Kerry earn first point against Dundalk in six-goal thriller

The draw is a setback for Dundalk's title ambitions. 

Ronan Teahan score a brace for Kerry against Dundalk. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Dundalk 3 Kerry FC 3 

Kerry FC claimed a historic first ever point against Dundalk FC at Oriel Park to breathe fresh live into the First Division title race.

Colin Healy’s side were full value for their first ever point against the Co Louth men having led three times against a Lilywhites outfit who haven’t lost at home this season.

Having been pegged back twice by the hosts, they responded instantly on each occasion with both captains, Ronan Teahan and Daryl Horgan, finishing the night with a brace apiece.

The result is a setback to Dundalk’s title hopes with this result, coupled with Cobh Ramblers winning away to Athlone Town, seeing their lead cut at the top to just six points with seven games to go.

There were few chances in the early stages before Kerry hit the front on 22 minutes.

Teahan did well to break into the box and after cutting past Luke Mulligan, he fired through the legs of JR Wilson and past Enda Minogue at his near post.

Dundalk had to wait until the 34th minute to register their first effort on target, with Arubi denied by the legs of Matthew Connor after being played in by Aodh Dervin.

Having seen Mulligan miss a good opening, the hosts were thrown a lifeline on 41 minutes when Horgan dispatched a penalty to the net after Arubi had been fouled by Connor.

However, just 63 seconds later Kerry retook the lead with Cleary getting in ahead of Minogue to turn Ewan Lee’s cross to the net.

Having made three changes at the break, Dundalk equalised within two minutes with one of those substitutes, Keith Ward, providing a teasing cross for Horgan to turn in.

Once again, Dundalk conceded within a minute though as Teahan’s long range effort deceived Minogue to leave it 3-2 to Kerry on 48 minutes.

The home side did manage to level once more on 52 minutes when Horgan and Ward exchanged passes for the latter to knee the ball over the advancing Connor to the net.

DUNDALK: Minogue; Mulligan (Garbett HT), Animasahun (O’Keeffe HT), Leonard, Wilson; Dervin, Paraschiv (Ward HT); Kenny (Ebbe 78), McDaid, Horgan; Arubi (R Vaughan 68).

KERRY: Connor; Lee, McQueen, Brookwell, O’Connell; Perez, Mujaguzi, Crowe (Healy 66), Adams; Teahan (Brosnan 54); Cleary (Palmer 82).

Referee: Lucas Keating