FULL TIME: Derry City move to two points behind Shamrock Rovers at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division as goals from Jordan McEneff, a wonder strike from Brandon Kavanagh and a late goal from Michael Duffy sealed the points for the Candystripes. With Shamrock Rovers earning a late in Tallaght after being held to St. Patricks until the final stages of the game it was almost the perfect night for Ruaidhrí Higgins side as they got a much needed confidence boost with this victory as well their hot pursuit of a title charge.

CHANCE: Keith Ward has a wild effort goalwards from a Daniel Kelly's pass. It never looked to be troubling Brian Maher as Dundalk get one shot on target on the keeper.

ADDED TIME: Three added minutes here at Derry.

YELLOW: Cameron Dummigan booked for a hefty challenge on Hoban

GOAL: The ghost of christmas past returns! Adam O'Reilly broke free of Williams and was clear on the right to tee up Duffy for an easy tap-in despite being under pressure.

CHANCE: A good cross into the area was met by Patrick Hoban at the back post but his effort flashes wide.

CHANCE: Cameron Elliot has a fantastic opportunity to claw one back as he latches onto a mistake in the Derry defence but he skies his effort high over the bar.

SUB: Antoher double change for Dundalk as Keith Ward and Cameron Elliott replace McCourt and Martin

SUB: Three changes for the home side as Ollie O'Neill, Ryan Graydon and Cameron Dummigan is on with Brandon Kavanagh, Cian Kavanagh and Jordan McEneff coming off.

CLOSE: There was almost a third goal for Derry as Cian Kavanagh gets in behind Archie Davies only to be denied by a superb point blank save by Shepperd.

SUB: Double change as Patrick Hoban and Daniel Kelly both come in for Yli-Kokko and and Doyle.

CLOSE: That was almost three ! Michael Duffy breaks with speed and his cross into the area with pace was met nearly met in the area but neither advancing Derry player could make the connection.

GOAL: An absolutely stunning goal from Brandon Kavanagh as he picks up the ball from a John Martin clearance from a corner and it flies past Sheppard to make it two goals to the good for Derry. That strike was worth the admission fee into the ground tonight!

HOME FRONT: Diallo and Boyce combine but the ball is deflected for a corner, the resulting set piece sees McEneffs ball cleared off the line despite the home sides protests that it had crossed the line. So close to a second only for Malley to deny Derry.

DERRY: The home side are really pressing for a second with McEneff and Doherty combining well but it is cleared by Dundalk and the secondary ball goes out for a goal kick.

SECOND HALF: We are back underway for the second half, Derry City restart the contest.

HALF TIME: It was July 2018 when Dundalk last came from behind at half-time to win away from home. On that occasion Patrick Hoban scored twice either side of a Chris Shields goal to cancel out Jake Keegan’s opener for St Pat’s that had given them a half-time lead. It finished 3-1.

HALF TIME: Derry City have been impressive throughout as Jordan McEneff's strike is what seperates the sides but Dundalk have been pressing late in the half with the away side trying to force an error to get in on Brian Mahers goal.

ADDED TIME: There will be four added minutes here at the end of this half.

YELLOW: Wasiri Williams is booked for a late challenge on Michael Duffy - thats the first booking of the night.

SUB: Another defender departs through injury with Shane McEleney off this time to be replaced by Ciaran Coll.

FIRST THREAT: First bit of attacking threat from Dundalk as Malley does well to get away from Diallo but just as he's about to get a shot away at the edge of the box Doherty gets across to deny him.

CHANCE: A Derry City corner that was flicked near the goalline was met in the path of Ben Doherty and the strike hits the side netting.

SUB: Ryan O'Kane comes on for Darragh Leahy who is forced off with injury.

INJURY: Darragh Leahy down again getting treatment to his ankle.

MORE ON THE GOAL: An attempted clearance by Darragh Leahy is charged down with Derry taking advantage with Cian Kavanagh laying it off to Jordan McEneff on his right with the former Arsenal man firing across Shepperd to the bottom left hand corner.

GOAL: Jordan McEneff scores the opening strike, Cian Kavanagh with an excellent knock on to the path of McEneff who bares down on goal and hits a low effort that flies past Sheppard. A great individual strike.

DERRY TEMPO: Derry are very much on the forefront here with Duffy leading the charge with plenty of posession, Hayden Muller is ensuring to do the coverage role for the defence when needed.

SAVE: What a save from Nathan Sheppard, Michael Duffy picks up the ball and then turns Muller with a nutmeg before unleashing a vicious shot that Sheppard had to punch over the bar. The resulting corner was headed wide at the back post.

FIRST SIGHT: Michael Duffy gets a cross into the area and Brandon Kavanagh gets away from McCourt but his effort was tame and is well gathered by Sheppard.

OPENING EXCHANES: Alfie Lewis currently has a nose bleed but in terms of action its very even stevens between the sides, very little to report in terms of goal action as Brian Maher and Nathan Sheppard have been mere spectators thus far.

KICK OFF: We are underway at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Dundalk kick off proceedings.

ARRIVALS: The teams are out on the pitch - Dundalk line out in the new 'Blue' alternative third kit while Derry City are in the traditional red and white 'candystripes. Derry make four changes from the side who beat Bohemains on Friday night.

DUFFY: While he featured briefly off the bench against Dundalk last season and last month, both in Oriel Park, Michael Duffy starts his first game against Dundalk since scoring a cracker here in a 2-2 draw in June 2014

POINTS: Dundalk have the same number of points (25) as they had after 15 games of last season. By contrast Derry City are 4 points worse off but went on a 5 match run without a win at this point last season including 3 defeats in 10 days against Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Sligo Rovers.

FOUR IN A ROW: Dundalk come into tonight’s game on the back of four wins in-a-row over Drogheda Utd, UCD, Sligo Rovers and Cork City.

IN THE PAST: Dundalk and Derry City met on this day in 2015 at Oriel Park with John Mountney scoring the game’s only goal three minutes from the end.

DUNDALK UNDEFEATED: Derry failed to beat Dundalk last season with two of their three home defeats coming against the Lilywhites. The Candystripes are without a win in six against Dundalk.

BRANDYWELL DELIGHT: Between Derry's 4-0 win here in October 2012 when David McDaid, Patrick McEleney, Ryan Curran and Dermot McCaffrey were on target, Dundalk have made 19 visits to the Brandywell and won 14 of them, drawing 4 and losing just 1 - to a dubious Jamie McGonigle penalty in August 2021

HEAD TO HEAD: It’s the 103rd meeting between Dundalk and Derry City tonight. Dundalk won the first 1-0 in the Inter City Cup back in April 1944. That was the first of 47 wins. Derry have won 27 – the last of which was at Oriel Park in November 2021, while there have been 28 draws.

O'DONNELL VS DERRY: O’Donnell is undefeated against Derry City as Dundalk manager with two wins and four draws against the Candystripes, including two wins here last season. He and Ruaidhrí Higgins have gone head to head nine times so far with O’Donnell edging it with three wins to Higgins’ one with five draws, including the scoreless draw at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in March and the 2-2 draw at Oriel Park a month ago.

TEAM NEWS: Stephen O'Donnell has made 3 changes to the side which won late on against Cork City on Friday night with Robbie McCourt, Paul Doyle and John Martin coming in for Ward, O'Kane and Hoban

Good evening from Final Whistle HQ - Ciaran Callan here to take you through all of tonights action as the 'European' sides take centre stage in the League of Ireland.