Dundalk continue winning ways with victory over Kerry

Dundalk FC extended their lead at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League First Division to six points with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over play-off contenders Kerry at Oriel Park.

In a match that was largely disjointed and scrappy, it was two moments of individual brilliance that ultimately separated the sides. The first came from former Kerry man Leo Gaxha in the opening half, while the second arrived courtesy of captain Daryl Horgan after the break.

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In line with manager Ciaran Kilduff’s earlier admission that Dundalk have struggled to break teams down at home, it was the visitors—set up in a compact 5-4-1 formation—who fashioned the game’s first opportunity. Sean McGrath turned sharply before sending his effort high and wide, well off the mark.

Ex-Lilywhite Joe Adams, threatened soon after for Kerry, slipping past Shane Tracey—Dundalk’s sole change to the starting XI in place of Conor O’Keeffe—before letting fly from distance. His effort, however, was smartly turned around the post by the ever-alert Enda Minogue.

Dundalk’s first glimpse of goal arrived in the eighth minute when Sean Keogh’s right-sided corner was met at the back post by Vinnie Leonard, whose header drifted wide.

Kerry continued to carry the greater threat in the early stages. Ronan Teahan’s inviting cross was met at close range by Luke Palmer, only for Minogue to produce a sharp reflex save to keep the scores level.

Colin Healy’s men were agonisingly close to taking a deserved lead three minutes before the interval when Carl Mujaguzi’s volley beat Minogue but was heroically cleared off the line by Horgan.

That intervention would prove pivotal. Moments later, Gaxha broke free down the right despite Teahan’s tug on his shirt and unleashed a thunderbolt from a tight angle that cannoned in off the post—a goal of real quality from the Tralee native, and a strong contender for goal of the season.

Dundalk believed they had doubled their lead five minutes after the restart when Gbemi Arubi surged forward and fed Horgan via a deflection off Kevin Williams. Horgan finished with composure, but the linesman’s flag denied him.

Horgan’s goal did come, however, on 68 minutes. Substitute Eoin Kenny delivered a cross from the right which Niall Brookwell could only partially clear. The ball fell kindly for Horgan, who rifled an unstoppable strike beyond Tim-Oliver Hiemer from the edge of the box.

Luke Mulligan, one of three half-time changes by Kilduff, nearly added a third, encouraged by the home faithful to shoot from range, but his effort was foiled by Hiemer.

Gaxha might have sealed a brace five minutes from time, striking the post after a clever setup from Horgan, but it proved academic. Dundalk, unbeaten and increasingly unrelenting, marched on with another vital three points in their quest for promotion.

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Aodh Dervin, Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, Sean Keogh; Shane Tracey (Andy Paraschiv HT), Harry Groome (Eoin Kenny HT); Leo Gaxha, Keith Ward (Luke Mulligan HT), Daryl Horgan; Gbemi Arubi (Dean Ebbe 63)

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Samuel Safaei (gk), Sean Spaight, Muhammad Haris, TJ Molloy

Kerry: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Niall Brookwell, Chris McQueen (Abel Alabi 78), Ronan Teahan; Sean McGrath, Oran Crowe, Carl Mujaguzi (Sean O’Connell 87), Joe Adams (Nathan Gleeson 78); Luke Palmer (Eemeli Honkola 61)

Subs not used: Mathyas Randriamamy (gk), Kennedy Amechi, Cian Brosnan, Oran Horgan, Finn Barrett

Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork)

Attendance: 1,586