Shelbourne CEO David O’Connor has said he is “proud” that the club, which only returned to the Premier Division this season, has been able to continue to honour its financial obligations to players and staff since the League of Ireland shutdown

Premier Division football returned to Tolka Park after a six-year absence — but there was no fairytale homecoming for Shelbourne as they came up just short in an enthralling encounter with Dundalk.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire: after losing their opening game at home to promoted Shelbourne last week, Cork City tomorrow night face the daunting task of taking on FAI Cup-winners and predicted title contenders Shamrock Rovers in the new-look side’s their first away test of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season.

It was a case of late heartbreak for Cork City on Valentine’s night as an 86th-minute Ciaran Kilduff goal delivered victory for Shelbourne on their return to the Premier Division, leaving Neale Fenn’s new-look side with much to ponder as they now face into the daunting test of back to back away games against Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.

He was one of five City players who appeared on the PFAI's transfer list, made up of players out of contract following the end of the season.

Bohemians produced an extraordinary comeback at Dalymount Park last night to progress into the second round of the FAI Cup.

Cork City will be hoping for some much-needed cheer in the cup when they visit Stradbrook for a first-ever meeting with Cabinteely this evening.

Shelbourne held on against Limerick for a 1-0 victory last night which maintains their push for automatic promotion.

Should both clubs successfully negotiate their first-round ties, Cork City are intent on hosting their Europa League game against Rangers at Turner’s Cross – unless the authorities dictate otherwise.

In the run-up to Sunday’s FAI Cup Final, Brian Gartland has been reflecting on the ‘sliding doors’ moment that saw him join Dundalk in July of 2013.

Republic of Ireland striker Leanne Kiernan has earned a move to West Ham.

Ronan Curtis scored a first half hat-trick as Derry City, record 10-time winners of the competition, beat First Division Shelbourne 7-3 in a thrilling goal-fest last eight tie at the Brandywell to book their place in the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup.

Reaching the League of Ireland summit is one thing, staying there another.

Cork City might be the team harbouring realistic dreams of a glorious double but Limerick will have designs on a notable double of their own when they travel to Turner’s Cross for tonight’s FAI Cup semi-final. 

It appears not just the Association has learned lessons from last season’s FAI Women’s Cup final as Shelbourne intend righting the wrongs of their defeat to Wexford when the teams meet again tomorrow. 

“You just can’t write it can you?” beamed John Mountney after playing his part in helping Dundalk to their third league title success in-a-row on Sunday night.

The talk has been all about Dundalk on the brink of making history but, actually, full-back Dane Massey has been in precisely this place before: that is to say, at Lansdowne Road for the first of two games which might have propelled Irish football into the group stages of the Champions League.

Shelbourne 2 Wexford Youths 2

Cobh Ramblers 2 Shelbourne 2:

Joe Corcoran used to like to be known as a mere postman with a passion for football but he was so much more.

“Shelbourne are most welcome” declared Bohemian’s Life vice-president Tony O’Connell at yesterday’s announcement that Dublin City Council are to purchase Dalymount Park.

Shelmaliers 3-8 St. Anne’s 1-11

St. Anne’s 1-10 Shelmaliers 0-13

First Division play-off: Galway FC 2 Shelbourne 0

Floodlight failure called off tonight’s FAI Ford Cup third round game between Shelbourne and St.Patrick’s Athletic.

Airtricity First Division: Nine-man Finn Harps inflicted a fifth straight First Division defeat upon Shamrock Rovers B yesterday with a 1-0 win at Tallaght Stadium.

Goals from Patrick Hoban and Kurtis Byrne secured a second place finish in the Airtricity League Premier Division for Dundalk as they beat Bray Wanderers 2-0 at the Carlisle Grounds in the final series of matches of the 2013 season.

Limerick FC 1 Shelbourne 0

Shelbourne are staring a return to the First Division in the face after a solitary goal from Rory Gaffney gave Limerick a 1-0 win at Thomond Park.

AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Cork City 5 Shelbourne 3

Richie Towell scored a hat-trick as Dundalk got back to winning ways to beat Derry City 3-0 at Oriel Park and regain second place in the Premier Division table and confirm their qualification for Europe.

Goals from Chris Forrester and man-of-the-match Daryl Kavanagh gave St. Patrick's Athletic a big 2-0 win over Dundalk in the top-of-the-table clash at Richmond Park to edge the Inchicore side closer to a first title in 14 years.

First half goals from Ronan Finn and Shane Robinson earned Shamrock Rovers a 2-0 win at league leaders St. Patrick's Athletic to book their place in the semi-finals of the FAI Ford Cup as both sides finished with ten men at Richmond Park.

Goals from Pat Hoban and Richie Towell fired Dundalk to the top of the Premier Division table as they beat ten man UCD 2-0 while erstwhile leaders St. Patrick's Athletic were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly Bohemians.

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shelbourne 0

Conan Byrne scored four times as St. Patrick's Athletic got back to winning ways to stun nine-man Shamrock Rovers 4-0 at Tallaght Stadium to maintain their one-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table.

Dean Kelly scored for the second match running as Shelbourne extended their unbeaten league run to five games.

Killian Brennan scored a dramatic stoppage time penalty winner as St. Patrick's Athletic came from a goal down to beat ten-man Cork City 2-1 at Richmond Park to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table.

Shamrock Rovers blew a chance to gain further ground on the Premier Division leaders as they slumped to an eleventh stalemate of the season as UCD came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Tallaght Stadium.

AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Drogheda United drew a blank for the fourth league match in a row as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to bottom side Shelbourne.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE ROUNDUP

St Pat’s joined Sligo Rovers at the top of the Airtricity League table for 24 hours at least following this Dublin derby win at Tolka Park.

Christy Fagan scored twice as St Patrick's Athletic heaped more misery on beleaguered Shelbourne as they beat the managerless Reds 3-0 at Tolka Park this evening.

Domestic football has claimed its first managerial casualty of the season with the departure of Alan Mathews from Shelbourne.

Struggling Bray Wanderers showed their mettle to frustrate Sligo Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds as they held the champions and league leaders to a scoreless draw.

Champions Sligo Rovers got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 win over Derry City to leapfrog the Candystripes back to the top of the table to delight a packed Showgrounds.