For a player conversant with numbers, Dundalk’s Robbie Benson knows he still has many years left in his footballing career.

FAI Cup quarter-final: Longford Town 1 - Cork City 4: A professional performance that delivered a convincing win brought a spring to the step of Cork City manager John Caulfield as he left City Calling Stadium on Saturday night.

Cork City’s Alan Bennett could be hit with a three-match ban — or worse — after being sent off in Monday’s EA Sports Cup semi-final defeat to Shamrock Rovers.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Cork City 0 (AET): At the end of a long night in Tallaght, Shamrock Rovers finally got the better of a gutsy Cork City to qualify for the EA Sports Cup final against Dundalk on September 16.

St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Cobh Ramblers 2

Sam Allardyce may have been busy announcing his first England squad yesterday, but he might have been wishing he was back where his managerial career began at LimericK FC.

With Limerick boss Martin Russell freely admitting after the weekend victory over Cabinteely that, at 21 points clear and with just seven games remaining, his team are already “home and hosed” as First Division champions, the runaway leaders will this evening get a taste of what’s in store for them next season when they travel to Richmond Park to play St Patrick’s Athletic in the third round of the FAI Cup.

The SSE Airtricity League First Division takes top billing tonight, with Wexford Youths on the brink of claiming the title for the first time and, with it, promotion to the Premier Division.

Pitch perfect will be the order of the night for Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and, of course, Dalymount Park itself as the rescheduled Dublin derby – controversially postponed last month because of concerns about the playing surface – finally goes ahead.

Cork City manager John Caulfield is hopeful the absence of Darren Dennehy and Garry Buckley from Sunday’s trip to face Limerick will prove an opportunity for other squad members.

FAI FORD CUP:

The fixture might be a preview of next weekend’s EA Sports Cup final but the more immediate reward will be a place in the FAI Ford Cup semi-finals for the winner of tonight’s meeting between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 7.05pm, live on RTÉ 2).

Dundalk 5 Derry City 0

Drogheda United manager Mick Cooke reckons his team will need to hit a European level of performance if they are to overcome Sligo Rovers in tomorrow’s 2013 FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium (3.30pm).

Drogheda United boss Mick Cooke says he has had several approaches already following the shock announcement by the club last week that they would not be offering him a new contract for 2014.

Declan ‘Fabio’ O'Brien scored twice to help catapult holders Drogheda United into the EA Sports Cup final after a 3-1 semi-final win over Derry City at the Brandywell.

Brian Laws will make his first appearance as interim Shamrock Rovers manager at a press conference in Tallaght this afternoon ahead of Saturday’s EA Sports Cup final against Drogheda United.

Another tight encounter is likely this evening (7.45pm) when Drogheda United and St Patrick’s meet again — this time at Hunky Dorys Park — with a place in the FAI Cup semi-final at stake.

Ciaran Kilduff scored twice to ease Shamrock Rovers into their first EA Sports Cup final since 1998 as they beat an at times tired looking Limerick 4-1 at Tallaght Stadium.

Derry City head to Turner’s Cross for tonight’s Premier Division clash with Cork City desperate for a win to stay in touch with the leading pack in the Airtricity Premier Division.

CONSIDERING it began with some fearing a one-horse race and others concerned that not all the horses at the starting gate might even reach the finishing line, the season just ending in the Airtricity League of Ireland can only be judged a raging success.

CORK CITY and Derry City have a lot in common.

BOTH Cork City and Derry City have injury concerns going into today’s EA Sports Cup final at Turner’s Cross.

WRITING up an Ian Turner interview this week ahead of today’s EA Sports Cup final between Cork City and Derry, I had a rare moment of inspiration.

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce has high hopes for their latest League of Ireland acquisition, James McClean.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC are through to the semi-finals of the FAI Ford Cup — but only after being given one hell of a scare at Turner’s Cross.

HAVING shared the points with Limerick in a 3-3 thriller last time out at Turner’s Cross, Cork City hit the road for Athlone today knowing it’s wins not draws they need to keep their Airtricity League First Division promotion challenge firmly on course.

IN a week in which they learned they will be hosting the EA Sports Cup final against Derry City at Turner’s Cross next month, Cork City now turn their attentions to the most coveted of all Irish cup trophies as they prepare for a FAI Cup clash against Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park this evening.

OFFICIALS at Cork City have reacted with delight to the news that this year’s EA Sports Cup Final will be held at Turner’s Cross.

The EA Sports Cup final has been confirmed to take place at Turner's Cross, Cork, on Saturday, September 24.

Cork City 3 Limerick FC 1 (aet)

BOHEMIANS, still very much in the hunt for the coveted league and cup double, will start as slight favourites to reach the FAI Ford Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on November 14 when they play host to in-form Sligo Rovers in tonight’s semi-final at Dalymount Park (8.05 pm).

Sligo Rovers entertain Bohemians in tonight’s Airtricity League Premier Division clash at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers and Monaghan United go head-to-head in the quarter-final of the FAI Ford Cup at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

Cork City 0 Monaghan United 1

PADRAIG AMOND’S two-goal blast scuppered Shamrock Rovers’ dream of a domestic treble in last night’s cracking EA Sports Cup semi-final at The Showgrounds.

Sligo Rovers 2 Shamrock Rovers 1

The 2009 EA Sports Cup final will take place in the RSC in Waterford on September 26, it was confirmed today.

Bohemians 4 Sligo Rovers 2 (After extra-time)