Cork City boss John Caulfield believes playing on all-weather pitches has given title rivals Dundalk a distinct advantage and expects Derry City to reap the rewards this year too.

After losing 3-0 to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght last Monday, Cork City are looking for an immediate response, in every sense, in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division game against Limerick at Turner’s Cross this afternoon (kick off 2pm).

Meet the New Firm. Same as the Old Firm. Except different.

A top-of-the-table clash with Dundalk may be looming but John Caulfield insists Cork City’s focus is firmly on tonight’s dangerous trip to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians (8pm, live on eirSport).

The story goes that Jose Mourinho once hid in a laundry basket to brief his players covertly and get around a matchday suspension, but manager John Caulfield won’t be going to such lengths when Cork City host Sligo Rovers in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at Turner’s Cross this evening (7.45pm).

Cork City boss John Caulfield says his team have “an awful lot of improving to do” as they look to re-ignite their Premier Division campaign.

Cork City boss John Caulfield left nobody in doubt of the threat posed in the Munster derby tonight after declaring that Waterford have “basically bought a Premier Division title-challenging team”.

Cork City defender Johnny Dunleavy is closing on a return to action and is expected to be back in full training with the club in the next fortnight.

Con Houlihan liked to tell the story of his first ever assignment as a sports reporter.

Things have changed a bit since Alan Bennett replaced Patsy Freyne to make his senior debut for Cork City in 2001.

Sean Maguire might have hogged the goals and the headlines in Cork City ’s title success last year but arguably no player more completely embodied the collective team effort underlying that achievement – and the cup triumph which made it such a momentous year for the club — than Conor McCormack.

The Irish football year was book-ended and overshadowed by the tragic deaths of Derry City skipper Ryan McBride and the young Shelbourne striker Izzy Desu, writes Liam Mackey.

The Liam Mackey interview: At the end of a momentous year for the club, John Caulfield talks candidly about the pleasures and pressures of managing Cork City. ‘When we were appointed I remember saying ‘people in the League of Ireland think we haven’t a clue’.

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.

Double league and FAI Cup champions, Cork City, will be among the best kitted out teams in domestic football next season.

John Caulfield believes it’s less likely his Cork City team would have won the league this year if they hadn’t finished last season by winning the FAI Cup and finally getting the upper hand in their great rivalry with Dundalk.

For Ryan Delaney, Cork City’s loan ranger, the credits will roll as he rides out of town at the end of Sunday’s FAI Cup final. And his fervent hope now is that it will be a case of hi-ho, more silver and away.

For the first time in 12 years, Cork City finally got their hands on the SSE Airtricity League trophy at the end of tonight’s final home game of the season and a 1-0 win over Bray Wanderes at a sold out Turner’s Cross.

When it comes to Cork City and League of Ireland titles, it seems that twelve is the magic number.

Runaway League of Ireland leaders Cork City are to host a series of roadshows across the county to highlight the benefits of becoming a member of the supporters’ trust that owns the club.

Cork City boss John Caulfield has hailed Sean Maguire as the club’s greatest ever striker ahead of his last home game for the club tonight.

They’re not quite in holiday mode, but Cork City will take to the beach today as they begin their Europa League campaign, and it’s a boy from Brazil who threatens to derail the European adventure.

Cork City can focus their attentions on Thursday’s night game in Estonia against Levadia Tallinn, John Caulfield’s men securing what was a hard-earned victory over a lively and determined Derry City at Maginn Park.

You’re sitting 18 points clear at the top of the league, you’re unbeaten since the start of the season and you’re entering into European competition with an attractive draw against Levadia Tallinn.

Ryan Delaney will be staying at Cork City until the end of the season.

Cork City have been dealt a massive blow with the news club captain Johnny Dunleavy is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Cork City captain Johnny Dunleavy is expected to rest of the season with a knee injury.

CORK CITY 4 - LIMERICK 1: Another swashbuckling display from Cork City and Sean Maguire saw the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders make it 17 wins from 18 matches as they defeated Limerick for the third time this season in last night’s hugely entertaining Munster derby at Turner’s Cross.

The league’s hottest property, Seanie Maguire, brought his goals haul to 16 for the season.

Another game and another night to remember for Cork City, but this time their swaggering winning margin masked the fact they also had to show spirit in coming from behind to beat a Shamrock Rovers who were reduced to 10 men with the score at 1-1.

Some people are on the piss, they think it’s all over...

Cork City 2 Bray Wanderers 1: 11 wins out of 11 and now 12 points clear at the top: with a third of the season gone, Cork City’s astonishing 2017 just keeps on getting better and better.

Cork City 3 Derry City 0: This was another huge statement of intent by Cork City as they made it a straight eight of victories in the league by convincingly seeing off Derry City at a delighted Turner’s Cross.

SSE Airtricity Premier Division

Cork City - 4

Finn Harps 0 Cork City 1

Any conversation with John Caulfield on the eve of the new Premier Division season cannot but cut to the chase — the title chase.

Cork City boss John Caulfield has put the finishing touches to his squad to challenge for the League of Ireland title with confirmation of two new signings ahead of today’s transfer deadline.

Liam Mackey looks ahead to the President’s Cup final and the ’New Firm’ rivalry between Dundalk and Cork City.

Cork City manager John Caulfield explains why it was imperative he was back at work within just 48 hours of the club’s FAI Cup triumph.

Cork City 1 Dundalk 0: For a long while we’ve been saying that only Cork City could stop Dundalk. Now, it might be more a case of only Dundalk can stop Cork City.