Spectacular send-off for the eircom U21 Futsal League

Bohemians (2) 7 – 8 Bray Wanderers (6)

NIALL MERRIMAN was a four goal hero as Bray Wanderers recorded the first
victory of the eircom under-21 Futsal League in a thriller against Bohemians
at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

Bray took the lead through Merriman but Brian Kelly equalised with a
brilliant long range strike.

Wanderers hit a rich run of form just before half-time when Brian Gartland
tapped home from close range then Merriman scored with a free-kick.

David O’Sullivan made it 4-1 with a clever dribble and finish via a
deflection then Merriman and O’Sullivan each scored either side of a Ciaran
Foy goal to leave it 6-2 to Bray at the break.

The second half started at a frenetic pace. Ian Byrne pulled one back for
Bohs early in the second half but Merriman again responded. Kelly grabbed
his second of the day almost immediately afterwards.

Robbie Manley capped off a neat move to make it 8-4 to Bray but Bohs cut the lead back to three once again when Alan Lynch finished from the tightest of angle.

The young Bohs side showed great heart to set about cutting that lead with
goals by Sean Trout and Sean Fay leaving it at 8-7 with just over a minute
left on the clock. The performance of keeper Gavin Snodgrass was pivotal for
Bray at this time.

Fay had twice hit the post before that and in the last minute Manley hit the
Bohs upright on a Bray counterattack. A real thriller ended with just the
minimum separating them.

Bohemians: Sean Conlon; Colin Pugh, Sean Fay, Sean Trout, Brian Kelly,
Ciaran Tracey, Ian Byrne, Alan Lynch, Ciaran Foy, Killian O’Grady, Shane
Guerin.
Goals: Kelly 2, Foy, Byrne, Lynch.

Bray Wanderers: Gavin Snodgrass; Jack Douglas, Brian Gartland, Sean
Fitzgerald, Wayne Byrne, David O’Sullivan, Robert Manley, Niall Merriman.
Goals: Merriman 4, O’Sullivan 2, Gartland, Manley.