Never a dull moment at the Carlisle Grounds.

A scrappy start to a promising game was quickly forgotten as both managers, Damien Richardson of Rovers and Bray's Pat Devlin, held up proceedings for almost six minutes as referee Jimmy O'Neill tried to persuade them, especially Richardson, to leave the field following a booking for Bray's Barry O'Connor for a foul on Pascal Vaudequin.

The two men were red-carded by the official, a decision which both described as "ludicrous" afterwards.

"We said nothing to the referee, we weren't abusing each other simply discussing the incident and he sends us off on the advice of the fourth official," said an exasperated Richardson.

"I had a go at Damien and he had a go at me," said Devlin. "It was directed at each other - we never left the technical area and to my utter amazement he (O'Neill) sends us both off."

Before that the game had developed into an intriguing contest after a free-ridden opening.

Bray hit the front on 13 minutes. Initially peeved at not getting a penalty as Pat Scully appeared to push Jason Byrne in the back as he chested down a cross from Stephen Fox, Wanderers were soon jumping in delight as Colm Tresson met the loose ball to drill it into the bottom right-hand corner of Tony O'Dowd's net.

Rovers kept playing and were level nine minutes later with a textbook set-piece: Tommy Dunne's perfectly paced free from the right was met by the head of Tony Grant as he glanced it in off the far post.

Grant then held his head in disbelief at a stunning one-handed save from Alan Young after a Pat Deans cross came off the striker's chest.

Five minutes later the respective manager's had their chat as proceedings got a little farcical.

Bray Wanderers: Young; Doohan, Tresson, Charles; Britton, Morgan, Fox, Ryan, Keogh; Byrne, O'Connor. Sub: K O'Brien for Morgan (86 mins)

Shamrock Rovers: O'Dowd; Vaudequin, Palmer, Scully, Dunne; Colwell, Deans, Tracey, Woods; Francis, A Grant. Subs: Grant for Francis (68 mins), Cousins for A Grant (76 mins), Robinson for Colwell (80 mins)

Referee: J O'Neill (Waterford)