Club captain Johnny Dunleavy has signed for the new season with Cork City though it looks like being March at the earliest before he will be ready to return to action.

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley has played down his simmering feud with John Caulfield, saying he respects Cork City and that the club will be deserving league champions.

Cork City boss John Caulfield has reignited his war of words with Shamrock Rovers, saying his club are expecting “gamesmanship” in their meeting this week and accusing Hoops players of “hitting the deck for no reason”.

Three second-half goals for Shamrock Rovers were enough for the Hoops to get by Shelbourne at Tolka Park in the FAI Cup.

Cork City’s Alan Bennett could be hit with a three-match ban — or worse — after being sent off in Monday’s EA Sports Cup semi-final defeat to Shamrock Rovers.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Cork City 0 (AET): At the end of a long night in Tallaght, Shamrock Rovers finally got the better of a gutsy Cork City to qualify for the EA Sports Cup final against Dundalk on September 16.

Fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers moved four points ahead of Derry and built up to Thursday’s Europa League test against Icelandic Stjarnan in style by hammering Drogheda last night.

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