Walter Figueria was the Waterford hero as the Blues took victory over Cork City for the third time this season thanks to a late salvo at Turner’s Cross last night.

Neale Fenn’s managerial reign got off to an inauspicious start as his attacking brand of football was undone by a ruthless Sligo Rovers front-line in this thrilling encounter at Turner’s Cross.

You have to go back 88 days to find the last time Cork City ended an SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match with three points. Summer has come and gone since, and alarmingly, a mini-revival by Finn Harps in the meantime has left the 2018 league and cup runners-up looking over their shoulders.

They had to ride their luck, but Cork City will be in Monday’s draw for the second round of the FAI Cup.

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.

To say Cork City have had their patience tested by the Saints this season would be putting it mildly. In a season of soul-searching at the Cross, St Patrick’s Athletic have been a constant torment.

"I am delighted to have it sorted," Stokes said on completed the signing.

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.

Derry City moved into fourth spot in the table with a deserved victory over Sligo.

Bohemians came from 2-0 down to beat UCD 5-3 in a penalty shootout after extra-time at Dalymount Park to advance to the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup as the wet weather wreaked havoc with yesterday’s schedule, forcing the postponement of five of the competition’s eight fixtures.

Bohemians 1 Bray 0... Dinny Corcoran’s injury-time strike was enough to earn Bohemians their first win of the season as they triumphed 2-1 over bottom side Bray Wanderers at Dalymount Park.

And so Irish sport’s answer to the Winter Olympics — otherwise known as the League of Ireland summer season — comes around again, the burning passion of the faithful set to go head to head with the piercing February chill on this long-awaited opening night.

Ireland U19s 6 Azerbaijan U19s 0

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).

Republic of Ireland U19 international Brian Lenihan has committed his future to Cork City after agreeing a new deal that will keep him at Leeside until the end of the 2014 season.

Republic of Ireland U17s 3 Azerbaijan 0

The first African-born player to captain Ireland, Cameroon native Noe Baba, will lead out the Under-17s tonight against Azerbaijan in his new home of Castlebar (6pm).