Reigning Kildare champions Sarsfields were pushed all the way by last year’s IFC champions Monasterevan in Newbridge but eventually booked their place in the quarter-final by virtue of a 3-16 to 0-9 win.

Waterford United 1 Longford Town 1

Newly-crowned champions Sligo Rovers have, as expected, dominated the PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year with five places but there was no place for any member of EA Sports Cup and Europa League bound Drogheda United in the side.

UEFA are probing irregular betting patterns surrounding Friday’s Airtricity Premier Division clash between Shelbourne and Monaghan.

Supporters at Lissywoollen last night were treated to two magnificent goals in this Midlands derby but it was a scrappy toe-poke from Noel Haverty that gave leaders Longford Town the points.

Unbeaten Longford Town stretched their lead at the top of the First Division with a hard-fought win over high-flying Limerick at Jackman Park.

SD Galway ended the league’s only 100% record thanks to Enda Curran’s second-half penalty at Terryland Park.

CHRIS TURNER’S 70th minute winner sent Shamrock Rovers into their first FAI Ford Cup Final since 2002 at the expense of 10-man St Patrick’s Athletic in a tense semi-final replay last night.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Bohemians 1

St Patrick's Athletic take on newly promoted UCD in the Airtricity League at Richmond Park tonight hoping to maintain their 100% league record, kick-off 7.45pm.

Drogheda United can avoid the automatic relegation spot with victory over St Patrick's Athletic at United Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

St Patrick's Athletic take on Derry City at Richmond Park tonight and the Saints will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Bohemians, kick-off 7.45pm.

Bohemians welcome St Patrick’s Athletic to Dalymount Park as they look to keep league-leaders Shamrock Rovers within range with just three further games remaining in the league (kick-off 7.45pm).

St Patrick’s Athletic can move well clear of the relegation zone with victory over Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

CORK CITY will continue their pursuit of a European place as they take on Derry City in a vital League of Ireland Premier Division clash at Turner’s Cross tonight (7.45pm).

RYAN GUY struck late for St Patrick’s Athletic at Turner’s Cross last night to deny Cork City a chance of closing the gap at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Galway United will be looking for victory as they take on St Patrick’s Athletic and their former boss Jeff Kenna at Terryland Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

St Patrick’s Athletic are hoping to bounce back from recent defeats to both Bohemians and Derry City when they take on Drogheda United at Richmond Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

WE MIGHT be only seven games into the season but predictions that the League of Ireland title race would be a tight affair this year are already being given credence by a table in which just five points separates the top four, with plenty of other teams not too much further off the pace.

Jamie Harris thinks St Patrick’s Athletic have the right balance of youth and experience in their squad for the 2009 season.

St Patrick’s Athletic will be looking to put their off-the-pitch problems behind them as they take on UCD at Richmond Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

DROGHEDA United were last night deducted 10 league points as a result of their entering into the examinership process, pushing them down to eighth in the eircom Premier Division.

St Patrick's Athletic should be too strong for UCD when they meet in this afternoon's Premier Division clash at the UCD Bowl, kick-off 3.00pm.

CORK City will enter tomorrow evening’s match against St Patrick’s Athletic looking for their seventh league win in-a-row (Turner’s Cross, live on Setanta Ireland, 7pm).

Shamrock Rovers will be hoping to put a dent in St Patrick's Athletic's title challenge as they travel to Richmond Park tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

Champions Drogheda United will be hoping to rein in table-toppers St Patrick's Athletic at United Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

St Patrick’s Athletic will be hoping to stay clear at the top of the table when they take on UCD at Richmond Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

ST PATRICK’S Athletic defend a six-point lead at the top of the eircom League Premier Division when they host UCD at Richmond Park tonight (all kick offs 7.45pm except where indicated).

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC manager Johnny McDonnell believes Keith Fahey should have been included in Giovanni Trapattoni’s initial 40-man panel for Ireland’s forthcoming training camp in Portugal and friendlies against Serbia and Colombia.

FOR the second league game in succession, Cork City ended up with 10 men and no points, despite a stirring comeback from two-down against St Patrick’s Athletic in Inchicore last night.

The Republic of Ireland squad to take part in the Four Nations Tournament in Scotland next week was today formally announced by manager Mick Neville.