Bray Wanderers 1 (Kelly 29) Dundalk 3 (Kilduff 5, 27, Finn 81)
DUNDALK PICKED UP where they left off in 2015 as they comfortably disposed of the new-look Bray Wanderers.
A first-half double from Ciaran Kilduff and a late strike by Ronan Finn came either side of a Dean Kelly free kick to give them the perfect start in their hunt for a third successive league title.
It took the Lilywhites a mere five minutes to craft their first goal as John Mountney’s cross was tucked away by Ciaran Kilduff after good work by Finn.
The frontman had his second on 27 minutes when he darted onto a sublime Dane Massey pass before stroking past Peter Cherrie with ease.
The Seagulls offered a reply when Dean Kelly’s free kick looped in after a massive deflection off Andy Boyle.
Dundalk had several chances to stretch the lead in the second period, but the final pass was just shy of the required standard time after time.
A second yellow card for Bray left-back Curtis Murphy saw him dismissed on his debut and it took Stephen Kenny’s side less than a minute to press home their numerical advantage, as Ronan Finn cut a low strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
BRAY: Peter Cherrie; Sean Harding, Alan McNally, Conor Kenna (c), Curtis Murphy; Alan Byrne; Gareth McDonagh (Dyla Connolly, 63), Ryan Brennan, Mark Salmon, Karl Moore; Dean Kelly (Andrew Lewis, 79).
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers; Paddy Barrett, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Ronan Finn, Stephen O’Donnell (Robbie Benson, 86); John Mountney (Darren Meenan, 37), Patrick McEleney (Chris Shields, 74), Daryl Horgan; Ciaran Kilduff.