Teenager Leonard gets Dundalk promotion bid off to flying start

Vinnie Leonard became Dundalk's youngest ever league goalscorer at 16 years, 10 months and 24 days.

Vincent Leonard of Dundalk celebrates after scoring his side's winning goal against Athlone. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Dundalk 1 Athlone Town 0

Dundalk’s bid to bounce back to the Premier Division at the first attempt got off to a flying start as teenager Vinnie Leonard’s first half header earned them a hard fought victory over Athlone Town at Oriel Park.

The Louth outfit are aiming to bounce back from a disastrous 2024 when relegation from the Premier Division followed a brief flirtation with going out of business last September before local barrister John Temple stepped up to save the club.

It was league debutant Leonard who provided the inspiration on opening night as he popped up with a goal that makes him the club’s youngest ever league goalscorer at 16 years, 10 months and 24 days.

The Meath man was just eight months old the last time Dundalk were in the First Division and was a surprise inclusion in the side given he had played 80 minutes for the Republic of Ireland U17s in Spain on Wednesday and was due to play again on Saturday only to fly back instead to feature against the Midlanders.

It was a good decision in the end.

His side had been on top from the start but they only hit the front on 36 minutes with what was their seventh corner of the half as Aodh Dervin’s delivery headed was powerfully home by the Kilberry man.

Ciarán Kilduff’s side had numerous chances to add to their tally in the second half with Daryl Horgan and Eoin Kenny missing two good chances apiece and Leo Gaxha fluffing his lines.

That gave Dario Castelo’s side hope in the final stages but they struggled to trouble their former goalkeeper Enda Minogue as Dundalk held out for their first league win since July. The nearest Athlone came to causing an upset was a Ben Feeney header which the home side managed to clear in the closing stages.

Dundalk: Minogue; O’Keeffe, Animasahun, Leonard, Keogh (McHale 92); Groome (Ward 86), Dervin; Horgan, Kenny, Gaxha (Haris 86); Ebbe (Paraschiv 76).

Athlone Town: Connor; Wilson, Omoreiomwan, Hand, Torre (Gilmore 82); Baba, Hery (Connolly 67); Robinson (Feeney 55), Barlow (Tetteh 67), McDaid (Wixted 82); Williams.

Referee: Marc Lynch.