15.24 – Good afternoon all. Bray Wanderers have made the trip out west to face the side currently leading the Premier Division title race, Sligo Rovers. We’re less than a half hour away from kick-off and the team line-ups are in:

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Gavin Peers, Danny Ventre (c), Romauld Boco, Rafa Cretaro, Ross Gaynor, Joseph Ndo, David Cawley, Danny North. Subs: Ciaran Kelly, Jeff Henderson, Seamus Conneely, Lee Lynch, John Dillon, Mark Quigley, Pascal Millien.

Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley, Dane Massey, Danny O’Connor (c), Kevin O’Connor, Jason Byrne, Kieran Marty Waters, Dean Zambra, John Mulroy, Adam Hanlon, Shane O’Connor. Subs: Daire Doyle, Kevin Knight, Graham Kelly, Pat Seery, Brendan King, Brian Kane, Conor Butler.

15.33 – So Ian Baraclough doesn’t start any of his three new signing but Seamus Conneely and Jeff Henderson make the bench with Ryan Connelly missing out. Here’s a piece I did earlier in the week on their latest arrivals. Bray bring Kevin O’Connor (brother of captain Danny) straight in to the startin XI after the 26-year-0ld’s move from Worcester City was announced yesterday.

Credit: NPHO/James Crombie

15.36 –

Looks like there’s a few quid riding on Bit O’Red striker Danny North. He scored two against Dundalk at Oriel Park last weekend and you’d fancy him against a defence who conceded three at home to Cork City last time out.

15.40 – Bray this week lost the services of 17-year-old Pierce Sweeney, who was snapped up by Reading.  On his departure, Pat Devlin has just told RTE Sport: “It’s a massive loss but you have to give young players a chance and the money will go back into the club. I hope to see Pierce in Rio (at the World Cup) in a couple of years.”

High hopes for the young centre half then.

16.02 – The opening 15 has been played at a fairly fast pace but we’ve yet to see any meaningful chances on goal. Another Bray corner breaks to Rafa Cretaro and he attempts to slot his strike partner North in but the flag shoots up for offside.

16.08 – Ross Gaynor receives a pass some 35 yards out from goal and, with no Bray player in sight, advances forward before having a crack. His strike is on target but doesn’t trouble Quigley, who collects confidently.

Moments later, the ball is nestling in the back of the Bray net. Boco slides through North and his finish is a tidy one. Before celebrations can commence, the linesman again has his flag up for offside. Didn’t look to be much in it, though.

16.28 – Iarfhlaith Davoren is the latest player to be shown a yellow card after he takes down Hanlon. Dane Massey then has a speculative strike on goal but watches it sail well over.

16.33 – Half time: Sligo Rovers 0-0 Bray Wanderers

Sligo the better side in the opening 45 minutes but Baraclough won’t be happy with some of their sloppiness. Bray, meanwhile, have weathered the storm so far and are still very much in this. Also should’ve scored when Byrne was put through.

17.28 – Ndo tried something special when he intercepts a pass but the delicate chip is marginally too high. The former Cameroon international is given a hero’s applause as Baraclough brings him off for Seamus Conneely.

Another new boy, Bray’s Brendan King has also been introduced for goalscorer Byrne.

17.46 –

RTE’S man of the match Kevin O’Connor after the game: “It’s a great start for me. I’ve been training with the for the past six weeks so have got to know them. We’ve done well today, it was a sloppy goal to give away but Sligo are top of the league and a great side.”