The most eye-catching of the opening day fixtures for the 2013 Airtricity League Premier Division will see Thomond Park play host to the meeting of Limerick and Cork City.

Phil Brown remains in contention for the job of Limerick manager after Fleetwood Town yesterday announced the appointment of a new boss.

After the glory days of summer, there is quiet confidence this won’t be a winter of discontent for many out-of-contract Airtricity League players.

Limerick FC are compiling a shortlist of candidates for the vacant manager’s position with a view to making an imminent appointment.

Limerick FC chairman Pat O’Sullivan says the club won’t rush into finding a new manager after the newly-promoted Shannonsiders surprisingly parted company with manager Pat Scully.

It’s a super semi Sunday of domestic football tomorrow with live television coverage on RTÉ 2 of the FAI Ford Cup last four games between Derry City and Shelbourne at the Brandywell (1.45pm) and Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park (3.55pm).

Waterford United 1 Mervue United 2

Limerick FC 1 Athlone Town 0

SD Galway 0 Limerick FC 1

Limerick FC 0 Waterford United 1

Manchester City warmed up for next weekend’s Community Shield against Chelsea with a straightforward win over Limerick FC at Thomond Park last night.

Limerick FC opened up a three point lead at the top of the First Division with a hard-earned win over bottom-of-the-table Salthill Devon Galway at Jackman Park last night.

Limerick FC capped a great day off the field with a super display on it with victory over Mervue United at Fahy’s Field last night.

European competition and live television requirements mean that, with the top-flight restricted to just two fixtures this evening, the Airtricity League game of the day is in the First Division, where third hosts second as Waterford United face Limerick at the RSC (7.45pm).

Stephen Trimble was the hero with two saves in a shootout to put Drogheda United into the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup as they beat Dundalk 3-2 on penalties after a thrilling 1-1 draw at Hunky Dorys Park.

While the top of the table inevitably hogs the headlines, perhaps the most fascinating game in the Airtricity League Premier Division tonight takes place at the other end, as winless Bohemians host winless Cork City at Dalymount Park.

Convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan was given a further six-month prison sentence by the Special Criminal Court today after he pleaded guilty to possession of a mobile phone at Portlaoise District Court in 2010.

FIRST DIVISION Limerick pulled off a major shock by dumping out Premier Division side Bray Wanderers in last night’s dramatic FAI Ford Cup fourth round tie at the Carlisle Grounds.

Bray Wanderers entertain First Division side Limerick in tonight’s FAI Ford Cup fourth round clash at the Carlisle Grounds (kick-off 7.45pm).

LIMERICK kept their promotion dream well and truly alive as a brace from Denis Behan inflicted a 10th league defeat on Waterford United in a disappointing all-Munster clash at the RSC last night.

First Division roundup

GOALS from Dean Bennett, Johnny Breen, Mark Quigley and Daniel Kearns saw Dundalk come from behind to record a comfortable 4-1 win over 10-man Galway United in the FAI Ford Cup third round.

VETERAN Bray Wanderers boss Pat Devlin admits his team are travelling into the unknown when they clash with Munster Senior League side Youghal United in tomorrow’s FAI Ford Cup third-round tie at Ardrath Park (3pm).

First Division roundup

FOOTBALL’S coming home for Limerick FC who are set to return to the Markets Field after an absence of some 30 years.

STEPHEN RICE sums up where Shamrock Rovers are at right now, still happy to bask in the glow of that long-awaited league triumph but equally determined not to let the chance of a momentous double slip away on Sunday.

Sporting Fingal 2 Limerick 2

CORK CITY FORAS CO-OP’S hopes of launching a promotion push in the second half of the season received a setback at Turner’s Cross last night, as Limerick boosted their own chances of going up by taking all three points in a thoroughly entertaining game.

LIMERICK FC chief executive, Andrew Mawhinney, has stepped down from the post.

Pat Scully has been named as the new manager of Limerick FC.

FOR the first time in Ireland, licensed deer stalkers will be called out byfarmers to shoot protected species of wild deer if they are damaging crops, forests or causing traffic accidents.

Wild deer roaming the countryside will be culled by conservationists in a bid to protect farmlands and maintain herds humanely, it emerged today.

DROGHEDA UNITED live to fight another day after the High Court yesterday ruled that the club could be taken out of examinership.

NEW Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill is targeting a top four finish for the Hoops next season.

Brechin City have refused to comment on speculation linking former Northern Ireland international Michael O'Neill to the vacant managerial position at Shamrock Rovers.

FOLLOWING the resignation of Gareth Cronin from his post at Waterford United on Monday, it looks like a second eircom League club is losing its manager, amid speculation that Dundalk and John Gill have parted company.

Damien Richardson has emerged as the early favourite to take over from Pat Scully at Shamrock Rovers.

Shamrock Rovers and Pat Scully to parted company with immediate effect by mutual consent.

Shamrock Rovers will be looking to get back to winning ways as they take on UCD at Tolka Park tonight, kick-off 8pm.

Darragh Maguire returns for Shamrock Rovers as they take on Bray Wanderers at Tolka park tonight, kick-off 8pm.

A PLACE in the final next spring against either England or Italy is at stake when the Republic of Ireland U23 team take on Belgium in the International Challenge Trophy at Dalymount Park on Tuesday, October 21 (kick off 7.30pm).

A LATE missed penalty by Drogheda United saw Cobh Ramblers salvage a point in their last Premier Division outing but the club still have much to do if they are to have any hope of avoiding the drop, beginning with the visit to St Colman’s tonight of Shamrock Rovers (kick off 7.45pm).

Cobh Ramblers need all three points when Shamrock Rovers visit St Colman's Park on Saturday (7.45pm) night if they are to have any chance of survival this season.