Dundalk FC manager Ciarán Kilduff says Cobh win was a ‘coming of age' for his young side
The Argus
Today at 10:30
Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff hailed Friday night's 1-0 win over Cobh Ramblers as a 'coming of age' performance for his young side.
The Lilywhites came into the top of the table clash on the back of a first defeat of the season away to Finn Harps four days earlier but showed plenty of resolve to produce one of their best displays of the campaign to open up a four point gap once more courtesy of Gbemi Arubi's early acrobatic goal.
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Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Patience pays off as Dundalk FC put four past Kerry
While Ciarán Kilduff's side have always been the team to beat in the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division, quite often they have struggled to produce the sort of results to match their performances. Prior to their trip to Tralee on Friday, the Lilywhites had won 13 matches but just four had been by more than a goal – two by a two goal margin and two by three. Given their level of dominance in games throughout the season to date, it's somewhat surprising that it took until match day 22 to really put a team to the sword but that's what they did in Kerry. Having opened up a four point gap at the top of the table over Cobh Ramblers a week prior, this result means they now also have a four point advantage when it comes to goal difference as well. While the fact that two of the goals came in injury time to perhaps put a flattering look on the scoreline, the victory was no more than the Lilywhites deserved. While a large travelling support descended on Mounthawk Park, the trip will live longer in the memory than the game itself. In truth, this was a tough watch for a long period. Yet from a Dundalk perspective, it was another box ticked off – three points acquired and one game closer to the finish line of promotion. Perhaps post Cobh, a big win was just what the side needed. Something to put a bit of a pep in their step heading to the Carlisle Grounds to face Bray Wanderers this weekend. Leaving aside the two 4-0 wins against Malahide Utd and a Shamrock Rovers underage side in the Leinster Senior Cup, this was the biggest win of the Kilduff era and the first time that Dundalk have scored four in a game since the 4-2 victory over Drogheda Utd almost a year ago on July 12 2024. It was also the first time that the side have scored four on their travels since a 5-1 win away to UCD on the final day of the 2023 campaign. The club has changed a lot since those days but, bit by bit, they're working their way back to the top flight. This was another notable step in that direction. Both sides had chances in the early stages with Daryl Horgan curling a shot just wide from just outside the box on four minutes following good one-two with Gbemi Arubi. Kerry then registered the first shot on target a minute later when Sean McGrath got a shot away, which unfortunately for him was straight down the throat of Enda Minogue. ADVERTISEMENT After Eoin Kenny had been denied by Tim-Oliver Heimer at his near post, Dundalk then hit the front on 20 minutes. Alex Dunne's attempted pass was cut out by Harry Groome, who collected the ball before stepping inside the defender and curling a shot to the net for what was his 15th career goal and fourth against the Munster men. The visitors pressed for a second after that but Kenny's drilled cross from the right just evaded Horgan on 29 minutes while another of his balls into the box was cleared off the line by Niall Brookwell six minutes later after Dean Ebbe looked destined to score. To their credit, Colin Healy's side pushed for a way back into the game either side of half-time. On 41 minutes Kennedy Amechi's bicycle kick required a save from Minogue, while moments later Oran Crowe had a shot drift just wide. Substitute Arran Healy then had a shot blocked after Crowe's free kick had dropped to him in the box within three minutes of the restart. The outcome was largely put beyond doubt on the hour mark, however, when Ebbe released Kenny on the right, with his low shot beating Heimer at his near post for what was the 19-year-old's 10th senior career goal. Kilduff rang the changes after that with Andy Paraschiv and Keith Ward both having attempts go just wide. As the game looked to be drifting to a dull finish, Dundalk added two more goals in stoppage time. The first arrived in the 93rd minute when Ward's free kick crept to the net following a foul by Brookwell on Kenny. Still rocked from that concession, Kerry conceded another almost directly from the restart as Ebbe slipped Paraschiv in, with the teenager holding off Chris McQueen before firing home his side's fourth. The two trips to Kerry this season have been memorable for the side and its fans. All associated with Dundalk will be hoping it's a long time before they're in Tralee again though, with promotion the ultimate goal of this season. Kerry FC: Heimer; Dunne (Barrett 76), McQueen, Brookwell, Williams, O'Connell; Mujaguzi (Healy HT), Crowe; McGrath; Amechi, Palmer. Dundalk FC: Minogue; Wilson (Mulligan 81), Animasahun, Leonard, Keogh (McHale 70); Dervin, Groome (Paraschiv 70); Kenny, Ebbe, Horgan (McDaid 61); Arubi.
