For the third year in a row, Bray will contest the First Division Play-off Final after they overcame ten-man Kerry on Tuesday evening.
In front of a biggest crowd of the season of 2,550 at the Carlisle Grounds, Wanderers claimed a 5-1 aggregate success from the Play-Off Semi Final by winning the second leg 3-0.
Having faced UCD twice in the First Division play-off Semi Finals in 2024 and 2025, the Seagulls will now square off this coming weekend against the Students in the First Division Final, with the match reportedly set to take place on Sunday at a venue to be confirmed.
Having won 2-1 in the first-leg last Saturday at Mounthawk Park, Wanderers were unchanged for the return encounter three days later.
But the team for the Kingdom made two changes, with Cian Brosnan and Robert Keane starting. They also named only seven substitutes in the bench.
However, just before the kick-off, there was a late change as Daniel Okwute replaced Niall Brockwell who was reportedly injured in the warm-up.
When the Munster outfit visited Wicklow last July, they recorded their first ever away success at the seaside venue by winning 4-0 – the first time the Garden County outfit had failed to score in 15 matches against Kerry.
But a repeat of that result never looked likely as Bray won for the 13th minute in 17 meetings between the clubs since 2023.
In the bitterly cold conditions, the first chance of note arrived for the hosts in the 25th minute.
Ajibola Oluwabiyi cut infield off the left flank. His 25-yard right-footed shot was superbly tipped over the bar by former Seasiders goalkeeper Matt Connor.
Jamie Duggan rounds off Bray’s 3-0 win on the night
But Bray did make their territorial possession count in the 33rd minute.
Ben McCormack’s free off the right was initially headed clear by Jonas Häkkinen.
But Tyreik Sammy then headed across goal with Sierra Leone international John Bilili Sesay steering in a close range header.
It got worse for the visitors just two minutes later as referee Lucas Keating red carded Kerry Assistant coach Chris Collopy.
The away side went close to an equaliser three minutes after the restart as Brosnan dragged a left footed volley from the edge of the box wide of the target.
What was an uphill challenge for the visitors became a mountain to climb in the 55th minute.
The match official deemed Brosnan had fouled Sammy as the last defender and issued a red card – although the Kerry player appeared to win the ball.
Wanderers also made the extra man count in the 65th minute. Alan Kizenga’s diagonal cross from the right was met by Sammy. But the ball came off the post and into Connor’s grateful arms.
With Kerry boss Colin Healy calling for handball in the lead up, Bray doubled their advantage on the night in the 73rd minute.
Oluwabiyi’s left wing run saw him slip in Endri Mustali in the box. The striker’s back-heel set-up Oluwabiyi whose shot was stopped by Connor. But Sammy converted the rebound close in.
Wanderers almost snatched a third in the 80th minute as skipper Dean O’Shea rattled the post after a ten-yard half volley.
The Seasiders did wrap up the triumph in the 86th minute.
Only on the pitch a matter of moments sub Conor Knight delivered a corner which was powered in by Jamie Dugan’s bullet header.
Bray Wanderers: Hogan; Kizenga, Duggan, Osagie, O’Shea; Sesay (Jamie Ryan 78), McCormack (Knight 86), Oluwabiyi (Kelly 85), Ferizaj (Cheese 78), Sammy; Mustali (Azende 82).
Kerry FC: Connor; Bargary, Aladesanusi, Häkkinen, Brosnan; Okwute (Palmer 70), Borden, Lee, Keane (Healy 62); McGrath, Murphy.
Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork).