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
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