Shamrock Rovers 2-2 Bray Wanderers

From rte.ie

23:00

Tuesday, 7th October, 2008

Alan Cawley scored a superb free-kick to earn Bray Wanderers a very welcome point against Shamrock Rovers as they came from behind to draw 2-2 at Tolka Park.

Padraig Amond appeared to have given Rovers all three points with a well-taken brace of goals.

But Rovers fell asleep to allow Gareth Coughlan get a goal back immediately and Cawley completed the comeback on 82 minutes.

Rovers' protests over a free-kick awarded by Damien Hancock for a challenge by Danny O'Connor on Ger Rowe were to no avail and Cawley curled a sublime effort to the top left corner of Robert Duggan's net.

Amond finally brought the game to life within four minutes of the second half starting with Rovers' lead goal.

Joseph Ndo beat two players from Sean O'Connor's throw, the ball ran kindly into the path of Amond and he confidently shot home from 14 yards.

Bray might have equalized within two minutes but for an agile save by Duggan from Gavin Whelan's shot.

But it should have been 2-0 three minutes later. A brilliant touch away from goal by Alan Gough denied Eoin Doyle after he got in to shoot from skipper Aidan Price's flick.

Amond did double Rovers' lead on 65 minute with a bullet header from Simon Madden's superb delivery from the left.

Bray hit back right from the kick-off with substitute Coughlan stealing in to drill a shot past Duggan.

The first half was scarcely as dramatic, though it might have been different following a rash challenge by Derek Pender on Pat Flynn, for which he was booked, afforded Rovers a third minute opening from which they came within inches of taking the lead.

Ndo, back in the side following injury, curled a delightful free-kick off the Wanderers' crossbar with Gough recovering well to hold Danny O'Connor follow-up drive.

Shamrock Rovers: Duggan; O'Brien, Price, Maguire, Madden; S. O'Connor, D. O'Connor, Flynn (McGill, 66 mins.), Doyle (Purcell, 76 mins.); Ndo; Amond.

Bray Wanderers: Gough; Pender, Doherty, Kenny, Knight; Kavanagh (Coughlan, 62 mins.), Cawley, Whelan, Duggan, Kelly (Rowe, 62 mins.); Myler (Mulroy, 72 mins.).

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).