For me and for this season Ciaran Callan signing off for FinalWhistle - thanks to all who read, commented or followed the coverage this season on the site. It's been a pleasure.

FULL TIME: Dundalk end the year 18 points better off than they did last season and 4 better off than O’Donnell’s Pat’s side which were 2nd last year

FULL TIME: A Keith Ward goal was the game changer as Dundalk remained unbeaten against Derry City this season as the Lilywhites secured a win on the last game of the season. The goal and the win will not be the real story of the match as both sides were reduced to ten men as Sadou Diallo and Robbie McCourt both saw red after an off-the-ball altercation. The sending-off means that Diallo will now miss the FAI Cup Final and could be an interesting subplot to next week's showcase final.

Three added minutes: As thing stands Dundalk and Derry will finish on equal points but Derry have a plus 2 goal difference.

Joe Thomson has now made way for Jordan McEneff in one of the final changes of the game.

What a miss! Andy Boyle slips and Jamie McGonigle picks up the ball from Thompson but with the goal at his mercy he curls it over the bar!

Brian Gartland comes off for Andy Boyle - this could possibly be the final time that Dundalk fans see him in a Dundalk shirt and if so he put in one of his finest performances.

Two changes for Derry see Ciaran Coll for Lafferty and McGonigle for Akintunde.

Two changes for Dundalk Steven Bradley on for Keith Ward and Patrick Hoban is on for David McMillan.

Patrick Hoban getting ready to come in for Dundalk.

SAVE: Will Patching on the edge of the area and he lets one fly and Peter Cherrie does excellently to tip it over the bar!

Dundalk FC make their first change as Ryan O'Kane comes on for John Martin

SUB: Will Patching on for Derry in place of Brandon Kavanagh. Patching had a mixed period at Dundalk but scored one of the club's most important goals in Europe in 2021.

Ryan Graydon is brought down just inside the box by John Martin, which could and should have been a penalty for the home side.

Cameron Dummigan with a thunderous effort that just goes over the bar! That would have been the perfect response early in the second half.

Derry has absolutely flown out of the traps here making efforts to get back on level terms, as things stand Dundalk are holding firm.

SECOND HALF: Dundalk gets us back underway here back at Derry.

HALF TIME: It's 1-0 to Dundalk thanks to a Keith Ward goal but the big news of the half came on 19 minutes when Sadou Diallo and Robbie McCourt clashed and both saw red card - Sadou Diallo now misses the FAI Cup Final which has been confirmed, a massive blow for the player and for Derry City.

One minute added time

SAVE: Joe Thompson with an excellent well-taken effort on the edge of the area but Cherrie does excellently to get down to save.

BLOCK: Brandon Kavanagh looks certain to score only for yet another fantastic defensive block from Brian Gartland.

Ryan Graydon broke down the left and another intervention from Gartland sends the ball out for a corner.

SAVE: An initial excellent save by Cherrie to stop Akintunde and then the follow-up effort from Joe Thompson is headed over, he headed it down as opposed to on goal.

Akintunde looked as if he was going to get a header on goal but Brian Gartland with an excellent intervention to stop the striker from getting his opportunity. An excellent stop from the experienced defender.

CHANCE: Keith Ward with an excellent through ball to David McMillan and the striker is one on one with Maher and the keeper pulls off a fantastic save to stop it becoming 2-0.

Robbie McCourt picks up the 6th red card for a Dundalk player this season.

I am open to correction here but Diallo will miss next week's FAI cup final with that red card.

Robbie McCourt is also off, he has swung the arm on Diallo and the referee had no option to send the player off.

Diallo is off! There was an off-the-ball incident and it looks as if Robbie McCourt threw an arm and Diallo reacted and he has been shown a red card.

A good chance for Derry City for City as Thomson gets a free header but can't get it near the target.

Dundalk continues to press and Keith Ward's free kick is sent behind for a corner that goes wide. Alfie Lewis and Keith Ward at this moment in time are showing real class in the midfield.

That is goal number six of the season that for Ward - the best goalscoring return of his 15-season career to date. It's his 3rd career goal against Derry City.

GOAL! Dundalk takes the lead - An initial scramble in the box and the second ball is crossed by Darragh Leahy, the ball was cleared but only as far as Keith Ward who hits a fantastic effort which flies past a sea of bodies and into the back of the net.

The opening five minutes and not much to report as of yet, Dundalk and Derry very much playing to see how each other will play!

KICK-OFF: We are underway at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium!

Ruaidhrí Higgins speaking this evening on rumours of signing James McClean back to Derry City: "He played in the Championship and set up two goals and he is about to play for Ireland - I think that puts it to bed doesn't it?"

It's a big night for Keith Ward this evening. The midfielder is making the 400th appearance of his career tonight. It is also his 325th in the league. It was against Derry that Ward made his debut for UCD back in August 2008. Ruaidhrí Higgins played for the Candystripes that day.

Dundalk can in theory still finish second this season. To do that they need to win by three clear goals. This is a tall order but also something the side has achieved away to Derry four times in the last six years.

The sides also played two matches at Maginn Park in the 2017 season, with one win apiece, including a 4-0 victory for Dundalk in August that year when current first-teamers Robbie Benson (2), David McMillan and John Mountney were on target. In March of 2017 saw the last goal scored by Ryan McBride who passed away days after his side defeated Dundalk.

Regarding the league, tonight is the 83rd meeting between the two sides. Dundalk has won 37, Derry has won 21 and there have been 24 draws.

It’s the 100th meeting between Dundalk and Derry City tonight. Dundalk won the first 1-0 in the Inter-City Cup way back in 1944 while the sides played out a 1-1 draw in their last meeting at Oriel Park/Casey’s Field at the start of August.

Dundalk FC team news: Peter Cherrie, Brian Gartland, Robbie McCourt, Joe Adams, Keith Ward and John Martin all start for the Lilywhites tonight while Patrick Hoban is named on the bench.

Some interesting news from the Dundalk camp is that Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny's son Eoin, who was born in Derry, is part of the Dundalk squad which has travelled to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium this evening.

Good Evening you are very welcome from FinalWhistle HQ for tonights live coverage of Derry City vs Dundalk - Ciaran Callan here to take you through tonights coverage as this is the battle for Second Place.