Bray Wanderers 0 Shamrock Rovers 3
Shamrock Rovers made it five wins in a row against Bray Wanderers with a 3-0 win in the Carlisle Grounds on Monday night.
A first-half headed goal from Mikey Drennan, his sixth from seven starts, and two second-half headers off Keith Fahey corners from Max Blanchard and Ryan Brennan handed the Hoops all three league points.
It was the fifth win for Pat Fenlon’s team from their opening nine league games as Bray caretaker boss Maciej Tarnogrodzki suffered his first defeat, in a game where his side created little.
The Hoops went close just before the half-hour mark as a beautifully floated Ryan Brennan ball over the top of the Bray defence fell perfectly to the onrushing Drennan but he sliced his attempted lob well wide.
Two minutes later Drennan made no mistake with a brave backpost header. Rovers moved the ball through David Webster to Fahey on the right. His infield pass was sent to the back stick by Brandon Miele for Drennan to score the opener.
It was another header in the second half that saw the Hoops double their lead. Ryan Brennan rose highest to head home Fahey’s free kick from the right for his first of the season.
It was a carbon copy for Rovers' third goal. Fahey had won his team a corner after his shot skipped just over the bar taking a touch off Hugh Douglas on the way. The Ireland international swung the resulting set piece in with Blanchard powering home the header for the Hoops to make it 3-0.
BRAY WANDERERS: S McGuinness; M Barker, A McNally, H Douglas, D O'Reilly; E Onwubiko (D Blackbyrne 83), R McEvoy, G Kelly (D Scully 66), L Gallagher (G McDonagh h/t), P McGlynn; D Cassidy.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: C Hyland; S Madden, M Blanchard (D O'Connor 67), D Webster (G Brennan 72), L Byrne; G McCabe, P Cregg (M Waters 60), K Fahey, R Brennan, B Miele; M Drennan.
Referee: Ben Connolly.
