Matchday Correspondent Aaron Davoren recaps a thrilling promotion play-off tie between UCD AFC and Bray Wanderers.
SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division Play-off Semi Final
First Leg: UCD AFC 0-1 Bray Wanderers, 24 October 2025
Second Leg: Bray Wanderers 3-2 UCD AFC (4-2 agg), 28 October 2025
UCD Bowl, Belfield; Carlisle Grounds
Referee: First Leg: Lucas Keating; Second Leg: Daniel Murphy
It is the playoff season once again in the men’s League of Ireland First Division and just like last season, UCD took on Bray Wanderers in the two legged semi-final, hoping for revenge on last year's result.
With the first leg at the Bowl, the Students looked to take a lead back to the Carlisle Grounds just four days later. It was a promising start for the home side, keeping to their possession styled philosophy and generally dominating the ball all throughout the first half. A massive opportunity arose ten minutes in when Adam Brennan got one on one in the left half space, whipping a cross by the sideline to Hugh Smith, who snatched at it. The ball came back into Smith’s eyeline within a matter of seconds, this time hitting it cleanly, but failing to hit the target.
Smith had another great effort from the edge of the box fourteen minutes later. It was struck well but Bray’s Alain Kizenga made a courageous sliding block to keep it out of Jimmy Corcoran’s goal.
The biggest chance came just five minutes before the break, when a scramble in Bray's box eventually landed to Adam Brennan, who smashed the crossbar before Cantwell headed it out for a corner.
In a game of fine margins, failing to capitalise from these first half opportunities cost the Students as Bray managed to get into gear in the second half. The Seagulls slowly started creating chances through former UCD player Sean Brennan, whose impact was immediate off the bench, and Justin Ferizaj. Brennan slipped through Cian Doyle in the seventy-seventh minute, whose shot whistled past the left hand corner of the goal.
It was Doyle however, who headed home a 93rd minute winner from a brilliant free-kick delivery by Max Murphy, which left the UCD faithful deflated and the Seagulls flying high ahead of the second leg.
With over 2,000 in attendance at the Carlisle and a header netted from Bray captain Killian Cantwell inside the first three minutes, it was always going to be an uphill battle for William O’Connor’s side.
The two goal advantage and loud support from the Seagull fans was evident as Bray knocked the ball around with confidence. They felt in control for most parts of the second leg. However, UCD fought hard, equalising on the night from a corner of their own in the twenty-sixth minute, when a second ball in the box was capitalised on by Brian McManus, keeping the tie alive.
A quick transition from Bray, started by Sean Brennan, who brilliantly slipped Cian Curtis one-on-one with the keeper, firing home his second attempt on goal after a great save by Dara Kavanagh made it 2-1 (3-1 agg). After sixty-one minutes, UCD’s hopes of a sensational comeback became a desperate need for a miracle, now being two goals down.
There was a stoppage time goal for both sides as the Ferizaj brothers combined for Bray and a well-taken consolation strike from Hugh Smith made it 3-2 on the night. However, neither goal changed the outcome as the Seagulls booked their ticket to the play-off final for a second consecutive season.
The Students will be disappointed with the result but deserve credit for going toe-to-toe with a very strong Bray side.