Leo Gaxha’s first-half red card threatened to derail Dundalk’s perfect start to the season but they dug extremely deep to hold onto a precious 1-0 win over second-placed Kerry FC in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division at Mounthawk Park on Friday night, as they extended their lead at the top to three points.

Dundalk had early sights of goal but captain Daryl Horgan and defender Seán McHale both shot off target. The Lilywhites came to life midway through the first half and they soon made the breakthrough when, in the 25th minute, Horgan and Dean Ebbe combined, the latter firing in his first league goal for the club.

Ciarán Kilduff’s side were dealt a huge blow nine minutes before half-time when former Kerry forward Gaxha caught Niall Brookwell with a high foot to the head and he was shown a straight red card by referee Glen Geraghty.

Dundalk, though, really should have made it 2-0 before the break when Eoin Kenny was left with just ‘keeper Tim-Oliver Hiemer to beat but he put the ball wide. Either side of the whistle, Kerry had opportunities to equalise, but Nathan Gleeson headed off the bar and, after the resumption, Daniel Okwute saw his shot cleared off the line.

28 February 2025; Dundalk supporters celebrate after the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Kerry and Dundalk at Mounthawk Park in Kerry. Photo by Peter Minogue.

Kerry were camped in the visiting half for most of the second period and incredibly failed to find the net in the 86th minute after a mad scramble in the six-yard box, with Dundalk going on to see out seven minutes of injury-time to make it three 1-0 wins to start the season.

For the game, Kilduff made one enforced change to the starting XI as centre-half Mayowa Animasahun, who went off with an injury late on in the win over Finn Harps in Donegal seven days earlier, was replaced by McHale, who made his first league start for the club.

Young defender Seán Spaight, who captained the Ireland Under-16s in Dublin earlier in the day in a squad that also featured teen striker TJ Molloy, was unavailable, while forwards Muhammad Haris and Aidan Russell Vargas were not involved this time. Sammy Safaei was included as a second ‘keeper on an eight-man bench.

Backed by a large and vocal Lilywhite Army, Dundalk had the first real sight of goal in the tenth minute when Kerry gifted possession to Horgan but after setting himself for a shot outside the area, he fired over the bar.

28 February 2025; Gbemi Arubi and Andy Paraschiv of Dundalk celebrate after the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Kerry and Dundalk at Mounthawk Park in Kerry. Photo by Peter Minogue.

On 17 minutes, a long Conor O’Keeffe free-kick into the box fell kindly for McHale but he was unable to take advantage as he scuffed a shot wide. Four minutes later, Horgan had an effort blocked before Seán Keogh got the by-line but his low cross was gathered by Hiemer.

On 22 minutes, Dundalk got on the ball and put a good move together, with Horgan’s cross from the left to the back post headed before for a corner, which came to nothing. Moments later, Kilduff’s side decided on a short corner routine, with Keogh finding space and firing a fierce shot wide.

The visitors were beginning to take control of the match and they made the breakthrough in the 25th minute. Ebbe and Horgan combined down the left, with the Dundalk skipper breaking in on the left of the box and he picked out his No9 who clinically fired past Hiemer from about 15 yards.

On 31 minutes, Kerry threatened from a corner which fell to Brookwell – who scored in their opening-day home win over Harps – but he lifted the ball over the bar. At the other end, Kenny found Gaxha but he could not get power in his header to trouble the ‘keeper.

28 February 2025; Leo Gaxha of Dundalk in action during the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Kerry and Dundalk at Mounthawk Park in Kerry. Photo by Peter Minogue.

The game then turned in the 36th minute when Gaxha caught Brookwell with a high foot in the face and he was shown a straight red card. Four minutes later, though, Dundalk should have been 2-0 up when Kenny was left with the freedom of Kerry as the visitors broke from a corner but the 19-year-old, who was left loose in the home half, failed to find the net.

On 43 minutes, Kenny had another chance, this time hitting the target but Hiemer got in the way to push it clear. Kerry almost levelled before the break when Gleeson met a delivery into the box but his header came off the top of the crossbar and went over.

Two minutes into the second half, the home side – who made two changes at the break – and Okwute threatened in the box, with his shot brilliantly cleared off the line by McHale. Kilduff then decided on a change as goalscorer Ebbe was replaced by Luke Mulligan.

28 February 2025; Enda Minogue of Dundalk celebrates after the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Kerry and Dundalk at Mounthawk Park in Kerry. Photo by Peter Minogue.

Dundalk were coming under serious pressure from Kerry, who had plenty of possession in the final third. In the 61st minute, home captain Seán McGrath fired wide. Five minutes later, McGrath had a better opening but his shot was straight at Minogue.

On 69 minutes, in a rare Dundalk attack in the second half, Mulligan shot over. Kilduff then made a double substitution as Andy Paraschiv and Gbemi Arubi were introduced. After continued Kerry pressure, Dundalk had a chance on the break in the 80th minute when Mulligan set Horgan on his way but after cutting inside, his shot was blocked.

On 86 minutes, Dundalk somehow survived an almighty scramble in the box as Kerry unbelievably failed to finish to the net as the ball bounced around the six-yard area and close to the line.

Two minutes later, Dundalk broke through Horgan but he was pushed wide, the ball coming back to Keogh whose shot was pushed away by the ‘keeper. On the 90, Paraschiv dragged a shot wide, with Dundalk desperate for a killer goal.

The fourth official then signalled seven minutes of stoppage time, which Dundalk bravely fought through – Mulligan putting in sterling work in his role on the right side of defence – as they nicely set up a top-of-the-table clash with Treaty United, who moved into second place on the night, at Oriel Park next Friday.

KERRY FC: Tim-Oliver Hiemer, Alex Dunne (Finn Barrett 82), Kevin Williams (Oran Crowe HT), Chris McQueen, Seán O’Connell (Luke Palmer 72), Carl Mujaguzi (Cian Brosnan HT), Niall Brookwell, Ronan Teahan, Nathan Gleeson, Daniel Okwute, Seán McGrath (C) (Theo Farquharson 86). Subs not used: Mathyas Randriamamy (GK), Kennedy Amechi, Oran Horgan, Stevan Stanic-Floody.

DUNDALK FC: Enda Minogue, Conor O’Keeffe, Vinnie Leonard, Seán McHale, Seán Keogh, Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 69), Leo Gaxha, Eoin Kenny (Gbemi Arubi 69), Daryl Horgan (C) (Keith Ward 89), Dean Ebbe (Luke Mulligan 53). Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (GK), Sammy Safaei (GK), Mayowa Animasahun, Norman Garbett.

REFEREE: Glen Geraghty.