For the third time this season, a late St Patrick’s Athletic goal proved costly for Cork City as Ronan Hale struck a 90th-minute winner at Turner’s Cross.

Colchester United loanee, Junior Uzokwe, was hailed a hero at the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium, the tricky winger snatching maximum points away from Dundalk when netting a 94th minute equaliser for Derry City.

Dundalk may well enjoy playing on the Brandywell’s big pitch, but Declan Devine insists the league leaders won’t find his Derry City a soft touch when they revisit Foyleside tonight.

A hat-trick from Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, coupled with a shambolic defensive display, saw Cork City’s season plunge to new depths at Turner’s Cross last night as Derry City ran riot to inflict another painful defeat in what is turning out to be a shocking season for last season’s runners-up.

With Shamrock Rovers not in action against Sligo Rovers until tomorrow, Dundalk will see their game in hand at home to Derry City tonight as an opportunity to close within a point of leaders.

Cork City boss John Caulfield says it will be a “scandal” if the proposed €10m Glanmire Centre of Excellence falls through, warning it could threaten the very survival of the club.

Shane Duggan’s 93rd-minute penalty rescued a point for Waterford at RSC yesterday.

Stephen Kenny is at one with the man he will succeed as Irish manager in holding the view that any cap at senior level should be enough to copper-fasten a player’s international future.

Whenever Cork City host Derry City, memories of the title decider at Turner’s Cross in 2005 inevitably loom large. In this long-running tale of two cities, Cork’s 2-0 win in front of a packed house remains the stand-out chapter.

The first Munster derby of the new SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season is all about showing ‘bouncebackability’, with both Cork City and Waterford smarting from defeats on the opening night and anxious to get their first points on the board at Turner’s Cross this evening.

Declan Devine has made a trio of new signings at Derry City.

Roddy Collins is excited at the prospect of challenging for trophies again after being appointed as Derry City manager.

Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City 0

Raffaele Cretaro ended Derry City's reign as FAI Ford Cup holders with the only goal at the Showgrounds as Sligo Rovers, winners of the competition in 2010 and 2011, advanced to the semi-finals, the draw for which will be made on Monday night.

Martin O’Neill remains the clear leader in the Irish managerial succession stakes as the field narrowed yesterday with two predicted runners and riders eliminating themselves from the race while the favourite announced that he was ready for a return to management.

Derry City 0 Drogheda United 2

Derry City 0 Trabzonspor 3

Derry City boss Declan Devine will have his fingers firmly crossed that top hitman, Rory Patterson, will pass a pre-match test for tonight’s Europa League home fixture against Trabzonspor (kick-off 7.45pm).

Trabzonspor (Turkey) 4 Derry City 2

Derry City 4 Trabzonspor 2

Ciaran Kilduff is set to make his debut for Cork City as they host defending champions Sligo Rovers in tonight’s Premier Division clash at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).

Champions League fever in Sligo means there are now only 700 tickets left for sale for home fans for their second qualifying round first leg game against Norwegian champions Molde which, the club have confirmed, will take place on Wednesday, July 17 at the Showgrounds.

Blarney United 0 Derry City 4

Christy Fagan scored twice as St Patrick's Athletic heaped more misery on beleaguered Shelbourne as they beat the managerless Reds 3-0 at Tolka Park this evening.

Having put a stop to Sligo Rovers’ Airtricity League Premier Division gallop with an impressive 2-0 win, third-placed St Patrick’s Athletic now turn their attention to trying to put an end to Derry City’s fine run of eight league games unbeaten, as the two sides prepare to meet at Richmond Park this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Still holding maximum points in the league, but smarting from defeat by Drogheda United in the Setanta Cup, champions Sligo Rovers travel to Richmond Park to take on third-placed St Patrick’s Athletic in the big game of the night in the Airtricity Premier Division (kick-off 7:05pm, live on RTE 2).

Rory Patterson made a telling return from injury with two penalties as Derry City came from behind to beat Dundalk 3-1 at Oriel Park.

AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Derry City threw down their title credentials in style with a rousing 4-0 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park to edge them to within two points of leaders Sligo Rovers overnight.

Michael Rafter scored twice as Derry City maintained their excellent start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell.

The 2013 campaign gets underway later tonight.

For the faithful, the dawning of the first day of the new Airtricity League season brings with it a familiar quickening of the pulse and the heady sensation that anything is possible.

Robbie Keane has said he will only consider a loan move to an English club in January if he feels is 100% fit.

Derry City manager Declan Devine was full of praise for his players, young and old, after their thrilling FAI Cup win but, understandably, made special mention of goalkeeper Ger Doherty who had only travelled down from Derry yesterday after carrying the coffin of his 86-year-old grandfather, Jim McDaid.

It seems that St Pat's fears have been realised ahead of their FAI Cup final against Derry City today as Barry Murphy has failed to make the game.

Having been a late call- up to play in and lose the emotionally charged final of 1997, Declan Devine appreciated all the more his subsequent success in the FAI Cup, albeit in a coaching capacity, when Derry City won the cracking decider with tomorrow’s opponents, St. Patrick’s Athletic, in 2006.

Shelbourne are favourites to make it an all-Dublin FAI Ford Cup final against St Patrick’s Athletic on November 4 at the Aviva Stadium when they clash with Derry City in tonight’s semi-final replay at Tolka Park (8pm).

It’s a super semi Sunday of domestic football tomorrow with live television coverage on RTÉ 2 of the FAI Ford Cup last four games between Derry City and Shelbourne at the Brandywell (1.45pm) and Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park (3.55pm).

Derry City and Dundalk meet in the Airtricity Premier League at the Brandywell tonight (7.45pm), with both sides bound to be keeping an eye on their respective FAI Ford Cup semi-final dates on Sunday.

Sligo Rovers 4 Derry City 1

Sarsfields of Galway became the first club to successfully defend their All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge title when they beat a strong field at Waterford Castle Golf Club.

Derry City and Shamrock Rovers will each be looking to return to winning ways after recent frustrations when they meet at the Brandywell tonight (kick off: 7.45pm).

Chris Shields’ 86th minute header earned struggling Dundalk a share of the spoils with Derry City at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk looking to end a five-game winless streak as they welcome Derry City tonight (kick off: 7.45pm).