspire Lilywhites to Crucial Win

Dundalk FC moved a step closer to a Premier Division return on Friday night as goals from Gbemi Arubi and Eoin Kenny sealed a 3–1 victory over Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park.

Ciarán Kilduff’s men produced a commanding display to maintain their six–point cushion at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division with just five games to play. While Harvey Warren grabbed a late consolation for the visitors, Dundalk’s dominance throughout ensured that the three points never looked in doubt.

First Half: Arubi At The Double

The Lilywhites wasted little time in asserting control. With just eight minutes played, Harry Groome surged forward and released Kenny down the right. The Northern Ireland U21 international delivered a pinpoint cross that Arubi powered home at the back post.

Buoyed by the opener, Dundalk poured forward. Kenny himself went close moments later, forcing a fine stop from former Lilywhites keeper Jimmy Corcoran, before Declan McDaid also tested the Bray shot stopper at his near post.

Bray’s first real opportunity came on the quarter–hour mark when Alain Kizenga found space in the box, but Peter Cherrie was equal to his effort.

On 34 minutes, Dundalk struck again. A quick throw from McDaid eventually found Groome, whose neat lay off was rifled into the bottom corner by Arubi for his second of the night. The forward could have completed a first half hat rick but was denied twice by Corcoran before the interval.

Second Half: Kenny Seals It

Bray emerged with intent after the restart, with Sean Brennan going close, but any hopes of a comeback were ended on 54 minutes.

Kenny began the move himself, threading a ball through for Shane Tracey, who jinked past his marker before being halted by Benjamin Fagbemi. The loose ball fell kindly for Kenny, who calmly slotted home his seventh league goal of the campaign to make it 3–0.

Tracey almost added a fourth midway through the half, only for Corcoran to save well at his near post.

The visitors did find a late reply when Max Murphy broke forward and played in Warren, who tucked the ball beyond Cherrie on 80 minutes, but it proved to be little more than a consolation.

Match Highlights

Kilduff's Thoughts

Video By Chris Clarke

Teams

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe (Luke Mulligan 81), Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard; JR Wilson; Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome (Dean Ebbe 76); Eoin Kenny (Andy Paraschiv 76), Shane Tracey (Norman Garbett 76), Declan McDaid (Keith Ward 81); Gbemi Arubi.

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Alain Kizenga, Killian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Benjamin Fagbemi (Max Murphy 68); Rhys Bartley, Cian Doyle (Sean Brennan HT); Rhys Knight (Richard Ferizaj 84), Guillermo Almirall (Cian Curtis HT), Justin Ferizaj (Conor Knight 68), Billy O’Neill.

Up Next

Dundalk remain in pole position for automatic promotion with 69 points on the board. They will look to push even closer to sealing the First Division title when they travel to face Longford Town next weekend.