Bray Wanderers took top spot in the SSE Airtricity First Division outright thanks to a 1-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers last night.

Balbriggan is suffering from a serious seagull problem but residents are fighting back, writes Michael Clifford.

In some ways, Pep Guardiola might feel he cannot win. The development of Phil Foden has become the cause celebre of English football, largely because the England national team is missing a pure midfield creator and Foden seems to fit the bill.

A childhood supporting Manchester United, a scrum of family and friends wanting tickets and a rather bizarre superstition about a lucky toilet are combining to make today’s trip to Old Trafford a significant one for Brighton’s Shane Duffy.

The Bray club failed to meet an FAI-imposed 5pm deadline to pay their players the seven weeks' wages they're owed.

After almost a decade in the No.1 shirt at Turner’s Cross, Mark McNulty admits he’s still living the dream.

Man City 3 Brighton 1

Brighton 1 Manchester United 0: If ever there was ever any confusion as to why Manchester United have not been able to challenge their noisy neighbours for the title this season it was cleared up and summed up in a tepid defeat against Chris Hughton’s excellent Brighton & Hove Albion.

Much like the persistence of racism, to be still talking about a problem that existed in the days when Graeme Souness had a moustache and a perm feels like a depressing indictment of humanity’s inability to change for the better, writes Tommy Martin.

The Football Association has condemned the Burnley supporters who booed Brighton defender Gaetan Bong during Saturday's Premier League game at Turf Moor.

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 have appointed Graham Kelly as their caretaker manager.

Christian Eriksen was credited with a brace as Harry Kane was denied a crucial goal in the Golden Boot race in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Stoke.

At 1.93m tall, and with shoulders that could carry a nation, it’s not that difficult to imagine Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy as a nightclub bouncer keeping Manchester United out of his penalty area in the FA Cup at Old Trafford tomorrow; and it’s an image he is perfectly happy to embrace.

Arsene Wenger complained that Arsenal's busy fixture schedule was causing their slump as criticism of the Frenchman intensified.

Shamrock Rovers 6 Bray Wanderers 0: Goals on their full debuts for new signings Dan Carr and Sean Kavanagh, and a brace from Brandon Miele, helped get Shamrock Rovers’ season up and running with a first win of the campaign.

Manchester United were drawn at home to Brighton in an FA Cup quarter-final draw which saw all the big guns avoid each other on Saturday evening.

Tottenham climbed to third in the Premier League after Harry Kane scored a second-half winner to settle the north London derby against Arsenal.

Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to victory at Brighton to give the champions their first Premier League win of 2018.

Burnley defender James Tarkowski has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association over an incident involving Glenn Murray in Saturday’s draw at Brighton.

Antonio Conte says time is running out in the title pursuit, even if Manchester City slip up, and said the clear leaders had been lucky with late goals.

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld will be out until February with a hamstring injury.

Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace picked up their first away point of the season with a goalless draw at bitter rivals Brighton.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has challenged his players to channel the frustration of a narrow defeat at Old Trafford into getting the better of rivals Crystal Palace.

Shane Duffy puffs out his cheeks and exhales at the thought of clinching World Cup qualification over the next week, fully aware he’ll experience better emotions than Ireland’s last successful tournament tilt.

Slaven Bilic suffered surely the worst defeat of his spell as West Ham boss as they were thrashed at home to Brighton.

The struggling Toffees were staring at another defeat when Anthony Knockaert fired Brighton ahead eight minutes from time.

Tomer Hemed's hooked strike denied Newcastle the chance to move fourth in the Premier League as Brighton prevailed 1-0 at the Amex Stadium.

Jermain Defoe fired Bournemouth to their first win of the Premier League season to relieve mounting pressure on boss Eddie Howe.

Bray Wanderers 2

Bray Wanderers’ players last night sought further reassurances of the financial future of the struggling club.

Dylan Connolly last night revealed that Bray Wanderers’ precarious financial position played a major role in his move to Dundalk.

The fickle nature of Irish football could hardly have been better illustrated this week.

SSE Airtricity League: Limerick manager Neil McDonald insists “the pressure is all on Cork” as he prepares for his first Munster derby at Turner’s Cross tonight (8pm, live on eirSport2).

The last step is always the hardest. Just ask Chris Hughton. Two weeks ago he saw his Brighton side secure promotion to the Premier League after a 2-1 win over Wigan. 

Cork City 2 Bray Wanderers 1: 11 wins out of 11 and now 12 points clear at the top: with a third of the season gone, Cork City’s astonishing 2017 just keeps on getting better and better.

Cork City manager John Caulfield has dismissed suggestions striker Seanie Maguire has had his head turned by transfer speculation as the club look to end the Premier Division’s first series of games tonight with a 100% record.

Cork City v Bray Wanderers, SSE Airtricity Premier Division: The accent is decidedly Dublin but the words are unmistakably Cork, more Shandon than his hometown Skerries.

Alan Bennett is likely to miss SSE Airtricity Premier Division leaders Cork City’s clash with Bray Wanderers at Turner’s Cross on Friday night (7.45pm).

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny bemoaned the fact his side hadn’t won a penalty in the league in a year this week then saw his side concede two last night, as Bray Wanderers shocked the champions at Oriel Park.

Brighton reclaimed their place at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-1 win over Birmingham.

Newcastle saw their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship cut back to three points after being held to a goalless draw at Reading while Brighton ran out 2-0 winners at bottom club Rotherham.

Martin O’Neill will plan for Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifier with Wales without defender Shane Duffy as the Brighton star undergoes a foot operation today.