FULL TIME: A Conor Carty goal midway through the first half and a late, late goal from Daniel Kelly meant both sides had to settle for a point in a tight affair between Dundalk and St. Patricks Athletic at Oriel Park. Dundalk were wondering for long periods of the game how they were going to get at least a point but also how they were cut open so easily in one attacking sequence of the game. Rayhann Tulloch was sent off for two yellow cards in the sixty seconds. It looked as if Dundalk were heading for defeat only for Daniel Kelly to send the stadium into raptures breaking free of the Saints defence and slotting it past the advancing Lyness to earn Dundalk a vital point.

YELLOW: Timmermans booked and Patrick Hoban booked

CHANCE: Something I missed sorry! Thomas Lonergan is in on goal but he's denied by Shepperd before Leahy hooks clear before he can pounce on the rebound

CHANCE: A cross to the back post is met by John Martin as it sails just over the bar, Dundalk absolutely pressing and Pats are doing the same - end to end doesn't cut it.

YELLOW: Jay McGrath gets a yellow.

CLOSE: How did that not go in, an inch perfect cross to Daniel Kelly and his touch just goes wide!

ADDED TIME: Five added minutes, here we go!

SUB: John Martin is on for Elliott.

GOAL: Never write them off! Daniel Kelly makes it four goals in four games againsgt St. Pat's and his sixth for his career by racing through to slot past the advancing Lyness.

ARCHIE! Greg Sloggett pressed and pressed and got into the area but the ball falls to Archie Davies who cannons it over!

LAST TEN: Dundalk are pressing here but little in terms of output, will there be late drama here at Oriel?

CHANCE: Archie Davies tries his luck from distance but his effort just flashes wide.

SUB: Double change for Pats as Lonergan is on for Mulraney and McClelland is on for Doyle

BLOCKED: Archie Davies gets back to deny Carty a second after another cutback from Murphy.

CHANCE: What looked like a cross but Leahy's effort on goal just dips over the bar and an inch lower and it could have caused issues.

SUB: Robbie McCourt comes off and Darragh Leahy comes on.

YELLOW: Chris Forrester is next to enter the book for a foul.

CHANCE: What a strike from Jake Mulraney who hits a well placed curling effort that just dips over the bar.

SAVE: What a stop by Nathan Sheppard as Dundalk defence is decieved by Conor Carty who looked certain to score Pats second only for a brilliant stop by the custodian of Oriel.

SUB: Double change for Dundalk as Daniel Kelly comes on for O'Kane and Hayden Muller comes on for Annesley.

SECOND YELLOW: Literally 60 seconds after his first yellow and Rayhann Tulloch picks up a second yellow after a tussle with Mark Doyle, who is lucky to stay on the pitch himself.

YELLOW: Tulloch is booked for a trip on Curtis and then Robbie McCourt joins him in the book for a push on Curtis in the aftermath.

CHANCE: Robbie McCourt's cross picks out Patrick Hoban in the box but he gets his timing wrong and loops a header well over.

SUB: Cameron Elliott comes on for Paul Doyle who comes off for the second half.

CHANCE: A let-off for Dundalk less than a minute into the second half as Sam Curtis beats Louie Annesley to Mulraney's free kick and then scrambles it into the side-netting.

KICK OFF: The game restarts and we are underway.

HALF TIME: Conor Carty's goal gives us the lead but Dundalk went close with a Connor Malley header. Tough one to call this as really there has been little action in front of goal.

ADDED TIME: Two added minutes here at Oriel Park.

BROCKBACK MOUNTAIN: Concern for Pat's here as Harry Brockbank goes down injured. Sam Rice dealing with him currently but it looks like his night could be over.

CHANCE: That deserved a goal what an unbelievable move by Dundalk. Greg Sloggett feeds the ball to Ryan O'Kane who plays it on the outside to Archie Davies, he first time cross meets Conor Malley whose bullet header is brilliantly saved by Dean Lyness. What a save but what a move by the home side.

STAT: For the 16th time in 23 matches Dundalk fall behind in a game. That's the 30th goal the team have conceded this season - the same as they managed in the league in the whole of 2022

GOAL: As simple as one, two, three. Robbie McCourt thought he was fouled in the build up and Murphy and Mulraney combine to cross the ball into the waiting Conor Carty who barely had to move to tap it past Sheppard.

