Gardaí in Cork are investigating separate acts of random vandalism - one in which all 88 greenway spotlights were ‘irreparably’ damaged in a drill attack and the other which caused some €2,000 damage to dugouts at a soccer club which has produced a Champions League-winning goalkeeper.

It’s Thursday afternoon when I reach him on the phone, and Sean Maguire, just “chilling out” on a last day of rest before starting to climb the Championship mountain with Preston North End again, is reflecting on how Deepdale is no longer such a deep shade of green.

Shane Daly Butz is determined to use the World University Games as a spring board to kick start his football career.

Zac Higgins, from Mahon in Cork city, was diagnosed with a diffuse axonal injury (DAI) to the brain following the incident.

A toddler who was diagnosed with a brain injury after he was knocked down in a hit and run last month is sitting up, smiling and laughing but cannot yet speak or walk.

A fundraising campaign set up just days ago to help with treatment costs for a Cork toddler badly injured in a hit-and-run last week has already generated more than €12,000 in donations.

The entire Mahon community is rallying around the family of toddler Zac Higgins, who was injured in a hit-and-run a week ago.

Cork teenager Caoimhín Kelleher’s star continues to rise at Liverpool, with the 19-year-old impressing in the club’s 4-1 victory over Manchester Utd at the International Champions Cup in Michigan on Saturday night.

A giant vegetable chilli made from food grown in community gardens across Cork city will be rustled up this weekend as part of a special food festival.

It’s fair to say Alan Browne and Aiden McGeady are at different ends of the international football spectrum.

After a long hard season, it all comes down to one last game tonight as UCC and Cobh Wanderers go head to head at The Mardyke (7.45pm) to determine who is crowned Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Premier Division champions.

There isn’t a seat to be got at Deepdale for today’s FA Cup tie but Preston North End’s Cork native Alan Browne feels the middle of pitch is the best possible place for him against Arsenal’s galaxy of stars.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Martin O’Neill reckons Robbie Keane could flourish when he transitions into coaching, but has cautioned his players about the perils of becoming a boss.

FAI Intermediate Cup

As they once again failed to take their chances, Tom Mohan’s young Ireland could have no complaints as a sublime goal from Marcus Edwards saw their journey at these Uefa U17 Championships in Bulgaria emphatically ended.

Italy 2 Ireland 0: Italy taught the Republic of Ireland a harsh lesson on how to finish at the Beroe Stadium yesterday to leave Irish hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of these Uefa Under-17 Championships in Bulgaria hanging in the balance.

Ireland 0 Holland 0: It was a game they could have lost heavily; at the finish, a match they might even have won.

Tom Mohan has told his Republic of Ireland Under-17s to simply go and compete at next week’s UEFA championship finals in Bulgaria.

There was a time when Liam Miller wondered if hailing from Cork would hold him back and block his path to becoming a Republic of Ireland international.

Cork City will face Limerick in the Munster Senior Cup semi-final after putting six past Munster Senior League Division Two outfit Cobh Wanderers in Cobh on Saturday. 

FAI Intermediate Cup: A Roy Long-inspired Avondale United moved to within three games of an historic five FAI Intermediate Cup titles in-a-row after a deserved 3-1 win over College Corinthians in their fourth round clash at Avondale Park on Saturday.

Cork City midfielder Gearóid Morrissey will join English League Two side Cambridge United next month.

Cork City boss, John Caulfield, has revealed he expects to lose Gearóid Morrissey to England in the next few days, according to the Evening Echo.

MSL: A Peter Mooreland strike was enough to put College Corinthians three points clear at the top of the Beamish Stout Munster Senior League Premier Division after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over UCC at Corinthians Park on Saturday-

College Corinthians exacted quick revenge on neighbours Douglas Hall as the Castletreasure outfit advanced to the third round of the FAI Intermediate Cup with a 3-0 victory at Moneygourney on Saturday.

Liverpool or Blackburn Rovers? That was the dilemma facing current Cork City midfielder Gearóid ‘Chops’ Morrissey back in 2008.

It was the first penalty miss of young Adam O’Reilly’s schoolboy soccer career, but it has gained him widespread acclaim.

The actions of a schoolboy during a league soccer match have received praise following a report on the match in today's Irish Examiner.

Growing anger amongst Cork schoolboy clubs with the FAI has morphed into action as they last night withdrew from the Schoolboy Football Association of Ireland (SFAI) cups.

Pre-season games in early February don’t usually whet the appetite for fans of the domestic game, but Cork City are expecting a crowd of over 2,000 to pass through the gates when they entertain a Leeds United selection at Turner’s Cross tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Leinster Senior League reclaimed the Michael Ward Trophy at Turner’s Cross yesterday following a 2-1 victory over the Munster Senior League.

Cork came from behind to beat the DDSL in extra-time yesterday at Tolka Park and win their first FAI Inter-league Youths Cup since 1978.

Ireland’s U18s suffered late heartache against Wales in last night’s friendly at Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford.

AVONDALE UNITED and Blarney United warmed up for Friday’s FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup fourth round clash at O’Shea Park with cup wins over the weekend.