There aren’t many leagues in the world where, with six league games left, a manager can be quizzed on continental ambitions and relegation worries in the same breath. But that’s what happened to Harry Kenny as he basked in the glory of his side’s har
There aren’t many leagues in the world where, with six league games left, a manager can be quizzed on continental ambitions and relegation worries in the same breath. But that’s what happened to Harry Kenny as he basked in the glory of his side’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over struggling Drogheda United – the Seagulls’ first triumph in six outings.
Friday’s success leaves Bray Wanderers three points behind fourth placed Shamrock Rovers and 11 points clear of the relegation zone – with more games played.
Although far from a vintage performance against the Boynesiders, Kenny welcome the win with open arms and knew the Co. Louth club would be no pushovers.
“I’ll take that all day. There’s been games during the year where we’ve played really well but not taken much from them. We played very well in Sligo – particularly in the second half – and we did reasonably well in Bohs and I thought we could’ve won both games but we didn’t. It was nice not to play well – to play a little bit ugly – and still get the win. I was delighted with that.
“I knew they were going to be good. They ran Cork very close there in the last league match – Cork only beat them 0-1. I knew what we were in for. Any team that Pete (Mahon) manages are going to have a fighting spirit. He demands that from them. I knew with him in charge that they’d come and have a right go which they did.”
While it may be worrying times for Mahon’s men, ambitious Bray fans are still keeping their passports on standby in case their side could steal a European place. Kenny knows the season could still go either way.
“I swear to God I’m looking up and down at the same time! I’m asking about (Shamrock) Rovers’ result but I’m having to ask about team at the bottoms as well. It’s still very tight at both ends. We’re two points behind Rovers albeit that they have a game in hand but there’s a charge trying to get out of that relegation zone as well. Absolutely (anything can happen), everyone is beating everyone. We just have to keep doing our business and get our couple of points each week.”
Another plus for the Co. Wicklow club on Friday was the late introduction of Jake Ellis. At 16 years, five months and four days old, he became the club’s youngest ever player.
“He’s an impressive lad! He’s only been in and around the first team for the last few weeks and he’s impressed us. He’s getting a lot of goals with the 17’s and he’s played with the 19’s so it was nice to give him his debut tonight.”
