Champions Dundalk bounced back from last week’s first defeat of the season with an assured performance against Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

A match between two teams who have provided nine of the 11 players in the 2019 PFAI team of the year.

A Dáire O’Connor goal on the stroke of half time was enough for Cork City to end their SSE Airtricity League home campaign on a high with a gutsy win over old rivals and champions Dundalk at Turner’s Cross tonight.

Dundalk travel to the RSC tonight knowing a win against Waterford would set up a title-clinching opportunity at home to nearest rivals Shamrock Rovers on Monday.

A first-half hat-trick from Daniel Kelly ensured that Dundalk remain on course for a domestic treble as Vinny Perth’s side booked their place into the semi-final of the FAI Cup after a hard-fought win over a battling Waterford FC at the RSC last night.

Dundalk had two goals within the first 20 minutes thanks to a brace from winger Michael Duffy.

Conor Browne had seven possessions in the All-Ireland semi-final, a figure roundly accepted as being below-average for a midfielder.

A Pat Hoban goal 12-minutes from time has given Dundalk real hope of progress in the Champions League.

Dundalk will have to score in Latvia next Wednesday to keep their Champions League dreams alive after a frustrating stalemate with Riga FC at Oriel Park tonight.

Colchester United loanee, Junior Uzokwe, was hailed a hero at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium, the tricky winger snatching maximum points away from Dundalk when netting a 94th minute equaliser for Derry City.

A draw was the fairest outcome at Turner’s Cross tonight as Cork City and Bohemians cancelled each other out.

Dundalk made it eight league wins in a row to cement their eight-point lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table with a comfortable victory over Waterford FC at Oriel Park last night.

Bohemians have the chance for revenge in the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup.

John Cotter’s tenure as Cork City interim manager got off to a winning start as Conor McCarthy’s first-half goal was the difference at Dalymount Park tonight.

Daniel Kelly ripped Finn Harps apart at Oriel Park last night with a first hat-trick of his career.

Not everything will be sunny in the South-East this evening as Cork City and Waterford bid for a much-needed SSE Airtricity League Premier Division victory to lift dark clouds hanging over both clubs.

Cork City fell to their fifth defeat in ten league games as UCD struck for two late goals at the Bowl in Belfield.

This was a far more commanding victory for Dundalk than the narrow scoreline might suggest, as a Michael Duffy header capped an at times swaggering display from the champions to claim a big three points in defence of their title and bring Cork City’s recent resurgence to a shuddering halt.

Declan Rice won the Young Player of the Year, as previously announced last week, less than 24 hours before he was called up to the England squad. He was not pictured receiving his award.

And so the league champions are now also the cup holders, Dundalk confirming another changing of the guard in Irish football by doing what Cork City had done one year before: the precious double.

Four titles including one double in Dane Massey’s six years at Oriel Park have done nothing to blunt the Dundalk defender’s appetite for more silverware.

On the night the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title returned to Oriel Park, Dundalk FC served up a five-star display against managerless Sligo Rovers.

Dundalk 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 1

What a finish!

Dundalk have announced a double-boost to their squad following their last-gasp victory over title rivals Cork City.

Cork City will continue to look over their shoulders as Dundalk produced another demolition of Derry City at the Brandywell, the Lilywhites rarely moving into top gear to remain one point adrift at the business end of the Premier Division.

Dundalk 4 Limerick 0

Shamrock Rovers 2 Dundalk 5

A 50th league goal for Robbie Benson and a first for Marco Tagbajumi proved decisive as Dundalk put a massive dent in Waterford FC’s title challenge by strengthening their position at the top of the table at Oriel Park last night.

Waterford FC 2 Dundalk 1: Not even the best of script writers could have written the story as Waterford FC’s dream start to life back in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division continued as they moved to joint top of the table with a deserved 2-1 success over Dundalk in front of a massive 3,508 attendance at the RSC last night.

Meet the New Firm. Same as the Old Firm. Except different.

Derry City might be long shots for a title challenge but they showed they are up to the task after battling back twice to claim a share of the spoils with Dundalk FC at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk’s defence was finally breached but a goal from the most unlikely of sources ensured they went top of the table following victory over Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk 1 - Waterford Utd 0: A 94th minute own goal from Garry Comerford sent Dundalk soaring above Waterford into second place in the table after a dramatic finish at Oriel Park last night.

Cork City suffered their first defeat of the new league campaign as an early Pat Hoban goal proved enough to secure a significant victory for their great rivals Dundalk at a raucous Oriel Park last night.

A week after the ‘beast from the east’ snowfall wreaked havoc on the SSE Airtricity League programme, champions Cork City will have to cope with Dundalk’s ‘best of the west’ at Oriel Park tonight.

Cork City boss John Caulfield expects rivals Dundalk to restore faith in their old reliables as the champions face a trip to Oriel Park on Friday night (8pm, live on eirSport2).

Shamrock Rovers 0 Dundalk 0: While Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are still searching for their first win this season, it was the Lilywhites who went back the M1 last night from Tallaght Stadium carrying the regret of Pat Hoban missing a sitter to nick victory on the hour.

Cork City look set to complete a permanent move for defender Ryan Delaney this week after manager John Caulfield said the deal was “close”, while also confirming he has identified a replacement for the departing Seanie Maguire.

“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.

A disparity in resources off the pitch was eventually mirrored by those on the Lansdowne Road turf.

Galway 3-10 Kilkenny 0-17: Galway boss Jeffrey Lynskey refused to apologise for Cian Salmon’s controversial late goal that stole a dramatic All-Ireland semi-final victory.

Kilkenny 0-26 Galway 2-20 (AET): Drama at the death in the opener at HQ yesterday — both after the 70 minutes and extra-time — but the sum of this first All-Ireland minor semi-final added up to significantly less than its parts and, in that, it was no different to the senior contest that followed.

Kilkenny minor hurling manager Pat Hoban doesn’t believe his team will be hindered by their five-week lay-off in today’s All- Ireland semi-final against Galway.

All-Ireland MHC semi-final

Leinster MHC final: Kilkenny 1-17 Dublin 1-15

Declan O’Donnell, Helen James and Hugh Wallace are the judges on Home Of The Year on RTÉ One on Thursday.

Aiden McGeady, John O’Shea and Jon Walters are all in the running for the ‘Three’ FAI Senior International Player Of The Year award.