Two goals inside the opening 33 minutes from Rafael Ratão and Aleksandar Čavrić killed the game as a contest and while the Lilywhites never gave up, even briefly threatening a mini-revival when Michael Duffy pulled one back midway through the second half, this ultimately proved a challenge too far.

Dávid Holman’s goal four minutes from the end has left Dundalk with it all to do in Tallaght next Tuesday if they are to keep their Europa League dreams alive.

An Irishman has already had one big win this week, now Dundalk’s Sean Gannon is aiming for an even bigger one in Azerbaijan tonight.

Gutsy Dundalk will go to Azerbaijan next week with a genuine opportunity of reaching the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Jamie McGrath hopes his record against sides from Azerbaijan continues when their national champions, Qarabag, face Dundalk in the Champios League tomorrow night.

Dundalk will have to score in Latvia next Wednesday to keep their Champions League dreams alive after a frustrating stalemate with Riga FC at Oriel Park tonight.

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.

Dundalk made it eight league wins in a row to cement their eight-point lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table with a comfortable victory over Waterford FC at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk have maintained their eight-point advantage at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

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

A dream and a privilege to have been given the opportunity, John Caulfield said it was like “going to heaven every day” during his time managing Cork City.

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley is surprised he won’t see the familiar face of John Caulfield in the opposing dugout at Tallaght Stadium tonight.

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley is surprised he won’t see the familiar face of John Caulfield in the opposing dugout at Tallaght Stadium tonight.

It’s the New Firm — but not as we know it.

Georgie Kelly was UCD’s leading scorer last season with 14 goals to greatly help their promotion push last year before his summer move to Oriel Park.

This was a far more commanding victory for Dundalk than the narrow scoreline might suggest, as a Michael Duffy header capped an at times swaggering display from the champions to claim a big three points in defence of their title and bring Cork City’s recent resurgence to a shuddering halt.

And so the league champions are now also the cup holders, Dundalk confirming another changing of the guard in Irish football by doing what Cork City had done one year before: the precious double.

Hail, hail King Kenny.

What a difference a year makes.

Four titles including one double in Dane Massey’s six years at Oriel Park have done nothing to blunt the Dundalk defender’s appetite for more silverware.

With one hand already on the title, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny is determined to complete the job against St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park tonight (7.45pm, live on RTÉ2).

Limerick 0 Dundalk 1

Dundalk 2 Sligo Rovers 1

Derry City might be long shots for a title challenge but they showed they are up to the task after battling back twice to claim a share of the spoils with Dundalk FC at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk 3 Bohemians 0... Bohemians became the latest side to draw a blank as Dundalk continued their unbeaten start to the season with a third win in a row at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk 1 - Waterford Utd 0: A 94th minute own goal from Garry Comerford sent Dundalk soaring above Waterford into second place in the table after a dramatic finish at Oriel Park last night.

Cork City suffered their first defeat of the new league campaign as an early Pat Hoban goal proved enough to secure a significant victory for their great rivals Dundalk at a raucous Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk 1 Cork City 1 (Cork win 5-3 on pens): This was a landmark, never-to-be-forgotten day in the history of Cork City — and one of the longest, too — as the club delivered a glorious double-double.

There was heartbreak for Galway United tonight as they make the drop to the First Division of the SSE Airtricity League next season despite a brave second-half comeback.

In the SSE Airtricity League, Dundalk have kept the Premier Division title race alive for another few days.

CORK City will have to wait another few weeks to finally relieve defending champions Dundalk of their league crown and smash their four in-a-row bid after a highly-charged and dramatic night’s football at a sold out Turner’s Cross tonight.

Rosenborg 2 - 1 Dundalk (a.e.t - Rosenborg win 3-2 on agg.) Matthias Vilhjalmsson’s header in extra-time and the top of the crossbar denied Dundalk a stunning result against Rosenborg at the Lerkendal Stadion last night as their European dreams came to a cruel end in Norway.

Bohemians 0 Dundalk 1: Ciaran Kildfuff came off the bench to score an 89th-minute winner to give Dundalk a fifth straight league victory and break valiant Bohemians’ hearts in an intriguing Premier Division clash at Dalymount Park.

Bray Wanderers 0, Dundalk 3: Robbie Benson’s first half double inspired Dundalk to fourth straight Premier Division win.

Dundalk 2 Galway Utd 0: Goals in either half from Dane Massey and Patrick McEleney saw Dundalk continue their positive momentum at Oriel Park last night as they left Galway Utd rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division.

Dundalk 4

Cork City remain 18 points clear at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0

New Limerick boss Neil McDonald wants his side to lay down a marker against defending Premier League champions Dundalk at the Markets Field tonight.

Cork City’s incredible winning run since the start of the season came to an end in their 13th fixture away to Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park tonight.

Galway United 2 Dundalk 1: Gary Shanahan hit a 93rd- minute winner for Galway United last night to hand the basement club their first win of the season, and drive another nail into Dundalk’s bid to retain their league title.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny bemoaned the fact his side hadn’t won a penalty in the league in a year this week then saw his side concede two last night, as Bray Wanderers shocked the champions at Oriel Park.