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Fingal and Bray compete for Premier spot PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 13 November 2009 14:14
Sporting Fingal host Bray Wanderers on Friday night at Morton Stadium in the first leg of the 2009 promotion/relegation play-off.

Fingal defeated First Division rivals Shelbourne 2-1 at Tolka Park on Tuesday to set up the play-off against the Seagulls to decide which team will compete in next year’s Premier Division. The return leg takes place at the Carlisle Grounds next Monday, November 16.

Defender John Frost missed the win over Shels with a hamstring strain and is unlikely to feature against Bray while Alan Kirby will undergo a pre-match fitness test on a foot problem having also sat out Tuesday’s clash. Robert Bayly and Robbie Doyle are available again after serving suspensions.

Manager Liam Buckley is calling for his team to fully concentrate on these matches.

He said: “These are our biggest games of the season. Our aim at the start of this season was promotion and we’ve two games now in which to achieve it.

“Eddie Gormley and his Bray team will be as eager as us to win this fixture, with the ultimate prize of top-flight football at stake.

“A good victory over Shelbourne on Tuesday puts us in good spirits, though we need to be equally, or a bit more, on form to emerge through this play-off.

“These are busy times for us but we’re not complaining. This time last year, we were finished our season but to have two more play-off matches and an FAI Ford Cup final to contest over the next ten days shows we’re progressing well.”

Bray Wanderers have to plan for the play-off first leg without the experienced Stephen Brennan and young striker John Muloy, both of whom are suspended for the game. Otherwise Eddie Gormley has a full squad to pick from.

"We started well on Tuesday night and did OK in the first half, but we never came out for the second half," said Gormley of Tuesday night's defeat to Drogheda United. "I was very disappointed, and we didn't deserve anything from the game with our second half performance.

"Friday will be another tough game. In my opinion Fingal are a top four side in the Premier Division with the players they have. We have to go out and improve on our Semi-Final performance, that game was over before it started. We need to give ourselves a chance by bringng them back to Bray with somethimg to play for on Monday". 
 
 
 
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