Shelbourne 4 Bray Wanderers 1Ultimately a comfortable night's work for Shelbourne but still it wasn't without its hairy moments. An early reluctance to push on and dominate, even with the protection of Gary O'Neill's opening goal, could have proved costly and it certainly irked manager Pat Fenlon on the touchline.

But still, the hosts' attitude late on could not be faulted as they systematically picked off Bray.

For all that early possession the visitors could not convert their chances. Eamon Zayed blazed a close-range header over while Paul Caffrey skewed a volley wide. But despite that endeavour, and the subsequent frustration it bore for Fenlon, Bray's task had already been made all the more difficult.

Ollie Cahill's 17th minute shot from the left, having turned Stephen Gifford all too easily, was batted away by Chris O'Connor but the goalkeeper steered the ball directly to O'Neill, who finished it off.

Shelbourne emerged rejuvenated after the break and were more clinical in their application.

Shelbourne, by now, were varying their attacks and that pressure subsequently reaped rewards when, with 65 minutes played, Jason Byrne headed home Richie Baker's cross.

Bray, though, pulled one back five minutes later when defender Brian McGovern bundled home Robbie Doyle's corner at the near post. But that revival was nipped in the bud when, with 12 minutes remaining, O'Neill capitalised on McGovern's defensive mistake to beat O'Connor for the second time and then Cahill capitalised on another defensive lapse to steer into an unguarded net from 30 yards.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Dillon, Rogers; Baker, S Byrne, Moore (Ndo, 84 mins), Cahill; J Byrne (Crowe, 79), O'Neill.

BRAY WANDERERS: O'Connor; Gifford, Roche, McGovern, Keogh; Caffrey (Byrne, 86 mins), Fox, James, Tresson; Doyle, Zayed (O'Brien, 83). (86). Booked: Caffrey (33), James (84).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).