Dundalk’s hopes of a jubilant return to the top flight after a seven year exile were ended by defending champions Bohemians at Oriel Park this evening. The tight contest was settled by a 72nd minute header from man-of-the-match Joseph Ndo, whose debut in a Bohemians shirt will have delighted the travelling support.

Result of the night, however, was at Richmond Park where Jeff Kenna was upstaged by his former assistant at Galway United Ian Foster.

Injury has denied Kenna some of his first-teamers but he won’t have enjoyed the 3-0 beating handed to him by the club he walked out on in the close season.

Derek O’Brien got the opener after 17 minutes and sealed the win with a 52nd minute strike, after Vinny Faherty got in on the act just after the break.

Derry City’s Mark Farren got the first goal of the new season at the Brandywell and it proved enough for a Candystripes win over Drogheda United.

At the Carlisle Grounds, Bray Wanderers and Shamrock Rovers played out a scoreless draw.