Early goal makes the difference as Finn Harps narrowly beaten by Dundalk

Sean Keogh’s delightful free kick in the second minute was the only separator as Finn Harps were beaten by Dundalk in their first home game of the season. 

Keogh’s cracking strike gave Dundalk victory, but not before a gallant effort by Harps kept them on the edge.

Darren Murphy’s side pushed the Lilywhites - relegated from the top flight last season - all the way on a night when they’ll feel as if they left a share of the spoils behind them.

Dundalk took less than two minutes to take the lead. Mikey Place was penalised for a foul on Daryl Horgan and, from just over 20 yards out with just 106 seconds on the stopwatch, Keogh beautifully curled past Oisin Cooney for the 18-year-old’s first senior goal.

A sizeable away support erupted as Keogh’s strike nestled in the Town End net with Harps having to shake their heads clear from the early set-back.

Experienced midfielder David Cawley shot wide and Patrick Ferry headed tamely into the hands of Dundalk ‘keeper Enda Minogue 

Six minutes before the break, Leo Gaxha screwed wide from outside the box after Harps failed to clear their lines.

On the stroke of half-time, Cawley tried his luck again, but his effort deflected off a team-mate on its way wide.

English defender William Oduwa, a a closed-season recruit from Slovakian side Slovan Tomasovce, made his debut in Harps’ colours in one of two changes to the Harps line-up from last weekend’s defeat in Kerry. Oduwa’s evening lasted only until half-time when Gavin McAteer - back from international duty with the Republic of Ireland U17s in Spain - was introduced.

McAteer, with his first involvement, tested the palms of Minogue, who was equal to his attempt, albeit at the expense of a corner.

Ferry cracked one off the crossbar soon after with Minogue getting a vital touch.

Dundalk’s fall from winning five Premier League titles, three FAI Cups and three League Cups during a dizzying spell was rapid. From European adventures came the brink of extinction before being saved at the 11th hour by John Temple’s takeover.

Former Dundalk player Ciaran Kilduff returned to Oriel Park as manager and after teenage ace Vinnie Leonard bagged the only goal of the game in their opening day win over Athlone, the Lilywhites kept faith with the same XI.

Some of the visitors were still coming through the Chestnut Road turnstiles when Keogh broke the stalemate.

Only for Cooney’s quick thinking, Dundalk would have doubled their lead six minutes into part two, but the Clonmany native saved at the feet of Horgan as he went to drive home Eoin Kenny’s centre.

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Kenny should have doubled the tally in the 58th minute but, from inside the six yard box, he headed wide.

Ferry and captain Tony McNamee, after a superb move, were off target with ambitious strikes for Harps.

Twenty minutes from the end, Conor Tourish’s headed wide after connecting with a free kick from sub Joel Bradley Walsh.

Kenny thought he doubled the lead in the 74th minute but an offside flag cut short his celebration to keep the game finely poised.

Harps pushed hard for a leveller and had one attempt cleared off the goal line in a set piece scramble during the closing stages and Tourish was denied by Minogue in the final minute.

Finn Harps: Oisin Cooney; William Oduwa (Gavin McAteer half-time), Conor Tourish, Max Hutchison; Mikey Place, David Cawley (Anto Dodd 84), Kevin Jordan (Joel Bradley Walsh 70), Tony McNamee, Joel Thompson (Max Johnston 84); Patrick Ferry (Gradi Lomboto 70), Dara McGuinness. 

Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun (Luke Mulligan 84), Vinnie Leonard, Sean Keogh; Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 82), Aodh Dervin; Daryl Horgan, Eoin Kenny, Leo Gaxha (Norman Garbett 82); Dean Ebbe (Sean McHale 60).

Referee: Declan Toland.