Vincent Leonard was just eight months old the last time Dundalk competed in the First Division but his first-half header saw the Co Louth side take the first small step towards repeating their promotion of 2008 as they edged out Athlone Town at Oriel Park.
The Lilywhites are aiming to bounce back from a disastrous 2024 when relegation from the Premier Division followed a brief flirtation with going out of business last September before local barrister John Temple stepped up to save the club.
New boss Ciarán Kilduff has made no secret of the fact that he wants to see Dundalk back in the top flight for the 100th anniversary of them joining the League of Ireland in 2026 and they at least got off to a winning start in a game they should have won more comfortably after passing up a flurry of second half chances.
In a week where 16-year-old goalscorers are in focus following Michael Noonan's heroics for Shamrock Rovers in Molde the previous night, it was another teenager who was the hero for the 14-time league champions with Leonard popping up with a brilliant header to earn the status of the club’s youngest ever league goalscorer at 16 years, 10 months and 24 days.
Buoyed by a large support, the hosts started brightly and tested Matthew Connor for the first time on eight minutes when Brian Torre’s header back was seized upon by Daryl Horgan, whose close range effort was pushed out for a corner by the former Waterford FC goalkeeper.
Athlone had few opportunities in the first half with their only real attempt of note coming on 12 minutes when Kyle Robinson attempted to catch Enda Minogue out but his long range effort was straight at the 23-year-old netminder.
Dundalk eventually found the breakthrough from what was their seventh corner of the half on 36 minutes with Dervin’s delivery headed powerfully home by Leonard.
Dundalk went close to doubling their advantage within three minutes of the restart when Eoin Kenny cut in from the left onto his right foot before curling a shot agonisingly the wrong side of Connor’s right hand post.
The home side then should have doubled their lead on 57 minutes when Leo Gaxha failed to apply a finish from just five yards out after Kenny’s cross had taken Connor out of the equation. Fortunately for the Kerry man, the break that followed wasn’t punished as Declan McDaid fired over from the edge of the area.
Dundalk are 1-0 up!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 14, 2025
Vinnie Leonard's goal gives The Lilywhites the lead against Athlone Town. pic.twitter.com/DjlcAHWDaS
Connor then kept Athlone in the game with two big stops in the space of three minutes, denying Horgan on both occasions with strong left-hand saves.
Dundalk passed up another outstanding chance to double their lead on 67 minutes.
A short pass back to Connor saw the keeper just about get there ahead of Gaxha but his partial clearance fell invitingly to Kenny, whose tame effort crept just the wrong side of the post with the goal gaping.
Athlone did push for an equaliser late on but the nearest they came was a Ben Feeney header which the home side managed to clear.
Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, Sean Keogh (Sean McHale 92); Harry Groome (Keith Ward 86), Aodh Dervin; Daryl Horgan, Eoin Kenny, Leo Gaxha (Muhammad Haris 86); Dean Ebbe (Andy Paraschiv 76).
Athlone Town: Matthew Connor; JR Wilson, Cole Omoreiomwan, Dylan Hand, Brian Torre (Billy Gilmore 82); Noe Baba, Bastien Hery (Aaron Connolly 67); Kyle Robinson (Ben Feeney 55), Kailin Barlow (Gideon Tetteh 67), Declan McDaid (Adam Wixted 82); Dean Williams.
Referee: Marc Lynch.
Elsewhere in the First Division, an extraordinary late salvo from Cobh Ramblers saw the visitors come from 2-0 down with seven minutes remaining to win 3-2 at Treaty United.
Richkov Boevi's strike had given Treaty the lead at the break and when Lee Molloy doubled their advantage with 12 minutes of normal time remaining, they seemed to have the seal on a routine opening day win.
Not so fast. Cian Coleman, just signed from Cork City, pulled one back on 84 minutes but the drama was only starting.
Entering injury-time, David Bosnjak forced home an equaliser and two minutes later, another ex-Cork man, Cian Murphy found the winner.
Stephen Elliott's reign as Wexford FC manager began in some style with a 3-0 away win over UCD at the UCD Bowl.
The former Republic of Ireland international saw his side take a one goal lead into half-time, with James Crawford firing home on 29 minutes.
Aaron Dobbs made it 2-0 shortly after restart following terrific work down the left wing by Kaylem Harnett. Substitute Luke Kehir put the visitors 3-0 up bang on the hour mark, heading home from a corner.
Luke Kehir's header that secured a 3-0 victory for Wexford over UCD. pic.twitter.com/6XxJiFMggb
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 14, 2025
The Students finished in second spot ahead of Wexford on goal difference last season but it was a sobering first night out for the Belfield side.
Kerry FC made a strong start to the season with a 2-0 win over Finn Harps at Mounthawk Park.
It was a mixed night for debutant Joe Adams who pinged in the opener before the half hour mark but was then sent off on a straight red card with 21 minutes remaining, the Welsh player appearing to win the ball but the ref deeming that his lunge for possession was dangerous.
Niall Brookwell's goal to double Kerry's lead on his debut for the club. pic.twitter.com/RG1uZhRLb5
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 14, 2025
Fortunately, for the hosts they had already doubled their lead at that point, Niall Brookwell lashing home their second from close range after a corner ricocheted in his direction.
