Dundalk will be back in the Premier Division for their 100th anniversary in the League of Ireland in 2026 after second half goals from Gbemi Arubi, Daryl Horgan and Vinnie Leonard saw them secure the First Division title against Finn Harps at Oriel Park.
Promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt marks a fabulous turnaround for a club who almost went out of existence in September 2024 before being rescued by current owner John Temple.
His appointment of Ciarán Kilduff was a gamble but one that has paid off after the former Lilywhites striker assembled a squad that has led the table from start to finish.
While they have been chased all the way by Cobh Ramblers, this result coupled with the Cork outfit's defeat away to Longford Town means there will be no shoot-out for the title when the sides meet in St Colman’s Park next week.
While the Co Louth team found it difficult to break down Kevin McHugh’s side in the opening half but two goals inside five second-half minutes from top scorer Arubi and another from the spot from Horgan ensured it was a night of celebration for the border outfit long before Irish underage international Leonard – who scored Dundalk’s first goal of the season – wrapped it up with another header deep in stoppage time.
The home side were dominant in the opening half but had a brief early scare when it took a brilliant last gasp challenge from Mayowa Animasahun to deny Hans Mpongo what looked a certain goal on six minutes.
Dundalk’s first really big chance came on 14 minutes when Daryl Horgan received a short free back from Shane Tracey on the left to get a cross in which broke to Declan McDaid, who couldn’t hit the target with his effort from 12 yards out.
A minute later the hosts went even closer when Aodh Dervin’s cross spun up off Joel Bradley-Walsh into the path of the inrushing Harry Groome, whose header beat Lorenzo Piaia Barbosa only to cannon back off the crossbar.
Groome would register the game’s first shot on target five minutes later but it was bread and butter stuff for the Brazilian netminder, who was more concerned with a long-range effort from Dervin that curled just wide moments later.
Tracey then had an effort blocked by Mikey Place after finding space in the box before Vinnie Leonard and McDaid both had efforts flash just over Barbosa’s crossbar.
Harps had to wait until the 42nd minute to register their first attempt but almost found the breakthrough from it as Mpongo’s lay-off played Ibra Bangoura in on the right, with Peter Cherrie having to dive full stretch to keep the effort out before gathering at the second attempt.
After a cross from Tracey had to be tipped over the bar by Barbosa, Cherrie was then called into action again in stoppage time to keep out a long range free from Bradley-Walsh.
The breakthrough would finally come on 54 minutes with Arubi tapping home from close range after brilliant work by Conor O’Keeffe to tee him up after forcing mistakes from both Bradley-Walsh and Idir Zerrouk.
Dundalk then doubled their advantage with captain Horgan firing home from the spot after Conor Tourish was adjudged to have handled JR Wilson’s cross.
2025 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Champions 🍾 @DundalkFC | @sseairtricity pic.twitter.com/5fiIKsLKOY
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) October 10, 2025
The former Republic of Ireland international then had an eventful couple of minutes, clipping the crossbar with a half volley from 25 yards out before having a penalty saved by Barbosa after Arubi had been hauled down by a combination of Tourish and Bradley-Walsh.
Gradi Lomboto did have a rare chance for Harps on 65 minutes that was straight at Cherrie.
The game largely petered out in the closing stages as the 3,358 in attendance began to celebrate but they were given a huge reason to cheer when Leonard headed in Andy Paraschiv’s cross with the game’s final act as the celebrations of a top flight return began.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun (Andy Paraschiv 78), Vinnie Leonard, JR Wilson; Aodh Dervin, Shane Tracey (Luke Mulligan 85); Declan McDaid (Norman Garbett 78), Harry Groome (Keith Ward 78); Daryl Horgan (Dean Ebbe 85); Gbemi Arubi.
Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia Barbobsa; Mikey Place, Oran Brogan, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Idir Zerrouk; Gavin Gilmore (Adam McDaid 71), Tony McNamee (Conor McGranahan 84), Gradi Lomboto (Darragh Coyle 72); Ibra Bangoura (McLaughlin 72); Hans Mpongo (Shaunie Bradley 80).
Referee: Declan Toland.
Cobh Ramblers' title hopes were sunk even without Dundalk's victory as they shipped a 3-1 loss to a resurgent Longford Town in Bishopsgate.
The midlanders, who were hovering near the foot of the table for the most of the season, made it a fourth win on the bounce, though they have left it too late for a play-off spot with Treaty United winning this evening.
After being initially ruled out for offside, Alex O'Brien has put Longford Town back in front!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) October 10, 2025
Cobh Ramblers will now have to score two unanswered goals to have any chance of preventing Dundalk from winning the title tonight. pic.twitter.com/wUjHfqHbbl
Alex Doran put the hosts in front, with Barry Coffey responding for Cobh before the 10-minute mark. Second-half goals Alex O'Brien and Stefan Ugbesia powered them to victory, ending Cobh's faint chances of the title.
Goals from Mark Byrne and Joe Hanson maintained Treaty United's hold on the last play-off spot as they beat Bray Wanderers 2-1 in Markets Field.
They are one point clear of Wexford FC in sixth, the latter beating Kerry FC 2-0 in Mounthawk Park thanks to a brace from Calum Flynn in the final 20 minutes.
The pair will face off for the last remaining play-off spot next week in Markets Field, with Treaty just requiring a draw to ensure fifth place.
In the night's remaining game, UCD, already guaranteed fourth place, came from 2-0 down to draw at home to the league's bottom club Athlone Town.
