Alan Mannus: Not a save to make until the 38th minute as Rovers enjoyed the majority of the ball. But dealt ably with Gartland’s downward header to push it out for a corner. Saved well from Cleary in the shootout. 7

After waiting for 32 years, Shamrock Rovers had to wait an extra half hour and a penalty shoot-out before finally reclaiming the FAI Cup.

A match between two teams who have provided nine of the 11 players in the 2019 PFAI team of the year.

When Ronan Finn mentions that he’s “coming up on 32,” the symmetry is irresistible: Shamrock Rovers have been trying to win the FAI Cup all his life.

Usurped by the Hoops as Dundalk’s main challengers and FAI Cup final opponents, the Rebel Army found themselves second-best to their hosts as the curtain came down on a campaign that nobody will remember with fondness.

Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Chris Shields, Patrick Hoban and Michael Duffy all make the cut.

A stunning strike from Greg Bolger condemned Finn Harps to a relegation play-off following a turgid game at Tallaght Stadium.

Graham Burke hit the winner — his first goal back in a Hoops shirt — as Shamrock Rovers stretched their unbeaten league run to seven games against 10-man Waterford at Tallaght Stadium.

Dundalk remain seven points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division following a 5-0 win at home to ten-man Finn Harps.

Shamrock Rovers began their search for a 25th FAI Cup crown with a 1-0 victory over Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium last night.

Substitute Adrian Sardinero ended valiant Shamrock Rovers’ Europa League adventure with an extra-time winner in Nicosia. Both sides finished with ten men on an energy-sapping night, the Cypriots edging through to meet Austria Vienna in next week’s third round.

Cork City remain without a Premier Division win in their last seven, but there was nevertheless encouragement to be taken from a draw with second-placed Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross on Monday.

Roberto Lopes found redemption at the death on a humid night in Bergen as Shamrock Rovers twice came from behind to shock SK Brann in their Europa League first qualifying round, first leg.

Seán Gannon’s 73rd-minute goal was the difference at Tallaght last night, as Dundalk edged a nail-biting affair against Shamrock Rovers.

Aaron Greene sent Shamrock Rovers returning to Dublin on a high last night, the lone striker having silenced a Brandywell crowd of 3,500 with the game’s only goal.

Shamrock Rovers will receive a League of Ireland record fee if goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu plays for Manchester City’s first team or the senior international team.

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson has no issue with Paddy McNair's inclusion in Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off squad, even though he only returned from an 11-month injury lay-off on Saturday.

Callum McGregor stepped off the bench to salvage a point for Celtic in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against St Johnstone at Parkhead.

Celtic warmed up for their crucial Champions League play-off in midweek with a 4-2 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park after surviving a late lapse.

Celtic began the defence of their Scottish Premiership title with a 3-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park but not without some help and some controversy.

Cyprus 0 Northern Ireland 0

St Johnstone 0 Celtic 1

Celtic recovered from their midweek European frustration with a 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over St Johnstone at Parkhead which should have been more comprehensive.

Celtic 4 St Johnstone 0

St Johnstone 1 Celtic 1

Malta 0 Northern Ireland 0

Celtic 1 St Johnstone 1

St Johnstone 2 Celtic 1

Celtic 1 St Johnstone 0

Celtic 2 St Johnstone 0

Inverness 0 St Johnstone 1

Kilmarnock 0 St Johnstone 0

SHAMROCK ROVERS came into last night’s Champions League qualifier knowing they were facing formidable opposition in Copenhagen, a team studded with full internationals and players with knockout stage experience of Europe’s biggest competition.

SHAMROCK ROVERS go into tonight’s Champions League third qualifying round clash against FC Copenhagen with a massive task. They must overcome a club that made the knockout stages of the competition last year, emerging from the group stages behind Barcelona before being eliminated in the last 16 by Chelsea.

Flora Tallinn 0 Shamrock Rovers 0 (Shamrock Rovers win 1-0 on aggregate)

AT the 15th attempt in Europe’s premier club competition, Shamrock Rovers finally registered their first victory last night but celebrations in Tallaght were tempered by the realisation that the home side had made unnecessarily hard work of beating patently inferior opposition.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Flora Tallinn 0

DERRY City moved to within a point of top spot following a thrilling win against leaders Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell last night.

Derry City 1 Shamrock Rovers 0

SHAMROCK ROVERS moved back to the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division table when a brilliant 52nd-minute goal from Gary Twigg gave them a narrow victory over previous leaders St Patrick’s Athletic at Tallaght Stadium yesterday.

Shamrock Rovers 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 0

DAMIEN RICHARDSON is confident his Airtricity League XI can hold their own against Scottish club Celtic and Premier League giants Manchester City in next month’s inaugural Dublin Super Cup.

Sligo Rovers 2 Shamrock Rovers 0

“THAT’S why we’re champions,” sang the Shamrock Rovers crowd as they watched their side snatch an unlikely point with an equaliser two minutes into stoppage time.