As Dundalk know better than most in recent years, points win prizes.

Shamrock Rovers 4 Limerick 1: Having opened the scoring with a spectacular strike, Brandon Miele completed Shamrock Rovers’ tally with the goal of the game in an easy win at Tallaght Stadium.

Shamrock Rovers 3 Progres Niederkorn 0

St Patrick’s Athletic 2 Shamrock Rovers 1: Holders St Patrick’s Athletic kept their cup ambitions alive when defeating local rivals Shamrock Rovers by 2-1 in their FAI Cup second round encounter at Richmond Park last night.

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Shamrock Rovers 0: The spoils were shared between St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park last night.

There are just three games in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division tonight but no shortage of quality and tantalising sub-plots, as Shamrock Rovers meet Cork City in Tallaght, cup holders St Pats travel to Oriel Park to take on champions Dundalk, and joint bottom clashes with joint top as Galway United host Drogheda United.

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

Ford FAI Cup semi-final

FAI FORD CUP:

THERE’S no escape from the crushing heat of the post-midday sun in Flushing Meadows but its patrons are carrying on regardless.

Hibernian 0 Rangers 1

Rangers headed into their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Hibernian looking for the win that would secure a second successive title.

Hibernian 0 Celtic 1

Celtic have named an unchanged team for the visit of Falkirk tonight.

Rangers have confirmed they will appeal the red card received by Sasa Papac during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Falkirk in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Republic of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens today named his side to play Sweden in a friendly in Uppsala tomorrow evening (kick-off 5.30pm Irish time).

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today announced his squads for the forthcoming matches against Sweden and England.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens has named his starting 11 for tomorrow night’s vital clash against Portugal at Turner’s Cross (kick-off 7.45pm).

THE intimidating atmosphere of Turner’s Cross can help Ireland’s Under-21 side to victory over Portugal in their European Championship qualifier tonight (kick off 7.30pm).

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today announced an 18-man squad for the friendly against Germany in Furth later this month.

Falkirk 1 Celtic 4

Falkirk 1 Celtic 0

An 84th-minute strike by Aiden McGeady gave grateful Celtic all three points in an enthralling Bank of Scotland Premier League match at Falkirk.

BIRMINGHAM defender Alex Bruce has opted to make himself available for the Republic rather than Northern Ireland.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 Manager Don Givens has had to make some personnel changes to his squad travelling to Madeira on February 13 next for the Madeira Tournament.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens is planning a summer of change following his side's virtual elimination from the European Championship qualifiers.

DON GIVENS is hoping some of the Arsenal magic will rub off on his Republic of Ireland U-21 squad after naming Highbury youth coach Neil Banfield as his assistant.

Don Givens is hoping some of the Arsenal magic will rub off on his Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad after naming Highbury youth coach Neil Banfield as his assistant.

Republic of Ireland 1 Italy 0

Ireland 0 France 1

BRIAN Kerr stressed last night how invaluable a good start against Germany would be for his Republic of Ireland U17’s tonight as they head into one of the most challenging groups imaginable in the Euro Championship qualifiers.

Brian Kerr has named a squad of 22 players for the first qualifying phase of the European 2003 Under-17 Championships in Cork from October 21 to October 25, 2002.