FULL TIME: Dundalk and UCD had a share of the spoils as John Martin's goal in the first half got Stephen O'Donnell's men off the mark before a stunning free-kick from CiaranBehan levelled the tie as O'Donnell's side will rue missed chances for the home side. Patrick Hoban will be counting his blessings that Martin's goal came minutes after the Dundalk striker missed a penalty with Lorcan Healy pulling off a fine save. UCD showed plenty of promise during the game with Ciaran Behan looking to be the next top target man for the students and his stunning free-kick was just a rewards for his endeavours.

Five added minutes here at Oriel Park!

Coming into Full Time here, will there be late drama? Let's see !

Two more changes for Dundalk as Daniel Kelly and Keith Ward come on for Ryan O'Kane and John Martin.

Dundalk looks to the bench Cameron Elliott and Paul Doyle replace Alfie Lewis and Connor Malley with 11 minutes to play.

GOAL: A stunning free-kick from Ciaran Behan and UCD are level!! It curled right past Sheppard despite getting a hand to it. We are level at Oriel Park.

Connor Malley pushes Behan and its a free kick to UCD.

A series of corners for Dundalk with Hoban being the target man but UCD clear their lines.

Another change for UCD as Mark Dignam is on for Norris.

Greg Sloggett with a long-range effort but his effort goes well over the bar.

Malley released Ryan O'Kane down the left and the winger broke into the UCD area but his effort flashed across the face of the goal.

Wells is unable to continue with Ryan Bowden coming on in his place. Wells went down injured with that tangle with John Martin.

BIG MOMENT: Some great work from Ryan O'Kane and John Martin tangles with a UCD defender and it looked as if the referee pointed for another penalty but it's a free kick to UCD,

A quiet first half, UCD started the brighter but Dundalk look dangerous on the counter attack.

SECOND HALF: Dundalk restart the game and we are underway for the second half.

HALFTIME: UCD by no means out of this one they have been very impressive in this half. Dundalk lead thanks to John Martin and Patrick Hoban will be ruing the missed penalty that was well saved by Lorcan Healy. A good lively start to the first game of the season and Dundalk leads.

CHANCE: What a chance for Dundalk! An amazing burst of pace from Ryan O'Kane and the winger with an excellent cross into the area was nearly met by Hoban but it just flashed past him.

CHANCE: Hoban with two bites of the cherry as his initial free kick and then follow-up shot is well-blocked down by the UCD defence.

GOAL: A fantastic run down the left from Annesley who feeds the ball into the area and John Martin applied a fantastic finish to put Dundalk in front.

The 8th penalty miss of his career for Hoban and the first since he also missed here in the 1-1 draw against Longford Town on June 18th 2021 (Vinny Perth’s first game back). His effort that night was saved by Lee Steacy on 74 minutes.

SAVE: Donal Higgins on the break after he steals the ball from Hoban and his excellent placed effort was well saved by the Dundalk netminder.

SAVE: Pat Hoban\'s penalty is saved as Healy stretches out right to stop the striker from opening the first goal for Dundalk.

A yellow card for Ciaran Behan for the foul in the area.

PENALTY: UCD initially concede a free kick and Sloggett and Hoban stand over it, Hoban with a clever pass from a Weghorst-type free kick and UCD conceded a penalty for a foul in the area.

SAVE: Behan picked up the loose ball just outside the Dundalk area but his effort was well saved by Sheppard.

CHANCE: John Martin and Lorcan Healy tangle for the ball and Martin's outstretched effort forces a save from Leahy to push it behind for a corner.

Behan sends in a dangerous free kick but Nathan Sheppard is alert to the danger, it has plenty of pace and if Dundalk were not alert it could have posed a lot of issues.

Dundalk has started the brighter here but not much to report in terms of opportunities.

With Darragh Leahy's absence, Louise Annesley will take place in the left back slot of the Dundalk back four.

KICK OFF: We are underway at Oriel Park and it was UCD who gets us underway.

There will be a minute's applause for the fans and members of the club at Dundalk and UCD who have passed away in the close season. One of which is Theo Dunne at UCD and Roy Mackin at Dundalk.

And here comes the teams - new hopes, new ambitions and new dreams Let's see what the next 36 games bring us!

Tonight's referee at Oriel Park is Northern Ireland's Arnold Hunter. The former professional goalkeeper has overseen full international matches and high-profile European games.

"The goalposts have shifted a little" states Stephen O'Donnell in relation to players' resources and has said that the club has to be a little bit more 'creative' in terms of player recruitment. He also states he hopes to bring in more players before Wednesday. He has also asked for patience from fans in relation to players bedding in.

Patrick Hoban plays his first game as club captain tonight. He goes into the new campaign seven shy of equalling Joey Donnelly's all-time scoring record for Dundalk. It's 10 years ago this Monday since he made a scoring debut for the club against Sheriff YC in the Leinster Senior Cup

Hoban makes his 225th start for Dundalk tonight. He has an impressive record against UCD – scoring 13 in 11 league appearances against them including a goal every time he has started against them but only once has he scored in a league opener - the 4-1 loss to Drogheda in 2014.

Stephen O’Donnell has never won an opening day match in his time in management – losing one and drawing two: 2020 – St Patrick’s Athletic 0-1 Waterford 2021 – Shamrock Rovers 1-1 St Patrick’s Athletic 2022 – Dundalk 2-2 Derry City

The Students’ last win in this fixture at Oriel Park was back in May 2013 when David McMillan (2) and Robbie Benson scored in a 3-2 win. Patrick Hoban got the Dundalk double that night. McMillan and Benson had an alright career from then on!

Tonight is league meeting number 61 between the sides tonight. Prior to the 2-2 draw at the UCD Bowl last May, Dundalk had won 9 league meetings in-a-row. Of the 60 games prior to tonight Dundalk have won 32, drawn 13 and lost 15.

There are four debutants in the Dundalk starting eleven tonight with Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Louie Annesley and Connor Malley all making their competitive debuts. The fifth new recruit from the off-season, Cameron Elliott, is on the bench tonight.

Tonights UCD squad includes six of the side who started Wednesday's Collingwood Cup final win over UL.

Good Evening from FinalWhistle HQ - Ciaran Callan to bring you coverage of the first of the League of Ireland's season's games - welcome to the next series of Ireland's greatest football drama. The Greatest League in the World is back and I will bring live and up-to-date coverage from Oriel Park.