Early Goals Power Dundalk Past Bray Wanderers

Dundalk shook off the disappointment of conceding two late goals in their recent 2-2 home draw against Treaty United by getting back to winning ways thanks to a comfortable 3-1 defeat of Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds. The result means that Dundalk remain top of the SSE Airtricity League First Division standings with four victories and a draw to show from their first five outings.

Eoin Kenny of Dundalk during the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division match between Bray Wanderers and Dundalk at Carlisle Grounds in Bray, Wicklow. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff fielded an unchanged starting line-up from that match against Treaty United – and he was not to be disappointed with that decision as his side quickly established control with three goals in the opening 31 minutes from Daryl Horgan, Dean Ebbe and Eoin Kenny.

Dundalk opened their account in the eighth minute as the home side gifted them a soft lead goal with Bray’s Jordon Tallon accidentally turning provider as he set up Horgan after a neat touch from Ebbe. The tally was doubled within three minutes as Keith Ward’s deep corner from the left found Aodh Dervin, who lobbed the ball back into the danger area, for Ebbe to head home unchallenged.

Further chances came Dundalk’s way with another corner from Ward being met by defender Seán McHale, but his header was off target, then Horgan fired narrowly wide from outside the area, and Kenny also had a long-range effort that failed to threaten Jimmy Corcoran’s goal.

But Dundalk were still able to extend their lead moments after the half hour mark when Kenny scored his first league goal of the 2025 campaign when he scored after Seán Keogh crossed into his path at the second attempt.

Bray were finding it tough to compete with their opponents, registering what was their first decent attempt on goal eight minutes before the interval when Max Murphy’s corner was met by Tallon's head, only for veteran goalkeeper Peter Cherrie to save. It was Dundalk who still looked more likely get the next goal before the break, with Dervin and Andy Paraschiv both taking opportunities from range, although neither could find the target.

The second half followed a similar pattern with Keogh, Ebbe, Kenny and McHale all spurning opportunities before Bray cut the deficit from the penalty spot three minutes into second half stoppage time through Murphy following a trip in the five-metre box.

Bray Wanderers AFC: Jimmy Corcoran; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Jamie Duggan; Cian Doyle (Rhys Knight 72), Jordon Tallon; Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 65), Richard Ferizaj (Rhys Bartley HT), Calum Costello (Billy O’Neill 72); Cian Curtis (Danu Kinsella-Bishop 65).

Subs not used: Stephen McGuinness (GK), Dylan Barnett, Harvey Warren and Philip Cooney.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Aodh Dervin, Vinnie Leonard, Seán McHale, Seán Keogh (Seán Spaight 88); Harry Groome, Andy Paraschiv (Gbemi Arubi 72); Eoin Kenny, Keith Ward (Shane Tracey 72), Daryl Horgan; Dean Ebbe (TJ Molloy-Murray 83).

Subs not used: Samuel Safaei (GK), Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Luke Mulligan and Muhammad Haris.

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).