Leo Gaxha and Daryl Horgan down Kerry

Kingdom native Leo Gaxha opened the scoring for Dundalk against Kerry. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Dundalk 2 Kerry 0

Dundalk continued their quest for an immediate return to the Premier Division with a 2-0 victory over Kerry FC in Oriel Park. Two stunning goals on either side of the half from Kerry local Leo Gaxha and captain Daryl Horgan sealed the victory for the Lilywhites that keeps them six points ahead at the summit of the First Division.

The first half was dominated in most parts by the away side, with Enda Minogue the busier of the keepers as Kerry’s Joe Adams and Luke Palmer tested the Dundalk netminder, who had to make two fine saves to deny the Kingdom. Mujaguzi was to have a certain goal cleared off the line by Dervin following a fine strike from a corner. Dundalk did have sights on goal, but in parts were left frustrated with their end product.

Despite this, the home side were to open the scoring in the 43rd minute with a goal of real class from Kerry native Leo Gaxha. The winger collected a loose ball from Tracey down the right a struck a powerful cross that was directed to the back post but ended up looping over Tim-Oliver Hiemer into the top left-hand corner.

Dundalk thought they had found themselves in pole position in the opening minutes of the second half to collect all three points, only for Daryl Horgan’s goal to be ruled out for offside. The Dundalk winger was to get his goal in the 68th minute as he collected the ball on the edge of the Kerry area before creating space to hit a high curling effort that beat Hiemer at his far post.

Dundalk continued to press for a third with Mulligan forcing Hiemer to tip the ball around the post for a corner. Leo Gaxha went close to adding a third in the 85th minute with the butt of the post denying him as he finished off a clever attacking phase of play. Andy Paraschiv and Daryl Horgan had sights on the Kerry goal in the closing stages, with both efforts going high over the bar.

The win maintains Dundalk’s unbeaten record as Ciaran Kilduff continues his quest to return Dundalk to the Premier Division at the first chance of asking.

Elsewhere, goals from Ciaran Behan and a Mikey Raggett penalty deep into injury time - either side of an Adam McDaid 89th minute equaliser for Finn Harps - ensured UCD claimed the three points at Ballybofey.

DUNDALK FC: Minogue; Dervin, Leonard, Animasahun, Keogh; Groome (Kenny 46), Tracey (Paraschiv 46); Gaxha, Ward (Mulligan 46), Horgan; Arubi (Ebbe 62) 

KERRY FC: Hiemer; Williams, Brookwell, McQueen (Alabi 77), Aladesanusi; Mujaguzi (O’Connell 86), Crowe, Teahan; McGrath, Adams (Gleeson 77), Palmer (Honkola 61)