First Division: Dundalk account for Kerry to stay unbeaten
Despite early promise from Kerry FC, Dundalk exerted their dominance to keep their place at the top of the First Division as two stunning goals from Leo Gaxha and Daryl Horgan gave Ciaran Kilduff's Lilywhites a the victory at Oriel Park.
The win maintains their six-point advantage at the summit as they edge closer to the halfway point of the season.
The visitors had the first sight of the goal, with Joe Adams latching onto a loose ball with his effort from outside the area, having to be pushed away by Minogue for a corner. Dundalk almost took the lead minutes later when a Keith Ward corner that was sent to the back post saw Vinny Leonard make contact, but it went wide of the post.
Both sides continued to create half chances, with Arubi and McQueen having opportunities for their respective sides, but neither tested the keeper. Luke Palmer forced an excellent stop from Minogue in the Dundalk goal following a cross from the left by Teehan that was met by the Kerry forward at the near post with the netminder having to stop it at point-blank range.
Kerry had a goal-bound chance cleared off the line with the initial corner only being cleared as far as Mujaguzi, with his effort being cleared off the line by Dervin.
Dundalk took the lead in the 43rd minute when a loose ball down the right found the path of Leo Gaxha, whose cross, aimed at the back post, looped over Tim Oliver Hiemer and into the top left-hand corner.
Dundalk thought they had added a second early in the second half with Daryl Horgan latching onto an Arubi cross to send the ball past Hiemer, but he had drifted into an offside position in the build-up.
The Dundalk captain would add a second with a well-taken goal; the winger creating a gap on the edge of the area and curling the ball past Hiemer.
The hosts almost added a third in the 75th minute with Luke Mulligan advancing from a defensive position to strike a low effort that forced Hiermer to tip it around the post.
Gaxha was to be denied by the woodwork following a quick passing move with his low curling effort striking the but of the post. Both Andy Paraschiv and Horgan had shots on the Kerry goal in the latter stages of the contest, but neither tested Hiemer with their efforts going wide.
The win sees Dundalk remain unbeaten so far this season as they face Wexford next week before the mid-season break, with Kerry hosting Longford.
Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Aodh Dervin, Vinny Leonard, Mayowa Animasahun, Sean Keogh; Harry Groome (Eoin Kenny 46), Shane Tracey (Andy Paraschiv 46); Leo Gaxha, Keith Ward (Luke Mulligan 46), Daryl Horgan; Gbemi Arubi (Dean Ebbe 62)
Kerry FC: Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Kevin Williams, Niall Brookwell, Chris McQueen (Abel Alabi 77), Samuel Aladesanusi; Carl Mujaguzi (Sean O'Connell 86), Oran Crowe, Ronan Teahan; Sean McGrath, Joe Adams (Nathan Gleeson 77), Luke Palmer (Eemeli Honkola 61)
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