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.

After last week’s slog in the bog in Ballybofey yielded a 0-1 win over Finn Harps, Cork City are hardly expecting a walk in the park against Galway United this evening but they will certainly be hoping for less onerous conditions when they host their first home game of the new SSE Airtricity Season at Turner’s Cross.

St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Bohemians 0

Bohemians 0 Cork City 1: A late Billy Dennehy penalty was enough to secure second place for the second year running for Cork City who, having held off the attentions of Shamrock Rovers in the league, can now devote their thoughts exclusively to tomorrow week’s FAI Cup final meeting with champions Dundalk.

Dundalk 2 Bohemians 2: Richie Towell netted a 94th-minute equaliser for Dundalk last night against Bohemians to keep the leaders eight points clear at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Bohemians 0 Bray Wanderers 1 (FAI Cup): Bohemians’ fans left Dalymount Park frustrated and angry with what they had just witnessed, a second defeat to Bray within five days.

Cork City 4 Bohemians 0

After last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Oriel Park saw Dundalk retain their six-point advantage over Cork City, the top two in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division resume their title contest this evening, with the Lilywhites away to Bray Wanderers and the Rebels at home to Bohemians.

Bohemians 4 Derry City 2: He may have got a vote of confidence from the club chairman earlier in the week, but the pressure on Derry City manager Peter Hutton mounts as their run without a league win stretched to 12 games at Dalymount Park last night.

Dundalk 1 Bohemians 2: Dave Mulcahy’s 74th-minute header saw Bohemians end Dundalk’s unbeaten start to the season at Oriel Park last night.

Tonight’s SSE Airtricity League action is all on the east coast, with the main focus in the Premier Division on the battle to escape relegation.

SSE Airtricity League Director Fran Gavin has revealed Bohemians will escape sanction for Monday’s disastrous Dublin derby postponement against Shamrock Rovers.

SSE Airtricity League

Airtricity Premier Division: Dundalk 5 Bray Wanderers 1

Bray Wanderers 0 Shamrock Rovers 3

Bray Wanderers 2 Longford Town 2

A sublime first league goal of the season from Greg Bolger, with topscorer Anto Flood adding a second, duly sealed the deal on a first Premier Division title in 14 years for St. Patrick’s Athletic, as they beat Sligo Rovers 2-0 to jubilant scenes at Richmond Park.

St. Patrick's Athletic edged a step closer to a first title in 14 years as goals from Anto Flood, John Russell and Christy Fagan gave them a fully deserved 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Bray Wanderers.

Bray Wanderers 1 Cork City 2

A first half goal from midfielder Stephen Maher gave St. Patrick's Athletic a 1-0 win over Shelbourne to keep Liam Buckley's side a point clear at the top of the Premier Division table in a dramatic night of Airtricity League action.

Kevin O'Connor scored a late equaliser - but was then sent off - as Bray Wanderers earned a deserved point from a roller-coaster 4-4 draw with Limerick at Thomond Park.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Killian Brennan stole the show as St. Patrick's Athletic maintained their relentless run as they beat Limerick 3-0 at Richmond Park to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier Division table to six points.

Cork City have been fined by the FAI after one of its supporters racially abused Bray Wanderers player Ismahil Akinade at last week’s home game at Turners Cross.

Chris Lyons dumped his home town club out of the EA Sports cup with a double at Dalymount Park as Bohemians beat Bray Wanderers 4-2 in extra-time to make the quarter-finals.

Shelbourne 1 Bray Wanderers 2

Champions Sligo Rovers got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 win over Derry City to leapfrog the Candystripes back to the top of the table to delight a packed Showgrounds.

Bray Wanderers moved further out of the relegation zone in a tight encounter with Derry City at a near deserted Carlisle Grounds.

Bray Wanderers left it late to capitalise on local girl Katie Taylor’s feel-good factor when equalising in the fourth minute of added time to pinch a point against fellow strugglers Dundalk.