FULL TIME: Stefan Radosavljevic's late goal won Sligo Rovers all three points in a tense game at Oriel Park as John Russell's team took advantage of the Lilywhites' defense at the most vital of moments. It was one of the few opportunities in the second half that led to the victory in a game with a game that had little give and take. An early Max Mats goal was canceled out by a Rayhann Tulloch penalty. Even though Archie Davies thought he had scored one of the best goals of the season for the home side, Sligo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas denied him as Dundalk let the victory slip away late on.

ADDED TIME: Five added minutes.

GOAL: Stefan Radosavljevic bobbed and weaved his way into the Dundalk area and his shot trickled past Sheppard and it 2-1 to Sligo.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Connor Malley is awarded man of the match.

WOW: A cross from Leahy was almost turned into his own net by Reece Hutchinson who was flat-footed in his clearance

SUB: Sligo makes two changes - Greg Bolger is on for Morahan and Kailin Barlow is on for Hartmann.

SUB: Keith Ward comes on for John Martin.

WARDY TIME: Looks like Keith Ward is about to enter the match.

SUB: Stefan Radosavljevic replaces Bogdan Vastsuk in Sligo's first change of the game.

Liivak breaks down the right and turns two Dundalk players inside out before unleashing a shot that is well saved by Sheppard.

DUNDALK PRESS: Dundalk beginning to really press here with a bit of bite, Alfie Lewis looks to have been felled in the area but the referee plays on.

Daniel Kelly's third Good Friday outing while at Dundalk. His previous two haven't been bad: 2019 - First career hat-trick v Finn Harps in a 3-0 win at Oriel Park 2022 - Goal in 2-1 win over Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park

SUB: Daniel Kelly and Greg Sloggett come on for Dundalk replacing Ryan O'Kane and Johannes Yli-Kokko

YELLOW: Morahan gets a yellow for a foul in the middle of the pitch.

SAVE: Liivak is on the byline and strikes a fantastic effort that can only be parried by Sheppard. What a save from the Dundalk net-minder.

SLIGO BREAK: Dundalk is trying to push for a lead goal but Sligo is very quick on the break with the front three looking threatening at every turn.

CHANCE: Sligo has a snapshot from the right-hand side of the Dundalk area but it flashes across the face of the goal.

INJURY: Johannes Yli-Kokko is down and it doesn't look good the Dundalk player is clutching his knee and looks to be in discomfort.

SECOND HALF: And Dundalk get us back underway here at Oriel Park.

HALF TIME: Honours even here as Sligo took the lead thanks to a well-worked team goal that Max Mata finished off, Dundalk pressed late in the half and Rayhann Tulloch slotted home from the penalty at the second chance of asking.

SAVE: Niall Morahan latches onto a loose ball and strikes one from distance but his effort was well saved by Sheppard.

Two added minutes here at Oriel Park.

GOAL: Rayhann Tulloch steps up and his initial strike is saved but he calmly slots home the follow-up and Dundalk is level.

PENALTY DUNDALK: Rayhann Tulloch is taken down in the area.

Dundalk are pushing at the moment for an equaliser but are being foiled by a well drilled and set up Sligo.

SAVE: What a save from what a strike! Archie Davies breaks from the defense and strikes one from a distance that looked destined to go in only for a fine McNichlas save.

BATTLE: Dundalk beginning to get a little foothold in this game but Sligo are stopping them at every turn, this could be a bit of a game of chess here. Sligo have taken the Queen but will it be checkmate next time?

UPDATE: Very little to report here, Dundalk is desperate to get going here but it just isn't coming together for them. A lot of players even at this early stage are a little bit frustrated.

CHANCE: Max Mata breaks down the right and his cross is met by Morahan who strikes from range but his effort goes wide of the post. A let off for Dundalk.

GOAL: Sligo takes the lead as a break from Fitzgerald down the left is met by Max Mata who ran in behind the two Dundalk center-backs to slam it past Sheppard.

CHANCE: A crunching tackle from Muller sees the loose ball fall to O'Kane who breaks into the Sligo area his effort is tipped over the bar by McNicholas.

CHANCE: Dundalk has a great chance to score with a free kick from Malley is met at the back post by a diving header of John Martin but his effort hits a sea of red players blocking the goalline.

CHANCE: The first sight of goal for Sligo as a cross from the left is met by Mata who is unmarked in the area, he hits it on the half volley but miscued his effort and it bounces off him and is cleared by the Dundalk defense.

KICK-OFF: We are underway at Oriel Park, Sligo gets us underway.

ARRIVALS: Here come the teams! Dundalk in white and Sligo in the 'bit o'red'

THE ELDING NAME: It has been confirmed that Owen Elding on the Sligo bench is the son of Anthony Elding, who scored the cup final winner ten years ago and is the current coach of the Sligo Under 17 squad.

IRELANDS SONS: Bit of a fun fact from tonight's LOI teamsheets: 17-year-old attacking midfielder Eoin Kenny is the son of Ireland senior manager Stephen Kenny and is on the bench for Dundalk and 17-year-old left-back James Crawford who is the son of Ireland U21s manager Jim Crawford starts for Wexford FC tonight.

O'KANE: Ryan O'Kane is one of Dundalk's three changes this evening, coming into the side for what is his 40th senior appearance for his hometown club. His last goal for Dundalk came against Sligo Rovers here last October

BOYLE: Andy Boyle once again captains Dundalk tonight. 13 years ago this weekend – April 9th, 2010 – Boyle made his first senior career appearance at Oriel Park. He was part of a UCD side that lost 3-0 on the night with JJ Melligan, Garry Breen, and Fahrudin Kuduzovic scoring.

REF WATCH: Tonight's referee is Damien MacGraith. Dundalk won their first game at Oriel Park refereed by MacGraith with the 2-1 win over Shelbourne here last month. Prior to that, they hadn’t won a game officiated by the Mayo man since beating Shels 2-1 at Tolka Park in February 2020

ON THIS DAY: On this day 21 years ago Dundalk was celebrating an FAI Cup success at Tolka Park with Garry Haylock’s double canceling out Tony O’Connor’s 40th-minute opener to earn a famous 2-1 win over Bohemians for Martin Murray’s side.

GOOD FRIDAY: Dundalk also met Sligo Rovers on Good Friday last year – April 15th, 2022 – and were 2-1 winners with Patrick Hoban and Daniel Kelly on target for the hosts, making Max Mata’s 87th-minute reply irrelevant to the outcome. This was also the longest trip for a FinalWhistle reporter to attend a game after I began the game in Toronto!

SLIGO DOMINANT: While the game between the sides at The Showgrounds last August was overturned from a 2-0 loss for Dundalk into a 3-0 win due to Adam McDonnell being ineligible to play, Dundalk has won just twice in their last ten matches against Sligo Rovers on the field of play.

HEAD TO HEAD: It’s the 246th meeting between Dundalk and Sligo Rovers this evening. Dundalk has won 113, drawn 57, and lost 75 of the previous 245 meetings. It’s league meeting number 177 between the pair tonight. Dundalk has won 75, drawn 43, and lost 58 of the previous 176 meetings.

TEAM NEWS: Stephen O'Donnell has made three changes to the Dundalk side which lost to Shamrock Rovers last week with Hayden Muller, Johannes Yli-Kokko, and Ryan O'Kane coming in for Williams, Sloggett, and Benson - the latter of whom is suspended.

Good Evening from Oriel Park for tonight's match between Dundalk FC and Sligo Rovers - Ciaran Callan is here to bring you through tonight's contest perched in the upper echelons of the main stand.