The oppressive heat and a wounded Apollon Limassol won’t faze Shamrock Rovers in next week’s Europa League return in Nicosia, insists veteran defender Joey O’Brien.

Shamrock Rovers reignited their title challenge with this comfortable Dublin derby win over St Pat’s.

With one hand already on the title, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny is determined to complete the job against St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park tonight (7.45pm, live on RTÉ2).

Forget VAR. Forget writing off Germans. Forget In-ger-land. Forget Fifa conspiracies and dodgy Bob Marley cover versions. The World Cup takes a back seat tonight as the League of Ireland springs back to life with a top-of-the-table clash at Oriel Park.

Sean Kelly is happily discovering that there is indeed a second act in life, and in football, in America.

The story goes that Jose Mourinho once hid in a laundry basket to brief his players covertly and get around a matchday suspension, but manager John Caulfield won’t be going to such lengths when Cork City host Sligo Rovers in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at Turner’s Cross this evening (7.45pm).

An early Ryan Brennan goal was sufficient in the end for St Patrick’s Athletic to deservedly avenge a defeat at the RSC back in February as Waterford finished with nine men at Richmond Park.

Sky Sports have put tomorrow’s meeting of Manchester United and Liverpool at the centre of what they are calling ‘Rivalry Weekend’.

If there’s not something in the water down in Cork, then it must be in the food.

The full house signs on the approaches to Dalymount Park for tonight’s derby meeting of Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers sit comfortably with a domestic game that is once again allowing itself to embrace a guarded sense of optimism. 

Cork City will begin the defence of their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title with an away game against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park on Friday, February 16.

Striker Kurtis Byrne has agreed a move to Irish League champions Linfield.

Alan Bennett never went missing for Cork City this season, so you can’t blame him if he goes off the radar in the coming weeks.

St Pat’s formed a guard of honour and applauded the new league champions on to the pitch before kick-off.

Their own survival, rather than any part they may indirectly play in being Kingmakers, is all that’s on Finn Harps’ minds as they face reigning champions Dundalk in Ballybofey this evening.

I won’t be alone among my peers in broadcasting, and indeed in the ranks of the many sports stars that he interviewed, in saying that Jimmy Magee moved easily from his status as hero of mine to becoming first a colleague and then a friend whose warmth, kindness, and good humour was as legendary as his memory, writes Tony O’Donoghue.

Cork City’s Euro dream is very much in the balance after they suffered a first defeat in 26 matches losing out to AEK Larnaca in a tense and highly competitive Europa League qualifier at Turner’s Cross last night, writes Noel Spillane.

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

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 1 - BOHEMIANS 3: A second-half comeback earned Bohemians sweet revenge for a 4-0 reversal at Dalymount Park back in March as they won this frantic Dublin derby to keep St Patrick’s deep in relegation trouble, second bottom of the Premier Division.

Cork City midfielder Greg Bolger will be hoping to show his mean streak to Dundalk as the league leaders meet the champions in a crucial top-of-the-table clash at Oriel Park tomorrow night after declaring: “I’m not nice when I’m on the bench.”

New Limerick boss Neil McDonald wants his side to lay down a marker against defending Premier League champions Dundalk at the Markets Field tonight.

Top of the table and clear winners at the box office too – that’s Cork City as they begin the second cycle of the 2017 SSE Airtricity League season at home to Finn Harps tonight.

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.

With Cork City and Bray facing off this evening, Dundalk know a draw at Turner’s Cross would, if they can beat Galway United, see the champions close the gap on the leaders and make second place their own in the Premier Division.

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.

If there was already a gripping battle on the pitch for league honours, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny raised the ante off it with his questioning of Cork City’s penalty count.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Limerick 2: Limerick showed no adverse affects from their managerial upheaval during the week as interim boss Willie Boland’s side came away from Richmond Park with three big points.

Cork City v Dundalk: Before a ball was kicked, Cork City had one over their great rivals Dundalk this season.

SSE Airtricity Premier Division

Munster Post Primary SAFC semi-final

Coláiste Chríost Rí 1-18 Tralee CBS 1-18 (AET): Coláiste Chríost Rí had to score the final four points at Mallow on Saturday to send this Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final tie to a replay, but it was difficult to argue against a draw being the fair outcome.

Cork IT 1-14, DCU-St Patrick’s 0-6: A good start and composed finish was key for Cork IT yesterday as their 10-point half-time lead provided the basis for an 11-point victory over DCU-St Patrick’s at the latter’s Drumcondra grounds in Round 2 of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

NUI Galway 4-14 St Pat’s Dochas Eireann 1-12: NUI Galway manager Tony Ward praised his side’s character but knows they didn’t play to their potential as they saw off a valiant St Pat’s in the Fitzgibbon Cup at Dangan in Galway.

Former Waterford manager Michael Ryan has urged Derek McGrath to throw the shackles off and hit Kilkenny hard from the start in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final.