Fingal edge closer to Premier spot

Sporting Fingal are a positive 90 minutes away from promotion to the Premier Division as they take a two goal advanatge into Monday's second leg.

The result was most harsh on Bray who dominated this first leg, played in atrocious conditions, for long spells, hitting the woodwordk three times.

Bray's Gareth Coughlan had a penalty appeal waved away before he shot against a post as Wanderers got no reward for their first half pressure.

Ultimately, skipper Stephen Paisley's sloppy opener and Conan Byrne’s 26th goal of the season has Sporting staring the Premier Division in the face.

The lead came from a sixth successive corner on 53 minutes. Bray keeper Chris O’Connor failed to grasp Byrne’s delivery and Chris Deans’ attempted clearance came off Paisley to trickle over the line.

If that was a fluke, there was no doubting the quality of Byrne's goal 14 minutes later. Colm James had just bit the bar on a counterattack, before Sporitng did double their lead.

Left-back Lorcan Fitzgerald whipped over a super deep cross and right winger Byrne arrived to score with a stunning side foot volley from 15 yards.

Bray chased the game hard and came oh so close to getting a deserved goal back on 70 minutes. Gary McCabe struck the crossbar from 25 yards with Darren Quigley making the save of the night from Derek Foran’s follow up.

Dane Massey then also struck the bar from just outside the box 12 minutes from time as Sporting held on to bring a two goal lead to the Carlisle Grounds.

Sporting Fingal: Quigley; James, Maher, Paisley, Fitzgerald; Bayly, McFaul, Williams; C. Byrne, Doyle (Foley, 78 mins.), Zayed.

Bray Wanderers: O’Connor; Pender, Deans, Foran, Cronin; McCabe (Kelly, 73 mins.), Doyle, Massey, Coughlan; Flood (Tresson, 78 mins.), Byrne.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).