QUIET: In terms of action there is very little to report here, the home fans getting a little frustrated with the mislaid passes at present.

PATS PRESSURE: Chris Forrester is pulling the strings here putting a lot of pressure on the Dundalk defence, Dundalk fail to clear theirs and it looks as if they will be punished only for the final Saints efforts to sail over the bar from a failed Ryan O'Kane clearance.

ON TARGET: Dundalk have a first shot on target at Oriel Park but unfortunately for Dundalk, Hoban's header from Davies' free kick is tame and easy for Lyness to deal with.

YELLOW: Jamie Lennon gets a yellow card for blocking a quick free kick and despite protests he is cautioned.

CHANCE: A sight on goal for St. Patricks Athletic as Adam Murphy gets a shot on target but he had strayed into an offside position before the phase of play and its well saved by Sheppard.

CHANCE: The corner whipped in is nearly met in the middle of the Dundalk area but it evades both attacking players and falls to Hoban, he however can't get his half volley on target.

PENO CALL: A deep cross from Robbie McCourt is nearly met by Hoban but it looked as if he was being held back, corner to Dundalk

OPENING STAGES: Its very much on a knife edge here as both Pats and Dundalk look to get that first opening, Pats look pacy down the wings and Dundalk are now deploying a solid midfield three.

RESPECT AND MEMORY: Before tonights match there was a minute's applause taking place in memory of Derek Kierans (brother of former boss Darius), well known fan Roy Taylor and former player Karolis Chvedukas, who all passed away recently.

KICK OFF: Dundalk kick us off and we are underway at Oriel Park for tonights contest.

FINAL THOUGHTS: "Hopefully we carry that momentum into tonight" Stephen O'Donnells view point on tonights game.

ARRIVALS: The teams are out on the pitch for tonights contest, St Pats wearing the away Navy jersey while Dundalk are in white.

LATE CHANGE: There has been a change to our substitutes bench. Keith Ward has withdrawn with his place taken by Mark Byrne.

MCCOURT: Robbie McCourt starts his 10th game for Dundalk this evening. He comes into the side after coming off the bench to claim his 3rd assist of the season by setting up Patrick Hoban’s equaliser against Drogheda Utd on Friday night.

HOME COMFORT: Since drawing 2-2 with Bohemians here on May 19th, Dundalk have played just one game at home - the 4-1 win over UCD 3 weeks ago today

REF WATCH: Tonight's referee is Damien MacGraith. This is the 6th time the Mayo man has refereed a Dundalk game this season having also been the referee for the side's last home game - a 4-1 win over UCD on June 5th

POINTS TALLY: With 35 points so far, Dundalk have 6 less points (41) as they had after 22 games of last season. They drew 1-1 away to St Pat’s on game day 23 last year when Daniel Kelly’s 77th minute strike rescued a point. Both Stephen O’Donnell and Padge Cregg were sent-off in that game.

PATS IN FORM: St Pat’s have the best home form in the division with 22 points from 11 matches – one better than Shamrock Rovers and three better than Derry City who have played 12 at the Brandywell. Dundalk are 5th with 18 points from 10 matches at Oriel Park.

WORRY FOR O'DONNELL: Dundalk have fallen behind in 15 of their 22 league games so far this season. While the side have kept 5 clean sheets so far this season, the 5-0 win over St Pat’s on March 3rd is the only one so far at Oriel Park in 2023.

FOUR IN A ROW: Dundalk are aiming to make it four wins in-a-row following three come-from-behind victories over UCD, Cork City and Drogheda. Their win over Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park at the end of April kick-started a previous run of 4 wins in-a-row.

BACKGROUND: While Dundalk were 5-0 winners in the last meeting between the sides at Oriel Park back in March, the Lilywhites have have won just 3 of the last 13 meetings with Pat’s.

FACE TO FACE: It’s the 233rd meeting between Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic this evening. Dundalk have won 97, drawn 55 and lost 80 of the previous 232 meetings. It’s league meeting number 162. Dundalk have won 61, drawn 46 and lost 54.

TEAM NEWS: Stephen O’Donnell has made three changes to the side which won in Drogheda on Friday with Robbie McCourt, Rayhann Tulloch and Paul Doyle come in for Darragh Leahy, Daniel Kelly and John Martin.

Good Evening from Oriel Park! Ciaran Callan here from the Home of Football as the Saints and the Lilywhites clash in the continuing battle for Europe rages in the background.