Ten man Dundalk hold off battling Kerry in super contest

Former Kerry striker and Tralee native Leo Gaxha was shown a straight red for dangerous high challenge on Niall Brookwell.

Dean Ebbe scored a 25th minute winner for Dundalk at Mounthawk Park. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Kerry FC 0 Dundalk FC 1

Dundalk remain on top of the First Division after a nervy 1-0 win in Mounthawk Park over a Kerry side who looked in trouble in the opening half but dominated the second period and were denied at least an equaliser, by two clearances off the line.

Dundalk created a number of half chances in the opening quarter with former Irish international Daryl Horgan causing the Kerry  defence problems with his movement and ball control. Horgan was inches wide with a snap shot from outside the box and at the other end Kerry won a couple of free kicks that the Dundalk defence dealt with.

Kerry were without their top scorer last season Ryan Kelliher, while new signing Joe Adams was also injured. They struggled to create any clear cut chances. But the Dundalk pressure finally paid off in the 25th minute when Dean Ebbe and Daryl Horgan played a neat one two with Ebbe clinically putting his side 1-0 in front.

Kerry almost levelled the contest two minutes later when a Sean O’Connell corner was headed out by McHale to the feet of Niall Brookwell who blazed over the bar.

Then former Kerry striker and Tralee native Leo Gaxha was shown a straight red for dangerous high challenge on Brookwell in the 36th minute. Dundalk should have doubled their lead in the 40th minute when they counter attacked from a Kerry corner, and Eoin Kenny raced through from half way. He had only keeper Hiemer to beat but inexplicably he shot wide of an open goal.

Kenny missed another gilt edged opportunity before the half time break, while at the other end Nathan Gleeson saw his header from an Alex Dunne cross cannon of the Dundalk crossbar as the visitors led 1-0 at the interval.

Kerry almost snatched the equaliser two minutes into the second half when Daniel Okwute whipped the ball in and as it was heading for net, centre back McHale headed the ball clear off the line.

Kerry continued to press with Okwute firing over after more good work by Oran Crowe and clearly the half-time team talk had a positive effect on the home side.

McHale rescued Dundalk again in the 53rd minute when he cleared an Oran Crowe effort off the line and ten man Dundalk were under the cosh. Daniel Okwute was teasing and tormenting the Dundalk defence as he set up Sean McGrath who blazed wide.

McGrath again had Minogue scrambling to collect in the 66th minute after an Alex Dunne cross. In the final quarter it was the Dundalk keeper Enda Minogue who denied Kerry with some excellent keeping while Dundalk had only two attacks, with Horgan being denied by a great block by Brookwell.

There was mayhem in the 85th in the Dundalk box as Kerry had at least four shots blocked in a chaotic minute. Then Dundalk could have secured the win when Horgan looked certain to score but another Brookwell tackle denied him.

But the home side just could not breach the Dundalk defence and the league leaders escaped to victory.

KERRY FC: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Alex Dunne, Kevin Williams, Chris McQueen, Sean O’Connell; Niall Brookwell, Carl Mujaguzi, Sean McGrath, Ronan Teahan; Nathan Gleeson, Daniel Okwute.

Subs: Oran Crowe for Mujaguzi (h/t), Cian Brosnan for Kevin Williams (h/t), Luke Palmer for O’Connell (72), Finn Barrett for A Dunne (82), Marcel Farquharson for McGrath (86) 

DUNDALK FC: Enda Minogue; Conor O’Keeffe, Martin Sean McHale, Vincent Leonard, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome, Leo Gaxha, Eoin Kenny, Daryl Horgan, Dean Ebbe.

Subs: Luke Mulligan for Ebbe (52), Keith Ward for Horgan (90) Referee: Glen Geraghty (Dublin)