FULL TIME: Despite the best intentions Dundalk’s European adventure is over for a this year following a 2-2 draw to KA Akureyri in Oriel Park. The Lilywhites pinned the Icelandic side to the pin of their collar but Joan Edmundson’s goal was the real killer in this tie with KA’s fourth goal proving decisive. John Martin did pull one back for the home side but a late penalty from Hallgrimur Mar Steingrimsson put the away side in the lead before a late goal from Greg Sloggett but the result meant that the two goals for the visitors sealed the tie for the away side. For O’Donnell’s men last week’s loss to in Reykjavík proved too much of a mountain to climb in the second leg.

GOAL: Greg Sloggett heads home from a corner and now its 2-2!

SUB: KA make a change with substitution with Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson being replaced by Pætur Petersen.

SUB: Triple change for Dundalk as Elliott, Brownlie and Sloggett come in for Kelly, Boyle and Malley

PENALTY KA.

YELLOW: Malley is cautioned by the referee.

SUB: Johannes Yli-Kokko on for Leahy, It's the Finn's 25th game for the club

DOYLE: Dundalk patient in the build up and a shot from Paul Doyle curls over the bar.

BAR: That could have been lights out - in a rare attack for KA the break down the right and Shepperd is forced to tip the ball over from a Jakob Snaer Árnason shot, a corner to the visitors amounts to nothing.

SUB: KA sub as Jakob Snoer Arnason comes on for Joan Edmundsson in the first change of the game.

LILYWHITE: Dundalk continue to press and the ball fell into the area to both Hoban and Martin but neither could get the ball from under their feet.

CHANCE: John Martin has a header towards goal from a Conor Malley cross but it is well wide of the mark.

FREE: Steingrímsson has a shot on goal from a free kick but Sheppard is equal to the shot.

DUNDALK: The home side are pressing with Ka looking to try and exploit the high line with counter attacks, the home side have to attack but can leave gaps in the back as of consequence.

SECOND HALF: Conor Malley restarts the game and we are back underway. Massive 45 minutes ahead here in Oriel.

HALF TIME: A disaster for Dundalk to concede but they have pulled level but still need two goal to level the tie.

YELLOW: Paul Doyle is given a yellow.

ONE ADDED MINUTE

STRIKE: Conor Malley hits a serious shot with intent which forces a save and Kelly forces a corner.

YELLOW: For a tackle - Archie Davies get a yellow - taking my Dundalk hat off for the second it was a great challenge.

GOAL: Well then, well then!! Dundalk have pulled it back following an excellent cross from Leahy is finds Martin who heads it past Kristijan with power. Game on?

YELLOW: Joan Edmundson gets a yellow card and it would appear the goal scorer is a bit of the panto villan tonight.

CHANCE: What a chance for Dundalk - Daniel Kelly broke free of the defence and his shot just went wide of the far post, so so close for the home side.

CHANCE: A cross from the right sees both Martin, Hoban and O'Kane contest for the ball but neither can get the vital connection.

CORNER: First corner of the night falls to Dundalk which is headed clear, on the second ball it goes out for a throw in to KA.

GOAL: Direct from a goal kick Joan Edmundson got just beind the Dundalk defence and curled it past Sheppard - the task now seems very much impossible now.

CHANCE: A quick free kick is taken and Daniel Kelly crosses into Hoban with his header going wide of the near post,

ATTEMPT: Jóan Edmundsson with the first attempt for KA - it just avoids the corner flag.

HOBAN: A cross from the right is met by Hoban but his first touch is heavy and it is cleared by he will prove as always to be a handful tonight.

EARLY DOORS: A free kick sent in by Leahy is met in the area but the attempt is soft and the keeper easily gathers.

KICK OFF: We are underway at Oriel Park, KA get us underway.

ARRIVALS: Here we go the teams are out and the scene is set. The place is packed and Dundalk are in full Lilywhite tonight.

INTROS: Dundalk FC are just after introducing the two new signings to the club - Sam Durrant was first to come out before Daryl Horgan came out to a massive ovation from the home crowd.

ICELAND MEDIA: KA not loving Oriel Park - "like going back in time" to "dry and old artificial grass"

REF WATCH: Tonights referee is Walter Altmann from Austria his assistant referees are Roland Brandner and Robert Steinacher. the fourth official is Daniel Pfister.

IN THE PAST: It was on this weekend last year - August 5th 2022 - when Ryan O'Kane's Dundalk career really sprung into life when he replaced Daniel Kelly after 28 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Derry. He plays his 5th European match tonight.

JM: It's also a first European start tonight for John Martin and his 25th for Dundalk in total. He scored here in the last European match against Bruno's Magpies to put his side 2-1 up in a game they won 3-1.

HOBAN: Patrick Hoban, who turned 32 last Friday, plays the 450th game of his career this evening. 10 years ago yesterday – August 2nd 2013 - Hoban scored a double (on 2 and 15 minutes) as Dundalk beat Shamrock Rovers 3-1 at Oriel Park. Kurtis Byrne got the other goal that night.

POSSIBLE OF PENOS: With away goals no longer a factor in Europe, there's a chance that tonight's game could go all the way to a shoot-out. Dundalk were involved in a penalty shoot-out on this day eight years ago – losing an EA Sports Cup semi-final 4-2 on penalties away to Galway Utd

HOME TEAM: The list of Irish sides who have lost a first leg away from home and gone on to win the tie is not a long one. In fact, just 11 have managed it, the last being Dundalk against BATE seven years ago yesterday. No side has ever managed it when trailing by more than a goal

THE MANAGER: It's Stephen O'Donnell's 70th game in charge of Dundalk this evening. He's had some big moments to date but progression this evening would surely rank up there as his best night in the dug out to date at Oriel

OUR VISITORS: KA currently sit 7th in the Besta deild karla (Icelandic Premier Division) with 6 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats from their opening 16 games. That said, they are just 3 points off fourth placed FH and their 1-1 draw with HK Kopavogur on Sunday ended a run of six wins in-a-row

Dundalk fans flocking into Oriel early in hope of what would be a historical night. A stat to give them further hope in six of their last twelve league matches KA have conceded two or more goals which included three 2-0 defeats and three 4-0 defeats.

TEAM NEWS: There is two changes for KA with Ivar Orn Arnason and Jóan Edmundsson coming in for Adalsteinsson & Petersen.

TEAM NEWS: Dundalk make four changes from last week as Louie Annesley, Paul Doyle, Ryan O’Kane and Connor Malley all start.

In terms of matches this is huge - progression to the next round in Europe is exactly what both sides want and the finances attached to it.

Good Evening from Oriel Park - one hour prior to kick off and the fans are starting to fill in as a date in Brugges is on the cards for one of these teams as KA travel from Iceland to Dundalk to take on the Lilywhites.