Seán Keogh’s second-minute free-kick shot Dundalk to the top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division table after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Finn Harps at Finn Park on Friday night.

Dundalk had a dream start as they hit the front after just 106 seconds, Keogh bending a free-kick past the near side of the Finn Harps wall and beyond the reach of Oisín Cooney in the home goal, as he netted his first senior goal for the club.

Harps did grow into the game after that, while Dundalk continued to attack, looking more of a danger in the final third. But it was the home side that threatened the second goal of the night in first-half injury-time when David Cawley’s shot was dangerous and deflected wide.

At the start of the second half, Harps substitute Gavin McAteer let fly with a powerful shot that Enda Minogue got a strong hand behind. Patrick Ferry soon threatened from distance too, before Eoin Kenny almost put Daryl Horgan in for a second.

Kenny himself should have scored before the hour mark but he headed over in front of goal. That miss almost cost Dundalk dear nine minutes from time but somehow Harps failed to finish to the net as the ball bounced around the six-yard box.

Substitute Max Johnston was presented with a glorious opportunity to equalise in the 91st minute but he could not get power in the shot as Minogue easily saved, with Dundalk delighted to hear the final whistle after a tough battle.

21 February 2025; Seán Keogh of Dundalk celebrates scoring his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Finn Harps and Dundalk at Finn Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Gerry Scully/Dundalk FC.

For the match, Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff unsurprisingly named an unchanged team to the one that beat Athlone Town on the opening day of the season. There were two changes on the bench, where Norman Garbett and Seán Spaight replaced TJ Molloy and Shane Tracey.

Inside two minutes, Dundalk were awarded a free-kick around 25 yards from goal, with Aodh Dervin, Horgan and Keogh all standing over it. Keogh was left to take it and he curled a beautiful left-footed strike into the corner beyond the reach of Cooney.

In the ninth minute, Harps put the Dundalk defence under pressure with a free-kick of their own which eventually landed at the feet of Cawley just outside the area but his strike flew off target.

Dundalk were a threat down the right through Leo Gaxha and Conor O’Keeffe, but they could not fashion a real opening. Harps were well in the game, too, enjoying plenty of possession. They went close at the end of the half when Cawley smacked a shot which came off the back of Conor Tourish and flew past the post.

Harps made a change at half-time and their substitute McAteer almost made an instant impact with a strike from distance that had plenty of power in it but Minogue was equal to it. On 49 minutes, Patrick Ferry unleashed another belting shot that took a touch on the way behind.

21 February 2025; Oisín Cooney (GK) and Mikey Place of Finn Harps and Seán Keogh of Dundalk in action during during the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Finn Harps and Dundalk at Finn Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Gerry Scully/Dundalk FC.

Two minutes later, Dundalk broke and Kenny was played in on the left, with his cross almost perfect for Horgan in the centre but Cooney just got there ahead of him to get down and gather the ball at the feet of the Lilywhites skipper.

On 58 minutes, Dundalk really should have made it 2-0. Horgan did well down the left, beating Cawley and racing to the by-line, his delivery onto the head of Kenny in the six-yard box but he headed over the bar.

On 72 minutes, substitute Joel Bradley-Walsh, only on the pitch a few seconds, delivered a good free-kick onto the head of Tourish and he glanced a header off target. On 81 minutes, Dundalk survived a huge scare as the ball seemed certain to find the net but they scrambled it clear close to the line.

In the 91st minute, Harps went close again when sub Johnston was well placed but his effort lacked the power to trouble Minogue who was glad to gather, as Dundalk took over at the top of the First Division table.

FINN HARPS: Oisín Cooney, William Oduwa (Gavin McAteer HT), Max Hutchinson, Conor Tourish, Joel Thompson (Max Johnston 84), Kevin Jordan (Joel Bradley-Walsh 72), David Cawley (Anthony Dodd 84), Tony McNamee (C), Mikey Place, Patrick Ferry (Gradi Lomboto 72), Dara McGuinness. Subs not used: David Chukwuemeka Aziaya (GK), Josh Cullen, Gavin Gilmore, Adam McDaid.

DUNDALK FC: Enda Minogue, Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun (Luke Mulligan 85), Vinnie Leonard, Seán Keogh, Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 83), Leo Gaxha (Norman Garbett 83), Eoin Kenny, Daryl Horgan (C), Dean Ebbe (Seán McHale 61). Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (GK), Keith Ward, Seán Spaight, Muhammad Haris, Aidan Russell Vargas.

REFEREE: Declan Toland.