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.

Avondale United’s players wake up in Sligo today, having broken the back of one of the longest journeys in Irish football as they head for Ballybofey and an FAI Ford Cup quarter-final replay against Finn Harps.

Dundalk 1 Shamrock Rovers 2

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).

While certain nuances of the game may have changed, it’s still all about the players and the people around them, according to Damien Richardson who is revelling being back in football again.

Dundalk 5 Derry City 0

Following a first drawn game at Richmond Park and then a replay at Tolka Park which had to be abandoned due to floodlight failure, Shelbourne and St. Patrick’s Athletic will be looking to settle the issue at the third attempt when they meet in their rescheduled FAI Ford Cup third round game tie at Tolka Park tonight (kick off 8pm).

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

FAI FORD CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAY

FAI FORD CUP THIRD ROUND:

So the much anticipated transfer of Brian Lenihan has finally been confirmed by Cork City FC.

A quick turnaround before Monday night’s clash with Bray Wanderers won’t affect Cork City manager John Caulfield’s team selection for tonight’s trip to Derry City (kick-off 7.45pm).

Two-time winner of the FAI Ford Cup, former Ireland international Glen Crowe, will be the standout player in the St Mochta’s line-up when they visit Turner’s Cross tonight for an FAI Ford Cup second-round tie against Cork City (kick-off 7.45pm).

Cork City will host defending champions St Patrick’s Athletic in their opening game of the new Airtricity League Premier Division season on Friday March 7.

Roddy Collins is excited at the prospect of challenging for trophies again after being appointed as Derry City manager.

Anthony Elding said he couldn’t have written the script better as his dream ending to the season saw him win the FAI Ford Cup for Sligo Rovers.

Drogheda United 2 Sligo Rovers 3

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.

A dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Neil Yadolahi all but secured Bohemians’ Premier Division survival as they came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Dundalk at Dalymount Park last night.

Drogheda United 1 Dundalk 0

Sligo Rovers will meet Drogheda United in the final of the FAI Ford Cup after respective victories over Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk in two incident packed semi-finals.

Shamrock Rovers 2 Drogheda United 0

Goals early and late in the second half from Declan O'Brien and David Cassidy booked Drogheda United's passage through to a Louth derby semi-final clash with neighbours Dundalk in the FAI Ford Cup after they beat First Division Finn Harps 2-0 in their quarter-final replay at Hunky Dorys Park.

Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City 0

Raffaele Cretaro ended Derry City's reign as FAI Ford Cup holders with the only goal at the Showgrounds as Sligo Rovers, winners of the competition in 2010 and 2011, advanced to the semi-finals, the draw for which will be made on Monday night.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Shamrock Rovers 2

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.

Derry City 2 Bluebell United 1

A terrific headed goal from Gavin Peers booked Sligo Rovers' passage through to the quarter-finals of the FAI Ford Cup as they beat Cork City 1-0 at the Showgrounds.

Non-league Bluebell United were the toast of the FAI Ford Cup third round as they frustrated holders Derry City to earn a 0-0 draw at the Brandywell.

Cork City 3 Kilbarrack United 1

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.

Limerick produced a rousing second-half showing to overturn a two-goal deficit and claim a 3-2 win against Dundalk on Saturday evening.

Trevor Molloy rolled back the years to score twice and then set up an extra-time winner as non-league Bluebell United caused the shock of the FAI Ford Cup second round to beat Athlone Town 3-2 at Lissywollen.

Bluebell United provided the only surprise of the FAI Ford Cup weekend when the Dublin non-league side held Roddy Collins’ First Division Athlone Town to a 2-2 draw at Baldonnel on Saturday night.

Rory Patterson scored a second half hat-trick as holders Derry City won 4-0 at non-league Blarney United to cruise safely into the third round of the FAI Ford Cup.

There aren’t too many men who have created a sporting legend at Páirc Uí Rinn, Turner’s Cross and Musgrave Park. Perhaps former Cork City manager Noel O’Mahony, who died on Thursday night at the age of 73, is the only one.

Tolka Rovers 2 College Corinthians 2

Bohemians 0 Drogheda United 3

The most eye-catching of the opening day fixtures for the 2013 Airtricity League Premier Division will see Thomond Park play host to the meeting of Limerick and Cork City.

Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final pairs an interesting battle of family fortunes with first cousins Simon Madden and Conor Kenna going head-to-head in one of the most exciting final match -ups in years.

It’s a super semi Sunday of domestic football tomorrow with live television coverage on RTÉ 2 of the FAI Ford Cup last four games between Derry City and Shelbourne at the Brandywell (1.45pm) and Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park (3.55pm).

Drogheda United 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 1 (aet, St. Pat‘s win 3-2 on pens)

Shamrock Rovers have sacked manager Stephen Kenny, after less than nine months at the helm.