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Cricket: Sabeer shines for Dundalk III's in home win
The Argus Dundalk Thirds lifted themselves off the foot of the Division 20 table with a comprehensive home victory over Terenure Fifths on Saturday last. Having been put into bat by a youthful Terenure side, Dundalk found themselves five wickets down for only 50 runs shortly after drinks, but a brilliant sixth-wicket partnership from captain Sumit Kumar and all-rounder Sabeer Palliyali saw the home side recover to post 209 all out. Their 89-run stand is the highest by any Dundalk batting pair across all three teams this summer. The Thirds proceeded to comfortably defend their target with six overs to spare. Division 20 Dundalk III: 209 (39.2 ov) Sabeer 76, Wormley 4-14 Terenure V: 106 (34 ov) Obaid 26, Sumit 2-7 Dundalk III won by 103 runs First's chase falls short In the Sunday fixture, Dundalk's first team travelled to sunny St Catherine's Park to face Lucan Seconds in Division 10. A rapid outfield and short boundaries worked against the town at first, the home side amassing an impressive 270 in the first innings (four Lucan batters posted scores in the 40s or higher). Left-arm orthodox spinner Muhammad Tayyab achieved the best weekend bowling figures for Dundalk of 4-45 in his eight overs. In the chase, first team captain Syed Adnan gave Dundalk a decent chance of a late comeback after four wickets fell early, however his largely entertaining 77 off 69 balls wasn't enough to secure a first league win of the season. Division 10 Lucan II: 270/7 (40 ov) Sandip 52, Tayyab 4-45 Dundalk I: 203 (34.3 ov) Syed 77, Siddarth 4-31 ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Lucan won by 67 runs Fixtures Saturday July 13 North County IV v Dundalk I (Away) Dundalk III v Tyrrelstown V (H) Sunday July 13 Dundalk II v Sandyford IV (H) Interested in getting involved in cricket?
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Dundalk stay four points clear at top of the First Division as they see off Kerry
SSE Airtricity First Division: Kerry 0 Dundalk 4 (Groome 20', Kenny 60', Ward 90+3', Paraschiv 90+4') Dundalk remain four points clear at the top of the First Division after defeating Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park and fully deserved their win. However, the scoreline probably flattered the league leaders. Dundalk deserved their 2-0 lead heading into added time but for the second week in a row, Kerry conceded two late goals to compound a poor seven says for Colin Healy and his struggling Kerry side. Dundalk created the first opening in the fourth minute when Daryl Horgans' snap shot just missed the target. Kerry countered as Sean McGrath ran on to a rebound from a Sean O'Connell effort that was blocked but Enda Minogue was down quickly to smother the shot. Dundalk took the lead in the 20th minute when a misplaced pass out of defence by Alex Dunne was intercepted by Harry Groome who picked his spot and unleashed a terrific shot that dipped under the crossbar despite efforts of keeper Tim –Oliver Hiemer. Dundalk almost doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Eoin Kenny skinned his marker down the right but Horgan failed to make contact in the six yard box. Niall Brookwell then saved the home side when he cleared an Arubi shot off the line after another dangerous Kenny cross. Kerry finished the half strongly and could have equalised in the 40th minute when a cross from Alex Dunne was met in the box by Kennedy Amechi with his back to goal but his cheeky bicycle kick was parried by Dundalk keeper Minogue and collected. But Kerry had shown that they were able to trouble the league leaders defence who retired 1-0 in front at the interval. Kerry began the second half brightly and McGrath was causing Dundalk problems through the middle in the absence of Ronan Teahan. McGrath was fouled in a central position and when Oran Crowe floated in the resultant free kick, Chris McQueen headed down but Amechi's effort was straight at the keeper. Dundalk doubled their lead on the hour when another defensive error saw Kevin Williams head the ball into the path of Dean Ebbe who found Eoin Kenny raiding on the right side and he beat Hiemer from just inside the box, at his near post. McQueen headed over from a Crowe corner in the 67th minute as Kerry tried valiantly to get a goal back. Dundalk wrapped the points with two late goals from a Keith Ward free kick that should have been saved and a tiring home side was caught out at the back again, in the final move of the game, when Andy Paraschiv fired home from inside the box to secure the points. Kerry FC: Hiemer; Dunne, Williams, Brookwell, McQueen, O'Connell; McGrath, Mujaguzi, Crowe, Palmer, Amechi. Subs: Healy for Mujaguzi (h/t), Barrett for Dunne (76) Dundalk FC: Minogue; Wilson, Animasahun, Leonard, Keogh; Dervin, Groome, Kenny, Ebbe, Horgan, Arubi Subs: D McDaid for Horgan ( 61), McHale for Keogh ( 69), Ward for Arubi ( 69), Paraschiv for Groome ( 69), Mulligan for Wilson ( 81). Referee: L Keating (Cork)
