League of Ireland Premier Division Promotion / Relegation Playoff:
Waterford FC 2
Bray Wanderers 1
A stunner from Sam Glenfield was enough for Waterford FC to secure Premier Division status for 2026 as they deservedly saw off Bray Wanderers 2-1 in a Tolka Park thriller.
Disaster threatened to strike on playoff night once again for the Blues as they went behind on just seven minutes when Cian Knight found the net, but Conan Noonan’s first-half equaliser and late heroics from Glenfield spared the blushes on what could’ve well ended a calamitous league campaign.
Having lost nine out of ten previous playoff encounters, Waterford FC fans could have been forgiven for biting their nails off awaiting kickoff at Tolka Park. The team news saw Matty Smith come in for his very first start of the campaign at the expense of Kacper Radkowski, while Dean McMenamy came into midfield in place of Sam Glenfield who dropped to the bench.
7 November 2025; Matty Smith of Waterford before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division promotion / relegation play-off match between Bray Wanderers and Waterford at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
As for Bray, teenage striker Billy O’Neill started on the bench while former Blue Killian Cantwell captained the side and Harvey Warren was also in from the off.
Going into the game, it was said a thousand times that whoever got the first goal would be in an extremely promising position – but establishing just who that would be beforehand was anyone’s guess. The Blues went in with 1 win in 11, while Premier Division sides had only won 4 of the last 10 editions – the stats perhaps not in the favour of the supposed favourites.
Waterford hadn’t lost to Bray since 2007 – going unbeaten in 14 previous meetings. Their first chance arrived on 7 minutes as Padraig Amond rose highest above Max Murphy at the back post but headed right and wide. From the resultant kickout, Bray worked the ball upfield and opened the scoring to Waterford’s shock.
A searching diagonal ball from Max Murphy on the left wing found teammate Conor Knight on the right – and Kyle White attempted to dispossess him but the ball fortunately bounced back under Knight’s spell and he drove it hard and low to the bottom left corner to make it a mountain to climb with only seven minutes on the clock.
7 November 2025; Conor Knight of Bray Wanderers shoots to score his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division promotion / relegation play-off match between Bray Wanderers and Waterford at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Cian Curtis was played in behind by Alain Kizenga on 12 minutes and thankfully for Waterford, he slipped at the vital moment or else panic alarms could really have been sounding. The same man went racing through from a long ball moments later when spinning into the channel but Stephen McMullan was live to the danger.
The Blues very nearly drew level on 17 minutes as James Olayinka and Amond combined to set up Conan Noonan but his goalbound effort was somehow headed behind for a corner. A big chance presented itself to Tommy Lonergan moments later following a fine delivery from White, but his header was parried away by James Corcoran.
The greatest opportunity yet presented itself to Amond on 25 minutes as a Noonan cross was headed back into danger by Grant Horton and Amond went to knock in from close range – but Killian Cantwell was on hand to produce a superb goalline block to further frustrate Matt Lawlor’s men.
On 29 minutes, the frustration finally came to an end. Following chances aplenty, a superbly worked short corner routine saw Dean McMenamy and Noonan combine – allowing the latter to burst into the box and curl a fine strike into the far right corner to send the travelling support into raptures. A deserved equaliser, and game on at Tolka Park.
7 November 2025; Conan Noonan of Waterford shoots to score his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division promotion / relegation play-off match between Bray Wanderers and Waterford at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The Seagulls continued to carry a threat on the counter and Justin Ferizaj teed up Murphy to curl an effort wide from just outside the box before Smith blazed over at the other end.
The left flank was proving extremely fruitful as the Blues smelt blood, a Lonergan effort again turned behind for a corner approaching the break but matters remained open as Kazinga and Curtis combined – but Curtis’ drive was straight into the midriff of McMullan.
It should have been 2-1 in first half added time as Amond flicked on a long throw to Olayinka and he looked destined to bury it into the corner, but Harvey Warren was on hand to make a crucial block and the sides were locked level at the interval.
Right at the beginning of the second period, Waterford should’ve been in front and Noonan should’ve had his second. 45 seconds into the second period, the Blues broke down the right and Lonergan’s cutback found Noonan at the back post but his effort was heroically turned behind by the impressive Kizenga as once again Bray somehow survived a major scare. A defensive header then fell into the path of Amond but he uncharacteristically fluffed his lines.
Out of nowhere, they then found themselves with their backs to the wall as Bray poured forward, some superb defensive interventions denied Rhys Bartley the easiest of finishes on 52 minutes – though the Seagulls support thought they had claims for a penalty.
Paul Heffernan was encouraged and decided to blood Billy O’Neill in place of goalscorer Knight, before Noonan raced through with men either side and he was “professionally fouled” to say the least by Cian Doyle. McMenamy’s resultant free-kick went into orbit and that was his last action as he was replaced by Sam Glenfield.
A low curled free kick from O’Neill very nearly caught out Stephen McMullan on 64 minutes but the netminder was live to the situation, as the stakes got higher, tackles got wilder and the atmosphere got louder and louder.
7 November 2025; Sean Brennan of Bray Wanderers is tackled by Kyle White of Waterford during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division promotion / relegation play-off match between Bray Wanderers and Waterford at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Lonergan had another headed chance on 66 minutes but nodded straight at Corcoran as one began to wonder if Waterford’s misfiring in front of goal would ultimately cost them, with Smith flashing an effort just wide moments later.
Max Murphy miscued as the match rolled onto the 70-minute mark, balanced on a knife-edge. A moment of quality was needed – and on 74 minutes, it finally arrived.
Sam Glenfield received the ball inside the Bray half and drove toward goal, the 20-year-old slalomed through a number of attempted challenges and retained possession – before unleashing a superb drive into the bottom left corner. A goal worthy of winning any game of football, a goal perhaps worthy of Premier Division status.
7 November 2025; Sam Glenfield of Waterford celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division promotion / relegation play-off match between Bray Wanderers and Waterford at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Attentions soon turned to defensive solidity and Waterford had McMullan to thank for keeping their advantage in tact – he dove like a cat to keep out an effort that looked destined for the top-right corner from Doyle.
Waterford were forced to defend for large portions at the finish as Bray threw everything at taking the game to extra-time, but the Blues rearguard largely held resolute. Three minutes of added time was booed by the Bray supporters while Waterford’s fans broke into applause.
Bray huffed and puffed but to no avail – a heavy challenge on Navajo Bakboord by Cian Curtis was the only late blip as he took the opportunity to lash out in response and was red carded for his interventions while Curtis saw red for the tackle itself.
The final whistle was met with both relief and jubilation – Waterford live to fight another day. Their survival mission accomplished, at the very last opportunity. 2 out of 11 ain’t bad.
Waterford FC: Stephen McMullan; Matty Smith (Navajo Bakboord ’76), Darragh Leahy, Grant Horton, Kyle White, Ryan Burke; James Olayinka, Dean McMenamy (Sam Glenfield ’60), Conan Noonan; Padraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan (Mohammed Faal ’85).
Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Conor Knight (Billy O’Neill ’57); Rhys Bartley (Rhys Knight ’79), Justin Ferizaj, Cian Curtis, Cian Doyle; Alain Kizenga, Sean Brennan (Guillermo Armirall ’85).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork)
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
