Dundalk FC defeat Cobh to preserve their lead at the top of the table

Dundalk FC preserved their commanding seven-point lead at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League First Division with a gritty 1-0 triumph over Cobh Ramblers at Oriel Park.

Ciaran Kilduff’s men brought the curtain down on an impressive opening round of fixtures in somewhat unorthodox fashion, with an own goal from Jonas Hakkinen proving the decisive moment in a tightly contested affair.

Following a tense and tentative opening, it was Dundalk who carved out the game’s first—and arguably finest—opportunity of the opening 45 minutes at Oriel.

READ MORE: Cumann na mBunscol Louth Blitz Finals

After a prolonged period of pressure from the hosts, Sean Keogh slipped away from the attentions of Cian Bargary and delivered a teasing ball across the area.

It eventually found Leo Gaxha, who looked poised to score his fourth goal in three matches, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from John O’Donovan.

Shortly after, Eoin Kenny, operating from the right flank with Gaxha shifted centrally, snapped a quick effort inside the area, though Cobh goalkeeper Timothy Martin remained untroubled.

At the opposite end, Cobh winger Luka Le Bervet tried his luck twice, but both attempts were comfortably claimed by Dundalk goalkeeper Peter Cherrie.

In between that, Keogh bent a free-kick narrowly wide after Aodh Dervin had been brought down on the edge of the area by O’Donovan.

The half drew to a close without a breakthrough, though Keogh’s ball across the face of goal briefly had Cobh scrambling. Still, the sides went in at the interval with the scoreline untouched.

The second half sparked into life when Keogh’s corner from the right was punched clear by Martin, falling kindly to Vinnie Leonard inside the area. The midfielder took aim, only to see his effort blocked out by a Cobh defender.

Moments later, Harry Groome threaded a clever pass through to Dean Ebbe, who escaped the clutches of Cian Coleman and unleashed a low, angled strike—Martin once again equal to the task with a save.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 56 minutes, and though it came with a stroke of misfortune for the visitors, the home faithful erupted with joy.

Keogh sent in a threatening delivery, and in his attempt to clear, Hakkinen inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, igniting wild celebrations at Oriel.

Eager to double their advantage, Gaxha blasted high and wide from distance just after the hour mark, before Keogh again turned provider—his pinpoint cross met by the head of Ebbe, whose effort was expertly tipped around the post by Martin.

Substitute Keith Ward then spurned a promising chance, firing over after being teed up by fellow sub Andy Paraschiv.

The crowd nearly celebrated a second when Eoin Kenny side-footed wide from Gaxha’s dazzling setup, with much of home crowd believing that he had made it 2-0.

Keogh tested Martin once more with a stinging low drive, but it was straight at the keeper. At the other end, Cherrie had to remain alert, diving to his right to keep out Barry Coffey’s header—a warning that Cobh were still a threat.

In the end, the equaliser never came. Dundalk held firm to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches, claiming an eighth victory in the process and cementing their place at the top of the First Division table at the close of the opening round of fixtures.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun (Sean McHale HT), Vinnie Leonard, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 71); Eoin Kenny (Gbemi Arubi 85), Leo Gaxha, Daryl Horgan; Dean Ebbe (Keith Ward 71)

Subs not used: Samuel Safaei (gk), Luke Mulligan, Sean Spaight, TJ Molloy, Shane Tracey

Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Nolan Evers, Cian Coleman, Jonas Hakkinen, John O’Donovan (David Bosnjak 75); Niall O’Keeffe, Dale Holland (George Nunn 75); Cian Bargary, Shane Griffin, Luka Le Bervet; Barry Coffey

Subs not used: Cathal O’Hanlon (gk), Brendean Frahill, James O’Leary, Mikey Carroll, Evan Deasy, Colin Henderson, Jason Abbott

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin)

Attendance: 1,834