The pressure was ratcheted up on Stephen Bradley’s tenure as Shamrock Rovers head-coach when they became the first side to lose to basement side Bray this season.

There was no Friday the 13th nightmare for Dundalk, as they took sole possession of the Premier Division leadership.

Bray Wanderers 1, Shamrock Rovers 1: Former Bray Wanderers man Gary McCabe came off the bench to end the Wicklow club’s record breaking run.

If the first weekend is anything to go by, this season’s Munster Junior League should be another captivating campaign. Some early favourites started off impressively and will be aiming to follow up their opening-day victories.

After last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Oriel Park saw Dundalk retain their six-point advantage over Cork City, the top two in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division resume their title contest this evening, with the Lilywhites away to Bray Wanderers and the Rebels at home to Bohemians.

Second from top take on the table-proppers in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division this evening as Cork City and Limerick meet in a Munster derby at Jackman Park (6.30pm).

Hull will pay up to £2.3m for Tom Ince after they reached a compensation agreement with Blackpool over the winger.

Former Cork City defender Brian Lenihan has had to cut short his loan spell at Blackpool and return to Hull City after suffering a patella tendon knee injury.

After being thrown in at the deep end for Blackpool last week, Cork native Brian Lenihan is relishing the remainder of his loan stint with the Championship strugglers.

Former Cork City right-back Brian Lenihan has been told to make the most of his loan move from Hull City to Blackpool.

It’s early days in the Munster Junior League, but one of the potential games of the season takes place on Sunday in West Cork, when pacesetters Clonmel and Clonakilty face off, both teams laying down firm markers in their opening two games.

Tonight’s SSE Airtricity League action is all on the east coast, with the main focus in the Premier Division on the battle to escape relegation.

The quarter-final pairings for the Clare SFC were finalised at the weekend.

The favourite to take over from Alan Mulholland as Galway manager, Kevin Walsh, saw his Micheal Breathnach side crash out of the Galway SFC yesterday as Salthill/Knocknacarra prevailed on a of 3-10 to 0-13 scoreline in atrocious conditions at Moycullen.

Galway SFC

Clare SFC round-up : Holders Cratloe got off to a winning start in the opening round of the Clare SFC at the weekend, defeating Éire Óg 2-12 to 1-12 at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening.

Cork SHC

The Championship side currently have eight professional footballers on their books.

Former Connacht rugby star Gavin Duffy made his championship debut for Salthill/Knocknacarra as two Sean Armstrong goals helped last year’s finalists into the third round of the Galway SFC.

Blackpool fans got their wish yesterday as the club announced the sacking of manager Paul Ince.

Paul Ince’s reign as Blackpool manager has come to an end, according to a report in the Blackpool Gazette.

Blackpool have fined Michael Chopra more than £10,000 after the striker took to Twitter to criticise the club’s management.

Repubic of Ireland defender Richard Keogh put the icing on the cake for Derby as they cruised to victory at the renamed iPro Stadium this afternoon.

Blackpool manager Paul Ince has been given a five-match stadium ban and a £4,000 fine over his behaviour following his side’s match against Bournemouth on September 14.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane, champions for the past two seasons, were brought back down to earth at Cusack Park on Saturday when they succumbed to an impressive Cratloe by 0-11 to 0-4, in round one.

Hull failed to seal automatic promotion to the Barclays Premier League after they were beaten 2-0 by Barnsley, who climbed out of the npower Championship relegation zone as a result of the win.

Ipswich 1 Blackpool 0

Fulham 1 Blackpool 1

Tom Ince and Alex Baptiste start for Blackpool in today’s FA Cup third-round tie at Fulham, despite speculation both are on the brink of quitting the club.

Blackpool manager Michael Appleton has revealed Liverpool’s initial offer for Tom Ince is significantly short of his club’s valuation for the England Under-21 winger.

Crystal Palace 2 Blackpool 2

Ian Holloway could hardly have wished for a better start to his new job as Crystal Palace boss as a Glenn Murray hat-trick helped the Eagles soar to the top of the npower Championship with a 5-0 thrashing of Ipswich.

Derby 4 Blackpool 1

Blackburn moved to the top of the npower Championship as a brace from Jordan Rhodes helped them to a 5-3 victory over Bristol City in a thriller at Ashton Gate.

Stoke have confirmed that midfielder Charlie Adam is set to undergo a medical with them today with a view to a permanent move from Liverpool.

Wolfe Tones na Sionna made it two wins out of two when they defeated St Breckan’s at Corofin in the Clare SFC yesterday.

QPR striker DJ Campbell could link up with Bristol City after the Premier League club accepted an offer for the 30-year-old.

Bray Wanderers will bid to get back to winning ways when they host a Cork City side that has drawn its last three league games.

Youghal saw off the challenge of Watergrasshill for the second year in a row in miserable, wet conditions at Killeagh on Saturday night.

Blackpool 1 West Ham 2

Jack Collison recovered from a dislocated shoulder to enable West Ham manager Sam Allardyce to name an unchanged side for the npower Championship play-off final.

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton was adamant the aftermath of his team’s npower Championship play-off semi-final heartache at the hands of Blackpool was no time to discuss his future.

Blackpool sealed a showdown with West Ham in the npower Championship play-off final after an absorbing semi-final second leg with Birmingham at St Andrew’s last night.

Birmingham 2 Blackpool 2 (Blackpool win 3-2 on aggregate)

Curtis Davies’ unfortunate own goal gave Blackpool a slender advantage over Birmingham in the first leg of their npower Championship play-off semi-final last night.

Blackpool 1 Birmingham 0

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, manager Kenny Dalglish has confirmed.

Peterborough 3 Blackpool 1

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Blackpool 3