FULL TIME: Daniel Kelly’s goal just on the stroke of halftime may prove to be the most priceless of efforts in their quest to avoid this seasons Promotion/Relegation playoff as despite being under pressure for long periods in the second half, Dundalk held out for an all-important 1-0 victory over Waterford at Oriel Park. Results on the night also went the Lilywhites way away from County Louth ground as Vinny Perth will have to thank the experienced Peter Cherrie for some crucial saves as well as his all-important goalscorer.

Forever a threat, he has a shot that is blocked at the last second by Andy Boyle.

Four added minutes here in Oriel Park, a pressure value here is at breaking point. Can Waterford get an equaliser? Can Dundalk hold on?

For a foul, Wordsworth gets a yellow.

Once again Murray, once again he looks certain to score...Martin once again saves!

On comes McMillan for the final five minutes of the game, he replaced Patrick Hoban.

Cleary with a professional foul is given a yellow card.

Ben Amar comes on to replace the goalscorer, Kelly.

Paul Martin, anything you can do... Cherrie can do better! Junior got in behind the Dundalk defence and he looked certain to score and Cherrie is absolutely fantastic to deny him. Waterford cut Dundalk to ribbons there in that attack.

Twenty minutes to go in this game and Daniel Kelly's goal is still the difference, Dundalk have been on the front foot but Martin has denied them at every turn and Waterford are still pushing for an equaliser.

Green gets in behind the defence and forces a clever save from Cherrie, the corner to Waterford is cleared.

Double change for Waterford as Niall O'Keeffe replaces Kyle Ferguson and Ronaldo Green replaces Shane Griffin.

SAVE! What a fantastic double stop from Waterford firstly to deny Sean Murray from range and then Pat Hoban on the follow up! Super keeping!

Patterson who finds the run of Wordsworth down the left hits it across the face of the goal but it's too far in front of the in-running John Martin.

How did that stay out? Sean Murray's inch-perfect corner was met by Hoban and his header is saved once again by Martin, I say he didn't know much about it but it was a fantastic save.

CHANCE! Will Patching with a clever through ball to Hoban but his effort is well saved by the feet of Martin.

SECOND HALF: Sean Murray gets us back underway here at Oriel Park.

HALF TIME: This has been a slow burner but Dundalk deserved in their lead thanks to Daniel Kelly, in truth, it should have been more than one has Daniel Kelly, Sean Murray, Michael Duffy and Patrick Hoban have all had chances. Waterford have had looked dangerous on the break but have been wasteful at times.

Dundalk almost makes it two, Hoban gets in behind the defence but his wild effort goes over the bar.

GOAL DUNDALK! And Dundalk has taken the lead right on half time, what a fantastic pass from Sean Murray and Kelly gets in behind and slots it under Martin.

Slogget evening is over and the injury falls just on half time.

A fantastic ball forward sees Daniel Kelly get almost in behind the Waterford defence but it just goes wide.

Andy Boyle fouls Junior which brings the ire of Marc Bircham. Free kick to Waterford.

Michael Duffy bares down the left and he opens up the pitch with the ball fed to Daniel Kelly however he hits his effort over.

Waterford enjoying a spell of posession here, John Martin and Anthony Wordsworth are linking up well but they have been wasteful in the final third.

Greg Sloggett heads over for Dundalk he however had a lot of attention on him

Two corners for Dundalk were dealt with brilliantly by the Waterford defence, but the Dundalk attack is getting a lot of joy down the wings. The away side are playing a tight and compact defensive system.

Even stevens here in Oriel Park, both sides have had half chances but Michael Duffy's effort is the best of the bunch, there is a little unease among the Dundalk supporters.

Big shouts for a penalty here as Martin and Kelly tangle in the area but the referee the play waves on.

Another great chance! Fergusons header was poor back to the Martin and Sean Murray was alert to it and his hooked effort just goes wide.

That was close! Michael Duffy cuts it inside and lets a curling effort that just goes inches wide of the post. That would have been a perfect start for Dundalk.

Patterson's effort shot on the edge of the area takes a deflection for a corner.

Griffin and Junior work well down the left to steal possession but Junior fires across the face of the goal and his effort go well wide after he sidestepped his marker and bore down towards the goal.

Danny Mandriou’s goal in Tallaght is good news for both Dundalk and Waterford, if things stand Rovers will be champions but more importantly Ollie Horgan’s side stay in that relegation playoff spot.

Hoban crosses into the area, it falls to Murray who mishit his shot and the ball falls to Daniel Kelly whose effort goes over the bar. Goal kick to Waterford.

Duffy gets in behind the defence but the keeper was equal to it, he had beaten his marker for pace

Waterford kick off

Darragh Leahy makes his 50th Dundalk appearance this evening. It is just his 20th league start since joining from Bohs while Greg Sloggett makes his 30th league start in midfield.

This day last year ago Dundalk was playing Arsenal in the Emirates Stadium in the Europa League. Tonight they face the prospect of a loss leading to a Relegation playoff, some say how the mighty have fallen, I say this game could be seen as the light at the end of what has been a very long, dark and difficult tunnel.

Those three players come in for the outgoing Cameron Dummigan, Sam Stanton and David McMillan.

Team news from Dundalk: Vinny Perth has made three changes from the side which lost away to St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday with Daniel Cleary and Patrick Hoban - scorers here in the 2-2 draw against Waterford under Perth in 2020 - coming in alongside the man who assisted both those goals, Sean Murray.

Good Evening from Final Whistle HQ, Ciaran Callan here to take you through this evenings action from Oriel Park, as I described it in my preview tonight's match is the next chapter of this seasons survival series.