Champions take unlikely fall at first

The last time Bray were in the top flight they beat Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians before getting half way through their first round of matches. But the following spring they went straight back down. No surprise then that neither Pat Devlin nor his players were getting too carried away after yesterday's surprise defeat of the champions at Tolka Park.

Jason Byrne, an unknown, scored the winner in each of those victories two seasons ago and at Tolka Park yesterday his header six minutes from time was decisive.

The young Dubliner is attracting interest from the English first division and Kevin Sheedy's presence in the stand at Tolka was a clear sign of Tranmere's enthusiasm for Robbie Keane's first cousin.

It's as well the former Republic of Ireland international hung on until the end, as Byrne had a quiet afternoon before scoring. When a terrible mix up between Tony McCarthy, Pat Scully and, ultimately, Steve Williams presented the opportunity, Byrne was ready and waiting.

The win ended Shelbourne's 15-month unbeaten run at home in the league and Dermot Keely tried to focus on the positive . "It's a reality check," said the Shelbourne boss. "All of the records are gone now and maybe that's a good thing. But we were playing like that last year some of the time too, and because we weren't conceding goals we were drawing or winning the games. Hopefully after today the lads will realise that you can't keep getting away with it."

Shelbourne could have scored a couple of early goals but Bray showed a battling resolve. They had to survive a couple of scrapes in the opening 20 minutes when James Keddy twice went close and Stephen Geoghegan squandered the best chance of the game. Wanderers appeared to sense there was something in the match for them.

With half or more of the home team having off-days, Devlin's men had it a good deal easier than will most of this season's visitors to Tolka. Shortly after the restart a couple of fumbles by Steve Williams left an air of uncertainty around the Shelbourne box.

After an hour, the Welshman redeemed himself by getting down well to save from Colm Tresson and the hosts then went close themselves when Dessie Baker's header was cleared off the line by Philip Keogh.

Mostly, it was scrappy, a perfect setting for a winner that came from a long kick-out which bounced twice before being headed home from eight yards out.

Late on, Keith Long was dismissed for a rash challenge on Richie Baker although it came to late to alter the outcome.

Shelbourne: Williams; Heary, Scully, McCarthy, Hutchison; R Baker, Fenlon (Crawford 65), Doolin, Keddy; D Baker (Gilzean 84), S Geoghegan (Foran 59).

Bray Wanderers: Walsh; Gifford, Tresson, Keogh, Farrell; P O'Brien, Long, Gormley, C Ryan (Smith 80); K O'Brien, J Byrne.