Goalkeeper Jack Brady’s first-half performance earned Longford Town a 1-0 win over Dundalk in this pre-season friendly at Oriel Park.

Stephen O’Donnell’s side had the best of the opening period and should have been ahead at the break, but Brady made several vital saves, including tipping Eoin Kenny’s strike onto the woodwork.

The decisive moment came just two minutes after the restart when substitute Francis Campbell was given space to find the net, and Dundalk could not respond, Robbie Benson going closest late on with a free-kick which crashed the crossbar.

Dundalk – with Andy Boyle as captain – had new faces Koen Oostenbrink and Robbie Mahon in their starting XI, which included a trialist in goal. Youngster Kenny led the line having gained valuable experience in a loan spell at Wexford last season.

Kenny was denied in the sixth minute when Brady touched his shot from inside the box onto the bar. Ryan O’Kane then teed up Mahon but from a difficult angle on the left, he drove a shot past the far post.

After the midway point of the half, strong defending from Mayowa Animasahun prevented Dean George from making the most of a fantastic through-ball from Chris Lyons.

Minutes later, though, the young defender was relieved to see the ball trickle just wide after his attempted clearance bounced off Adam Wixted.

That woke Dundalk up and they should have been in front before halftime.

First, Kenny headed Horgan’s cross at Brady after the two had combined well on the left. Kenny worked Brady harder just moments later with a powerful strike and, in the next attack, the lively forward set up Horgan for a good opportunity but the Longford ‘keeper once again proved equal.

Stephen O’Donnell poses for a selfie with a young Dundalk fan at the pre-season friendly with Longford Town

The visitors caught Dundalk sleeping in the 47th minute when Campbell planted a shot in the bottom corner.

Dundalk responded with a long-range free-kick from defender Seán Keogh, whose left-footed effort went narrowly wide of the top corner.

After the hour mark, O’Donnell made 10 changes, with only the goalkeeper remaining on the field where he was joined by a second trialist.

Dundalk would have been in on goal on 72 minutes, but Cameron Elliott was taken out by substitute ‘keeper Jack Harrington as he rounded him, with the referee dishing out only a yellow card.

Nearing the 80th minute, Conor O’Gorman’s deflected strike looped just wide. Dundalk went even closer five minutes from time when Benson rattled the bar with a central free-kick, which proved their last real threat.

DUNDALK FC: Trialist 1, Luke Mulligan (Archie Davies 60), Mayowa Animasahun (Tom McLoughlin 60), Andy Boyle (Louie Annesley 60), Seán Keogh (Jamie Walker 60), Hayden Muller (Paul Doyle 60), Koen Oostenbrink (Scott Brady 60), Daryl Horgan (Robbie Benson 60), Ryan O’Kane (Trialist 6 60), Robbie Mahon (Conor O’Gorman 60), Eoin Kenny (Cameron Elliott 60). Subs not used:: Seán Molloy (GK), Aidan Russell, Dualta Honney, Luke Povall.

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy, Trialist 1, Oisín Hand, Kyle O’Connor, Trialist 2, Adam Wixted, Bastien Héry, Luke Wade Slater, Dean George, Chris Lyons. Subs: Jack Harrington (GK), Trialist 4, Trialist 5, Dean O’Shea, Karl Chambers, Trialist 6, Conor Crowley, Ross Fay, Trialist 3, Francis Campbell, Trialist 7.

REFEREE: Colin Halligan.