Full time, 0-0 as the sides share the spoils

McDonnell chance looks like it was fledging towards the top corner but it topples wide. Bradley goes off for Dundalk, Adams on

McDonnell chance looks like it was fledging towards the top corner but it topples wide. Bradley goes off for Dundalk, Elmes on

Morahan spreads the ball to Byrne who after some fancy trickery is dispossessed

Bradley's effort is miscued and Ed McGinty takes the subsequent goal kick

6 minutes to go and we still await a goal in The Showgrounds

Dundalk corner. McGinty clears initially and it comes out to Connolly but it is dealt with by Sligo.

Tripple sub for Sligo. Fitzgerald, Cawley and Keena off. Mark Hamilton, Mark Byrne and Seamus Keogh on. Keith Ward on for Dan Williams for Dundalk

John Martin launches an effort towards goal but McGinty collects

Keena called offside

Sloggett at the back post as Buckley pressures him but he airs the ball over the cross bar

Nando stares Bradley down to draw the ball and inhibit the run inside

Keena with a brilliant chance but the he cross foots it across the face of goal and wide

Sligo corner. Fitzgerald takes it and the ball scruples into the net but the whistle had already gone and it's ruled out

Sloggett ensuring Dundalk keep their tempo high

McDonald throws a ball over to Banks who heads it but it thumps the crossbar and tinkers over the endline

John Martin comes in for Daniel Kelly

Sligo stringing a few passes together at the minute

The second half has begun

Fitzgerald knocks a looping cross into the box but nothing results. 0-0 going into the pause in play.

O'Sullivan earns The Bit O' Red a corner

Fitzgerald takes a free kick and slots it into the area. Keeper falls but Connolly deals with the danger instead

1 minute added time announced

Ground browning underfoot, causing some bobbling of the ball and leading to some unexpected movements

Sligo corner, Fitzgerald to take

Dundalk win a free on the right wing and this is a chance now for an opportunity in the box

Dundalk keeper meets Keena in the air for the ball and grabs a free kick for his bravery

Fitzgerald and Morahan working together over on the left flank before Benson and Kirk collide

Half an hour gone in this one. Getting quite heated tackle wise but no goals to talk about just yet

Bradley shoots as he cuts in from the right but Nando covers him well before McGinty collects it

Fitzgerald freekick is skied over

Connolly given a yellow for foul on Keena, in a dangerous area too so it remains to be seen what Sligo can do with this

Foul on Nando Pijnaker and Sligo play around at the back from the free kick

Morahan wins Sligo a free just outside their own box

Williams' long ball comes to nothing but McGinty's hands

Cawley free kick eventually results in a Sligo throw in deep in Dundalk's half

Kelly finds Hogan in the middle of Sligo Rovers' box but his headed attempted pops over the bar

O'Sullivan takes a great touch to bring a ambitious ball down but his next one forward lets him down

Dundalk playing it around the back at the minute

Benson with some great solo play but his long range effort is picked up with ease by Ed McGinty

Banks' shot takes a reflection off Keena but it tumbles over the endline

The match has started. The Showgrounds turf has seen better days but the atmosphere in the ground sounds electric

5 minute warning until kick off!

Around 15 minutes to kick off and the teams are in! Kirk and Morahan come into replace Sligo's injured duo of Bolger and McCourt, while Dundalk have made four changes to the side that beat Finn Harps last round including Mark Connolly, Greg Sloggett, Daniel Kelly and Pat Hoban. Brian Gartland and David McMillan are left out via illness, with Mayowa Animasahun coming onto the bench

Stephen O’Donnell too pre-empts a “big appetite” for local fans to attend, but doesn’t fear the situation either. “We don’t mind playing away from home. We’ve always had a good away record at this club and our approach doesn’t really change that much, whether we’re at home or away.”

Speaking before the game Liam Buckley remarked that although their league started with “two tough away games” today’s game offers an ample opportunity for the supporters to get out and cheer on his unit, as well as to establish the ground’s stronghold reputation “We want the supporters to get behind us and make that atmosphere that teams come here knowing it’s a difficult place to go and play” he says.

The last time these sides met Dundalk bounced away with a 4-1 victory against Rovers, a Sean Murray brace, an own goal from John Mahon and a Patrick Hoban goal proving too much for Johnny Kenny’s strike early in the game.

Dundalk currently lie in four place in the Premier Division table with five points as a result, with only St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City elevated above them. Given The Bit O’Red’s first scheduled showcase against Bohemians was postponed due to bad weather, it now means they sit in sixth position with four points as things stand in the table but with a game in hand.

A Stephen Bradley double and a Sam Bone strike proved the difference there, while Sligo’s stalemate at the Brandywell will stand to them as they managed to earn a point in a match where the home side dominated, but two worrisome injuries to Robbie McCourt and Greg Bolger mean it is still unknown will they be at their full force this evening.

Both outfits are yet to beaten this year, the latest results seeing Sligo hold firm for a 0-0 draw versus Derry, while The Lillywhites secured a 3-0 win over Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps in Oriel Park.

Sligo Rovers play their first home game of the season tonight in The Showgrounds as they take on Dundalk FC at 7:45 pm. My name is Alanna Cunnane and I'll be bringing you tonight's match commentary!