Cian Bargary strikes late as Cobh Ramblers battle back to beat Bray 

Cobh Ramblers 2 Bray Wanderers 1 

A breakaway strike from Cian Bargary at the death saw Cobh Ramblers come from behind and defeat Bray at St Colman’s Park.

The Ramblers stay in second with the result, but they have cut the gap to league leaders Dundalk.

This follows a tense game that opened with Jamie Duggan scoring inside 90 seconds and Cian Murphy equalising at the Liam McMahon Stand.

Everything started with Timothy Martin handling the ball outside the box and with that came a free-kick which was turned in after Max Murphy targeted the back post.

The Ramblers were patient in their attempt to get back in the game, and this including probing the right wing by sending balls to Bargary. This helped the club find space and out of this came the equaliser as Bray opened up and that allowed David Bosnjak set up Cian Murphy for a low shot that rolled with 22nd minutes on the clock.

Cobh finished the half with a flourish, with chances falling to Barry Coffey and Waterford’s Shane Griffin, and neither one was able to find the target.

The game restarted with Rhys Knight finding his brother, Conor, and his effort went out for a corner that came to nothing.

Billy O’Neill also spun away from his marker and his right-footed shot went just wide in the 55th minute.

The Republic of Ireland U17 international then got on the end of a cross inside the box and hit the crossbar. The loose ball went back out to the midfielder and his follow-up by stopped at the face of goal by Martin.

Cobh came through this period unscathed and created an opportunity for Coffey that was headed over the bar from close range.

The Ramblers were in firm control at that point, and Bray soaked up the pressure before breaking in the 85th minute. Martin came out to deal with this, with the goalkeeper sprinting out and getting to the ball before an onrushing Guillermo Almirall could get to it.

O’Neill also got through during this burst, and the midfielder was stopped by Jonas Hakkinen in the box.

The Seagulls pushed for a late-winner and Cobh closed up in a bid to see the game out. With this came room for a counter-attack and at the end of this was Bargary, who hit the back of the net with a stunning strike at the death.

COBH: Timothy Martin; Nolan Evers, Cian Coleman, Shane Griffin, Luke Le Bervet, Shane Griffin, Niall O’Keeffe, David Bosnjak, Barry Coffey, Cian Bargary, Cian Murphy.

Subs: Samuel Bellis for Bosnjak (61); Jonas Hakkinen for Evers (68).

BRAY: Jimmy Corcoran; Rhys Knight, Killian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Max Murphy, Rhys Bartley, Jamie Duggan, Billy O’Neill, Cian Doyle, Conor Knight, Cian Curtis.

Subs: Calum Costello for C Knight (63); Guillermo Almirall for R Knight (63), Thomas Considine for Curtis (81).

Referee: Oliver Moran