FEW players encapsulate the reality of radical change at Cork City quite like Daire O’Connor.

Dundalk might not begin the defence of their league title until they play Derry City next week, but midfielder Jordan Flores insists he doesn’t regard tomorrow’s President’s Cup game against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park as a preliminary event.

Though a player of his quality will inevitably find himself repeatedly linked with a move back to England, Shamrock Rovers playmaker and Irish international Jack Byrne appears happy to be settling in for the long haul with the Hoops this season.

Club captain Derek Pender is pleased to have Bohemiams “back where they belong” in Europe before he hangs up his boots after Sligo Rovers visit Dalymount Park tonight.

Ten-man Bohemians secured European football for the first time since 2012 by eking out a well-earned draw at St Patrick’s Athletic tonight.

While it may not have had the same importance as recent meetings between the sides, Cork City's victory over Dundalk was lustily hailed by the home crowd.

Brilliant Bohemians smashed Dundalk’s domestic 31-match unbeaten run last night to all but secure their place in Europe next season.

Bohemians have given themselves a five-point cushion in third place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Neale Fenn has signalled the imminent end of an era at Cork City.

For Cork City, it’s now six games without a win under Neale Fenn and four games in succession without a goal.

Shamrock Rovers hunt for their first FAI Cup win in nine years remains alive as they sealed a first final in eight years with a 2-0 win over Bohemians in an ill-tempered derby at Dalymount Park.

Jack Byrne is in his Shamrock Rovers strip at the Aviva Stadium but there’ll be no football kicked here today.

An historic, record-breaking night for Shamrock Rovers as they finally got the result they’ve craved over Bohemians.

Mick McCarthy's men face Switzerland in a "huge" Euro2020 qualifier on September 5 before a friendly with Bulgaria five days later.

Defending champions Dundalk will travel to Waterford.

Bohemians needed penalties to decide an epic Extra.ie FAI Cup second round tie with James Talbot the hero, saving the crucial penalty from opposing number Lee Steacy.

Bohemians hammered UCD by a record scoreline as new signing Andre Wright endeared himself to the Dalymount Park faithful with a spectacular four-goal haul.

Brian Kerr believes that even a modest increase in the recruitment of foreign players would help brighten up the League of Ireland.

Cork City will be without Mark O’Sullivan for the daunting second leg of their Europa League tie against Progres Niederkorn in Luxembourg tomorrow, the striker having remained at home to be with his wife who is expecting a baby.

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

Cork City are still looking for their first league win since May after they were held to a scoreless draw by relegation threatened Finn Harps in a tight encounter at Finn Park last night.

The Airtricity Premier Division has seen Dundalk win the top-of-the-table clash at Tallaght Stadium tonight.

Ger Mulvihill Sending promising Irish youngsters across the Irish Sea to pursue a career in professional football on academy contracts is ‘just not working’, with success rates ‘scarily low’, insists Shelbourne defender Luke Byrne.

"It is brilliant to have a strong cohort of female coaches and management in place ahead of our summer training programme," said head coach Laura Guest.

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

Cork City got the post-John Caulfield era off to the perfect start with three badly-needed and very hard-earned points at Dalymount Park.

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.

From very hard-earned experience, football managers tend to be pragmatic people so, painful though it has been for John Caulfield to part company with his beloved Cork City, it’s probably fair to say that he would hardly have been completely shocked by the timing of his exit.

No wins in seven matches over the past six weeks has intensified pressure on Cork City, meaning anything less than victory Monday night against basement side Finn Harps at Turner's Cross will fuel crisis talk.

Keith Long warns Bohemians can’t afford a slow start in tonight’s clash with leaders Shamrock Rovers (8pm) as they bid to maintain Dublin derby bragging rights.

Clinical Bohemians saw off a first-half barrage from UCD to win 3-0 and move back into second place in the Premier Division.

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.

After two decades in the professional game, Alan Bennett has learned the value of perspective.

Ahead of today’s curtain-raising President’s Cup against Dundalk (Turner’s Cross 5.30pm), Cork City boss John Caulfield tells Liam Mackey why he’s excited but also worried about the season ahead

League of Ireland champions Dundalk will begin their title defence against Sligo Rovers at home on Friday, February 15.

Supple had earned a call-up to the Ireland squad earlier this year.

Cork City have announced their first signing for the 2019 season with the acquisition of Dan Casey from Bohemians.

This may be beginning to feel like an annual pilgrimage to Aviva Stadium for the supporters of Cork City and Dundalk but after the furore surrounding Karl Sheppard in the run-up to last year’s final, the City ace is enjoying the build up a lot more, this time.

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.

A John Sullivan goal five minutes into added time gave Bray Wanderers their first win since July.

They’ll meet again and we know where and we know when.

For a player that only entered League of Ireland football on the cusp of 30, Dave Hill did pretty well to write his name into the folklore of both Cork City and Bohemians.

Manager John Caulfield will be in the stands as Cork City travel to Shamrock Rovers in the Premier Division tonight.

Bohemians 1 Cork City 1