FULL TIME: Dundalk fans were out of their seats twice in the space of three minutes as Louie Annesley and Patrick Hoban hit Rovers for two as Dundalk defeated the Tallaght side at Oriel Park. While the goals were well-executed, it was Dundalk's game plan that was nearly flawless, with a high-tempo push that seemed to catch Stephen Bradley's side off guard. O'Donnell, just like last year, got the best of his friend from the touchline.

SAVE: Graham Burke strikes one from distance but it takes a deflection and is well saved by Sheppard.

ADDED TIME: Five added minutes here at Oriel Park.

SUB: Ryan O'Kane replaces Daniel Kelly

THE ROCK: Louie Annesley gets the Dundalk FC man of the match.

SUB: Double change for Dundalk as John Martin on, Hoban off and Paul Doyle on, McCourt off who is injured sadly.

GOAL: It's 2-0! A free kick from Keith Ward is headed goalwards by Patrick Hoban and you know what happens next!

HOLY GOD!!!! Louie Annesley broke from the defence and carried his run and absolutely fired it into the roof of the net - where did that come from!

SUB: First change for Dundalk as Keith Ward on for Yli-Kokko

SUB: Two changes for Rovers as Graham Burke for Greene and Liam Burt for Towell

CLOSE: That was the closest shot of the night as a well timed and planned Shamrock Rovers move sees Gaffney curl his effort around a crowed Dundalk defence only for it to go inches wide.

YELLOW: For a handball Hayden Muller gets a yellow card.

CHANCE: Dundalk under pressure here for a few minutes as Rovers overload on the right hand side and Daniel Cleary gets a sight on goal but his effort goes wide of the mark.

SUB: Rory Gaffney comes on for Johnny Kenny in the first change of the evening.

TENSE: This has been end to end and neither side giving anything as the rain pelts down here in Oriel, Dundalk still pressing but Rovers looking dangerous on the break with Aaron Greene looking more threatening this half.

YELLOW: Yli-Kokko gets a yellow card for a foul on.

CHANCE: Dundalk have the first pace on goal with Greg Sloggett breaks free and slots the ball to Kelly whose effort goes wide for a corner.

RESTART: We are back underway at Oriel Park, a massive half ahead of us here for both sides.

HALF TIME: A spirited first half and Dundalk have looked the better side but as things stand it's scoreless here and plenty to ponder for both managers at the break.

ADDED TIME: One added minute here at Oriel Park.

GREG: Sloggett does well to block a goal bound shot from Towell after a brief period of Rovers pressure following the yellow card.

YELLOW: Louie Annesley gets a yellow card for a foul on Richie Towell.

BATTLE: Neither side are giving eachother a second to settle on the ball here, every 50/50 is contested and every tackle is with intent. This is a massive and stark contrast to the Dundalk side that played Monday.

The ball is in the back of the net but it is offside, Rovers got in behind the Dundalk defence for the first time and Sheppard spilled it and Gannon slotted home the rebound but it was flagged offside. Much to the delight and cue the massive jeers from the Oriel Park fans.

ARCHIE: Another spell of high tackles and challenges sees Archie Davies cross almost meet the head of Patrick Hoban but it just goes wide of the striker and behind for a goal kick.

DUNDALK PRESS: Dundalk continuing to keep pressure here and a cross from McCourt to Yli-Kokko almost made the right connection with the Finn but it struck his thigh and goes wide.

WOW: Sean Hoare is a misplaced back post that flies past Pohls and he has to scramble back in order to clear it off the line! Almost an opening goal for Dundalk!

ROVERS RISE: Rovers have been a lot more composed in these last few minutes, a corner sent in is pushed clear by Sheppard and collected by Kelly.

UNDER THE COSH: Dundalk have really been putting the pressure on Rovers these opening few minutes but haven't made a a chance of note, Rovers however are really pressing the high line looking to exploit the Lilywhite defence with pace.

Roberto Lopes luck not to get a yellow card there for a clip on Patrick Hoban - free kick to Dundalk which sails over everyone and wide.

BREAK: Dundalk break down the right with Archie Davies but his cross evades everyone and goes wide.

EARLY DOORS: Mullers free kick is headed wide by Towell and Dundalk earn two corners in succession.

KICK OFF: We are underway at Oriel Park, atmosphere a little bit on the dead side tonight.

ARRIVALS: Dundalk and Rovers are out on the pitch tonight, Dundalk in the white and Shamrock Rovers in the all black strip. Gavin Bazunu is also in attendance tonight.

NICE TO SEE YOU: There are 4 ex-Dundalk players in the Shamrock Rovers side tonight. Between them Gannon, Hoare, Cleary and Towell have played 657 times for Dundalk, scoring 83 goals. The entire Dundalk starting 11 tonight has only played 808 times for the club.

SLOGGETT: Greg Sloggett, who only returned to action after missing 8 games against Rovers at the start of the month, makes the 200th league appearance of his career tonight. The midfielder is set to turn 27 on Monday.

HOBAN: Patrick Hoban features on the front of the match day programme tonight for his record breaking feats. He has 10 career goals against Shamrock Rovers but has lost on the last three occasions when scoring against them – all in Tallaght Stadium including both matches there in 2021.

SHEPPS: Nathan Shepperd plays his 60th game for Dundalk tonight. The Welshman kept two clean sheets against Rovers last season – both at Oriel Park.

REF WATCH: Tonight’s referee is Paul McLaughlin, who was the fourth official here on Monday night for the 1-1 draw with St Patrick’s Athletic. The Donegal native had also been the fourth official for Rovers’ 2-2 draw away to Bohemians 72 hours earlier.

LAST IME: Shamrock Rovers won the last meeting between the sides 2-0 in Tallaght four weeks ago with Aaron Greene on target twice in a game in which Ronan Finn - missing this evening - was sent-off.

UNHAPPY ORIEL: Oriel Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Shamrock Rovers in recent years with just 5 wins from their last 25 visits. Of the last eight games at Oriel Park, Dundalk have won 5, drawn 1 and lost 2 - both by 4-0, including the last meeting between the sides here in March

HEAD TO HEAD: It's the 372nd meeting between these sides this evening and the 214th in the league. Dundalk have won 119, drawn 85 and lost 167 of the overall matches against Rovers while in the league they have won 70, drawn 55 and lost 88 of the previous 213 league meetings.

FORMER HOOP: O’Donnell spent two seasons at Shamrock Rovers as a player in 2011 and 2012, making just 9 league starts in total. During his time as a Hoop, O’Donnell played 39 times, scoring five goals – including a penalty in Rovers’ 2-1 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park in September 2011.

THE SKIP TURNS 30: It's Stephen O'Donnell's 30th league game in charge of Dundalk at Oriel Park tonight and 60th in total. His record at home is P29 W17 D9 L3 F58 A30 The heaviest of those defeats was vs Rovers here in March when they ran out 4-0 winners in a game in which Robbie Benson saw red

ONE WIN: Stephen O’Donnell has just one victory over his former Arsenal team-mate Stephen Bradley in their 13 meetings to date – the 1-0 win for Dundalk at Oriel Park on June 17th 2022.

TEAM NEWS: Stephen O'Donnell has made 4 changes to the side which drew 1-1 with St Pat's here last week with Darragh Leahy, Daniel Kelly, Hayden Muller and Johannes Yli-Kokko in for Boyle, Doyle, Tulloch and O'Kane

Good Evening from Oriel Park - It's first against fourth in the battle of the league and Europe as two former team mates now lead thier charges out to face off in an another chapter in this fierce rivalry.