Bray Wanderers belied a flag rant first-half display in front of goal to eventually run out 4-1 winners over St Francis in their League Cup Group E match at the Carlisle Grounds yesterday.
After a scoreless 45 minutes, in which Bray's Barry O'Connor was guilty of wasting the chance for a hat-trick, defenders showed Pat Devlin's side the way to goal with a late flurry to overpower Jimmy Harte's new-look St Francis.
Central defender Jody Lynch headed home unchallenged from the influential Pat O'Brien's corner to open the scoring in the 65th minute. Philip Keogh, playing at left-back, made it 2-0 seven minutes later, shooting to the top right-hand corner of John Connolly's net from 30 yards.
Gareth Dodrill appeared to get St Francis back into the match within a minute when shooting past Alan Kane from the edge of the box. But right back Colm Tresson finished off a sweeping move on 83 minutes, before substitute Jason Byrne headed home Bray's fourth from Graham Cassin's cross two minutes from time.
In Group B at the Brandywell, a late fightback by holders Sligo Rovers was in vain. They lost 3-2 after Derry City led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a 17th minute goal from Liam Coyle, who pounced after a collision between Sligo's new goalkeeper, Matthew Boswell, and captain, Steve Birks.
James Keddy scored the goal of the game to add Derry's third with a terrific 25-yard free-kick in the 59th minute before Sligo staged their revival.
A litany of defensive errors cost Monaghan United dearly as they gifted both goals in Drogheda United's 2-0 win at Gortakeegan in Group D.
The other Group D game, at Oriel Park, saw Stephen Kenny's Longford Town get a respectable point from a nondescript 0-0 draw with Dundalk.
Derek Coughlan was Cork City's goal hero once again, his last-minute strike ensuring victory against Waterford United in their Group A game at Turner's Cross on Saturday night.
Coughlan, who scored Cork's winner in the Cup Final replay last May and their second goal against CSKA Kiev on Thursday night, completed Cork's comeback when heading home John Cotter's corner to give City a 2-1 win.
In the same group, Cobh Ramblers threw away a lead to lose 3-2 at home to Kilkenny City.
At Whitehall, a 69th minute goal from Robbie Farrell gave Home Farm/Everton a deserved win over UCD in Group F.
In Group C, Connacht Senior League side, Mervue United, sporting peroxide hairstyles to raise funds for the Galway Hospice, shocked Athlone Town, who finished with nine men. The match finished a 1-1 draw.
Galway United took advantage of an early own goal to beat Limerick 1-0 in the other Group C game at Hogan Park. Eddie Hickey parried a shot from Ollie Neary and the rebound struck Limerick defender Jason Purcell and rolled into the net.
The other non-league side in the competition, Fanad United of the Ulster Senior League, had George Grier and Sean Barrett sent off during their 2-0 loss to Finn Harps in a Group B game at Traigh-A-Locha.
