FULL TIME: In a nail-biting and dramatic match at Weavers Park, Dundalk was pinned to their collar for the majority of the contest, but a Connor Malley goal handed the Lilywhites the full three points. Drogheda will leave the field tonight feeling as though they should have at least earned a point. It appeared as though they had it, but Nathan Sheppard denied Freddie Draper from the penalty spot in the final moments of the contest. The true test of a good side is when they win games while playing poorly in some stretches. Tonight, Dundalk accomplished that.

POST: Dundalk break and it found Robbie Benson in the Dundalk area only for his effort to clip the post. There is still no word how much added time here.

STOPPAGE: Greg Sloggett and Draper clash heads and are in the middle of getting medical treatment.

PENALTY BREAKDOWN: Leahy fouled on Grimes and the referee pointed to the spot. Draper stood up to take it and his effort was low and to the right and it was superbly saved by Sheppard.

SAVE!!!! Nathan Sheppard guesses right dives right and pushes it away. What a stop!

PENALTY DROGHEDA!

SUB: Michael Leddy comes on to add some more attacking threat.

SAVE: It would not have counted by Nathan Sheppard pulled off an immense save at the back post to deny Drogheda but the flag was already up, he didn't know and forced the excellent stop.

SUB: Rayhann Tulloch is replaced by Robbie Benson - it's Bob time!

YELLOW: Rayhann Tulloch gets a yellow card

SUB: John Martin replaces Patrick Hoban.

BIG CALL: Massive shouts for a handball in the area but the protests from Drogheda are waved away, it was a big call for the referee.

CHANCE: From the free kick Dayle Rooney sends Sheppard flying for a save but it just goes wide. Massive chance for Dundalk.

YELLOW: Greg Sloggett gets a yellow card for a late challenge.

GOAL: Rayhann Tulloch gets away from his marker for only the second time tonight, he cuts a clever pass to Connor Malley and the Dundalk midfielder slams it past McCabe in a goal that was completely against the run of play.

TENSE: This by all accounts is a tense affair with Dundalk looking frustrated at the moment.

SUB: Two changes for Dundalk as Alfie Lewis is on for Elliott and Ryan O'Kane is on for Yli-Kokko

POST: Dayle Rooney receives the ball out on the left and his deep cross into the area hits the post and over the bar.

YELLOW: For a foul on Pat Hoban - Emmanuel Adegboyega gets a yellow card.

CHANCE: A cross from the right in the opening minute and Emmanuel Adegboyega headed powerfully towards goal but his effort is well saved.

SECOND HALF: We are back underway for the second half of the Louth Derby.

HALF TIME: right on the stroke of half time there was a penalty shout but it would have been harsh on Dundalk. All in all this half belonged to the home side with Dayle Rooney looking the real livewire in this half.

ADDED TIME: Two added minutes here at Weavers Park.

SHOT: Johannes Yli-Kokko breaks free of his marker but his shot takes a deflection en route to goal and its easily saved.

Dundalk make a rare advance and after some clever passing Malley feeds the ball to Elliot but his effort is tame.

CHANCE: The corner comes in and falls to the feet of Weir and his effort takes a massive deflection for a corner, from that corner Drogheda has another chance which is cleared off the line. Drogheda all over Dundalk at the moment.

SAVE: WHAT A SAVE! Dayle Rooney steals the ball and his effort was the beating of the keeper but Sheppard tips it over the bar.

TACTICS: Dundalk is struggling to get a foothold here and O'Donnell has already made a tactical change with Hoban now up top with Malley playing off him. Elliott has gone to the right with Tulloch coming to the left.

CHANCE: An Excellent dispossession from Dayle Rooney and he hits an excellent effort that flashes wide of the post.

SHEPPARD: There is some concern as Nathan Sheppard goes down but he looks ok to continue.

CHANCE: Dayle Rooney with an excellent turn and pace to get the ball onto his left and he curls an excellent effort that is well saved by Sheppard. All Drogheda at the moment.

CHANCE: Another good opportunity for the home side as a corner finds Freddie Draper at the back post but his header is poor and it skims the top of his head and away from danger.

CHANCE: The first shot in anger for the home side as Dale Rooney strikes one from range at the edge of the area but his effort is well saved by Nathan Sheppard.

Not sure what to make of this one, a great cross was sent into the area and it looked as if a Drogheda player fell over but there were mute calls albeit from the crowd for a penalty. There is now a corner to Drogheda that is cleared by Davies.

CLOSE: It looked as if Weir played in Draper but he overhits the pass to the striker and it goes wide.

TIGHT: As far as openings go this has been a tight affair, very little given between the sides but it looks as if they are double marking Rayhann Tulloch, they have spotted him as a clear danger.

KICK OFF: And we are underway and Dundalk immediately win a corner which is headed clear at the near post and collected on the second ball.

DEALY: A few seconds behind schedule here as the referee lets the smoke clear from the smoke of the flares from both sides.

And here comes the teams: It is slowly filling up to a sold out Weavers Park, Dundalk in full colour and voice and Drogheda unveil an impressive banner showcasing the structues of the town.

HOBAN 250: Patrick Hoban makes his 250th league start in the League of Ireland tonight. Three of his four goals against Drogheda Utd for Dundalk have come here at Weavers Park including the winner in a 1-0 win on his first visit in June 2013.

REF WATCH: Tonight's referee is Paul McLaughlin who takes charge of a Dundalk game for the 56th time in his career tonight – more than he has refereed any other side. This is the 2nd time he has refereed Dundalk this season having been in charge of the 5-0 win over St Pat's 13 days ago.

THE LAST TIME: Dundalk were 2-0 winners in the last league meeting between themselves and Drogheda at the end of September last year when a Runar Hauge penalty and Dane Massey own goal earned the Lilywhites a 2-0 win in a game in which Ryan Brennan saw red at the end.

HISTORY: It’s the 172nd Louth Derby match tonight. Dundalk has won 93, Drogheda has won 38 and there have been 40 draws. It’s the 102nd league meeting between the Louth rivals. Dundalk has won 55, Drogheda 21, while there have been 25 draws.

O'DONNELL: It’s Stephen O’Donnell’s ninth time managing against Drogheda Utd tonight. He has won 5 and lost 3 of the previous eight meetings, including two 1-0 defeats at Weavers Park last season.

TEAM NEWS: Stephen O’Donnell makes two changes from the side which drew in Derry six days ago with Wasiri Williams and Cameron Elliott coming in for Hayden Muller and Daniel Kelly.

Good Evening from Weavers Park in Drogheda, tonight is the first of the Louth Derbies this season as Dundalk FC take on Drogheda United.