Goals from Richard Ferizaj and Ben McCormack gave Bray Wanderers a 2-1 first-leg victory over Kerry in their SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division promotion play-off semi-final at Mounthawk Park.

Paul Heffernan’s side came through the pouring rain and howling winds to take a lead back to the Carlisle Grounds, with the second leg to come on Tuesday evening.

Sean McGrath has given Colin Healy and his players a fighting chance, as the club looks to prolong a season that saw qualification to the play-offs for the first time in their history.

It took some time for the game to open up, with the first real chance for either team coming from a long Samuel Aladesanusi throw-in in the 25th minute. The ball ended up going to an unmarked Niall Brookwell, who somehow scooped it over the bar from point-blank range.

The Kingdom continued to attack, with their next opportunity coming from a Sean McGrath pass to Vincent Borden. Bray cleared their lines.

The sustained period of pressure by the home side was absorbed by a Bray back line marshalled by Jamie Duggan.

The Seagulls did have the ball in the net in the 32nd minute after Alain Kizenga played a defence-splitting pass to Tyreik Sammy. The forward finished neatly into the back of the net but he was flagged for offside and the goal was ruled out.

Bray took full control of the tie in the second half. This led to further chances, including one from Endri Mustali off a mistake by Jonas Hakkinen that was stopped at the near post by Matthew Connor in the 51st minute

There was a feeling that something was coming and it arrived when a cross from McCormack was turned in by Ferizaj in the 54th minute.

The Seagulls doubled their advantage from a Ajibola Oluwabiyi pass to McCormack that was fired into the bottom right corner in the 64th minute.

Bray suddenly had a cushion, in a game that seemed to be perfectly balanced earlier in the evening, and Kerry reacted by pushing up in a desperate bid to pull a goal back.

The Kingdom got their wish in the 68th minute when a Cian Bargary cross was headed on for an unmarked McGrath at the back post. He finished into an empty net and Kerry had hope with plenty of time left on the clock.

However that was as good as it got for Healy and his players. There was no second goal, instead there was a red card for Sean O’Connell after a foul on Aime Nyembo Azende.

Now it is all about Tuesday and the second leg at the Carlisle Grounds.

Kerry FC: Matthew Connor; Samuel Aladesanusi, Ewan Lee, Jonas Hakkinen, Sean O’Connell; Vincent Borden, Niall Brookwell, Cian Bargary; Sean McGrath (Arran Healy 83), Daniel Okwute (Robert Keane 63), Cian Murphy.

Bray Wanderers: Rian Hogan; Alain Kizenga, Declan Osagie, Dean O’Shea, Jamie Duggan; Ajibola Oluwabiyi (Aime Nyembo Azende 81), Ben McCormack, Richard Ferizaj, Tyreik Sammy, John Bilili Sesay (Jamie Ryan 61); Endri Mustali (Ryan Kelly 71).

Referee: Daniel Murphy