A freezing night at the Carlisle Grounds was slowly but significantly warmed up by an inspiring Bray Wanderers performance that saw them sweep comfortably past St Francis and on to the second round of the FAI Cup. This meeting was a repeat of the final nine years ago when the then non-league St Francis suffered a somewhat similar fate. Bray were simply far more skilful last night.
Kieran O'Brien, the man they call Tarzan, was in great form, contributing two of the five, while captain Mick Doohan, substitute Steven Fox and defender Colm Tresson also put their names on the scoresheet.
The breakthrough goal came in the 22nd minute after John Ryan played the ball back from the byline for O'Brien to drill low into the corner. At that stage the only question was when the next goal would come.
The second half was one-way traffic for the full 45 minutes as St Francis went without a single shot on goal. Stewart Connolly's high corner on 63 minutes was met by a high-flying Doohan whose header left visiting goalkeeper Josef Audic stuck on his heels.
By then Bray were shooting at will, having plenty of time to add three more grace notes to a good, all-round performance.
Bray Wanderers: Walsh, Tresson, Keogh, Lynch, Doohan, Smith, Tierney, Connelly, O'Brien, Parsons, Ryan. Subs: Fox for Ryan (52 mins); Byrne for Smith (79 mins); Power for O'Brien (79 mins).
St Francis: Audic, Dodrill, Rickard, Scott, Donnelly, Heffernan, Ward, Sheridan, Duffy, Ledwidge, D Sheridan. Subs: Tracey for Heffernan (57 mins); Lawson for D Sheridan (72 mins); Gallagher for Sheridan (90 mins).
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
