Dundalk FC make it three wins from three in Tralee

10-man Dundalk FC made it three wins from three in the SSE Airtricity League First Division after battling hard to defeat Kerry 1-0 at Mounthawk Park in Tralee.

A first league goal of the season from Dean Ebbe proved decisive, but The Lilywhites had to dig deep in the second half after Leo Gaxha was shown a straight red card.

The result, Dundalk’s third straight 1-0 success, leaves them top of the table.

The first chance of the night fell to Dundalk on 10 minutes as Daryl Horgan nicked the ball off Carl Mujaguzi before curling an effort over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

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With Ciaran Kilduff’s side looking to maintain their 100% start to the campaign, Conor O’Keeffe’s free-kick into the box wasn’t dealt with sufficiently by the Kerry defence, allowing Dundalk defender Sean McHale the opportunity to turn just wide of the mark.

Fresh from scoring his first-ever goal at Finn Harps a week earlier, Sean Keogh almost added a second in as many matches, but his rasping effort sailed inches wide of the post.

The Lilywhites deservedly hit the front on 25 minutes as Horgan got himself in between two Kerry adversaries before setting up Ebbe to score his first league goal for the club.

As Dundalk looked for a second, Kerry goalkeeper Tim-Oliver Hiemer saved from Horgan at his near post, while at the other end, Alex Dunne’s corner, which was turned over by Niall Brookwell on the half-hour mark represented the hosts’ first attempt.

The game turned on its axis on 36 minutes when Tralee native Leo Gaxha was shown a straight red card in his hometown for a reckless high-foot challenge on Brookwell.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Dundalk should have made it 2-0 five minutes before the half-time break, as Kenny, one-on-one with Hiemer, dinked wide of the mark.

Kenny had another opportunity saved by Hiemer not long after that, while Kerry forward Nathan Gleeson headed off the crossbar from an Alex Dunne corner right on half-time.

Kerry pushed for an equaliser in the second period with Daniel Okwute having a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by McHale a mere seconds after the half had started.

Okwute and Sean McGrath were both proving to be a real threat to Dundalk’s 1-0 advantage, with both players having errant attempts before the hour mark in Tralee.

McGrath then had a further two chances gathered by Dundalk goalkeeper Enda Minogue, while Luke Mulligan spurned a chance for the visitors on 68 minutes.

Both Keogh and Andy Paraschiv could have sealed the points for Dundalk late on, but they – and Minogue – somehow survived a goalmouth scramble to win the game.

Kerry: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Alex Dunne (Finn Barrett 82), Kevin Williams (Oran Crowe HT), Chris McQueen, Sean O’Connell (Luke Palmer 72); Niall Brookwell, Carl Mujaguzi (Cian Brosnan HT); Daniel Okwute, Sean McGrath (Theo Farquharson 86), Ronan Teahan; Nathan Gleeson

Subs not used: Mathyas Randriamamy (gk), Kennedy Amechi, Oran Horgan, Stevan Stanic-Floody

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Conor O’Keeffe, Vinnie Leonard, Sean McHale, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 69); Leo Gaxha, Eoin Kenny (Gbemi Arubi 69), Daryl Horgan (Keith Ward 89); Dean Ebbe (Luke Mulligan 53)

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Samuel Safaei (gk), Mayowa Animasahun, Norman Garbett

Referee: Glen Geraghty (Dublin)