Jordan Keegan hit two stunning second-half strikes as Monaghan came from behind against fellow strugglers Dundalk at Oriel Park last night to claim only their second win of the season.

Dundalk will seek to return to winning ways after two defeats in a row.

Cork City boss Tommy Dunne will be looking for a fourth win in five league games when his side travel to take on unbeaten St Patrick’s Athletic in the pick of tonight’s Airtricity Premier Division fixtures at Richmond Park (7.45pm).

Cork City will look to claim back-to-back victories for the first time this term against a Dundalk side that have mixed impressive results with some disappointing displays.

Sligo Rovers, three points clear at the top of the Airtricity Premier Division, will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they travel to take on third-placed Drogheda United at Hunky Dory Park tonight (7.45pm).

Goals in either half from Ronan McEvoy and Peter McMahon helped Bohemians see off the challenge of Dundalk at Oriel Park last night as the Phibsboro men got back to winning ways.

Dundalk stunned Derry City at the Brandywell last night, the Lilywhites recording their first win on the road since last June.

Dundalk will look to secure their second home win in a row after suffering a 3-0 loss at Sligo Rovers last time out as they welcome Shelbourne to Oriel Park tonight (kick off: 7.45pm).

Sligo Rovers have made their best league start in 75 years and will look to continue their impressive run of form tonight when they host Dundalk – who picked up their first three points under new manager Sean McCaffrey against UCD last week.

Dundalk claimed their first Premier League victory of the season as two goals inside four second-half minutes from Chris Shields and Shane O’Neill helped them see off UCD in Oriel Park last night.

Champions Shamrock Rovers stayed top of the Premier Division table after a resounding 4-0 win over old rivals Shelbourne before a packed Tallaght Stadium.

Dundalk will look to secure their first victory of the new campaign when they host UCD at Oriel Park.

Drogheda go into this Louth derby looking to pick up their first home league win over Dundalk since January 1998.

Sean McCaffrey will take charge of a Dundalk side for the first time in a league fixture in an intriguing clash with Liam Buckley’s St Patrick’s Athketic.

It won’t be what pretenders to their throne want to hear on the eve of the new season, but three-in-a-row-chasing Shamrock Rovers are as driven as ever, according to striker Gary Twigg.

WHILE Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill is set to be named the new manager of Northern Ireland, the post he occupied for the last three years continues to remain vacant at Tallaght amid late complications in the Hoops’ bid to land Stephen Kenny as his successor.

“IT’S about developing players but it’s also about qualifying and hopefully winning things.”

LIAM IRWIN knows that trying to emulate his father’s achievements in football is close to an impossible task.

LIAM IRWIN, son of former Manchester United stalwart Denis, showed enough on his international debut last night to suggest he could become a regular fixture on the international underage scene.

Sean McCaffrey’s U19 Ireland side have defeated reigning European Champions, Ukraine 1-0 to keep their hopes of qualifying for this summer’s UEFA Championship finals in France firmly alive.

IRELAND U18’s beat Macedonia last night in the second of this week’s double-header in Ohrid, thanks to a goal 19 minutes from time by substitute Jeff Hendrick.

DANIEL KEARNS grabbed his first international goal last night against Poland at Tolka Park as Ireland completed their preparations for next month’s UEFA U19 elite qualifiers with a victory.

THE Republic of Ireland U19 side begin preparations for the UEFA Championship qualifiers when they host the Clarion Hotels U19 Four Nations Tournament.

NEIL WARNOCK’S fractious relationship with the FAI has deteriorated further after he launched an outspoken attack on their treatment of his Crystal Palace winger Sean Scannell.

FAI CHIEFS say they’ll back Giovanni Trapattoni’s moves for new international talent following a controversial FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch international allegiance.

Belgium 1-0 Republic of Ireland

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has called two goalkeepers into the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria on Saturday June 6.

Republic of Ireland 1-3 Poland

Republic of Ireland under-17 manager Sean McCaffrey has announced a 20-man squad to take on Poland in a two friendly ties next week.

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-man squad for next week’s friendlies against Slovakia in Bratislava — their final preparatory games before the UEFA Championship Elite phase qualifiers in June.

CONOR CLIFFORD has the potential to make a breakthrough at Chelsea, according to former Republic of Ireland U-21 assistant manager Paul Clement, now reserve team coach at Stamford Bridge.

SEÁN MCCAFFREY’S Irish U19 side yesterday qualified for the elite qualifying phase of the UEFA Championship’s but they were made to work hard for the victory against a very defensive Liechtenstein team with Chelsea’s Conor Clifford’s strike in the 84th minute proving to be the difference between the two teams.

Republic of Ireland U19 manager Sean McCaffrey has made two changes to his squad for the upcoming Four Nations competition with Spain, Portugal and Ukraine starting next week in Athlone.

Republic of Ireland 1 France 2

THOSE of us who were in the Mansion House last Wednesday week can still feel a lingering warm glow from our National Junior Sports Stars awards ceremony.

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-man squad for the UEFA U17 Elite Phase tournament (March 13-18).

STUART PEARCE may just be hedging his bets but the England U21 boss insists the FAI will be onto a good thing whether they appoint Terry Venables or Giovanni Trapattoni as their new manager.

Montenegro U-21 1 Rep of Ireland U-21 0

Sean McCaffrey admitted he was frustrated not to be able to hand the Republic of Ireland Under-21s side back to Don Givens with a first UEFA Championships win under their belts.

IRELAND’S U-19 side were unlucky losers to an impressive Portugal in a friendly at Belfield last night.

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has named a 20-man squad for next week’s double-header of friendly games with Portugal. The matches, on September 4 and 6 (both 7.30pm) will maintain preparations ahead of the first phase UEFA U-19 qualifying series.

TOTTENHAM defender Cian Hughton — son of former Irish and Spurs full-back Chris Hughton — will make his first International appearance of the season tonight when Ireland’s U-19’s host Chile in Athlone (7.30pm).

Republic of Ireland 2 Hungary 0

STEVE STAUNTON flies out to the United States this afternoon at the helm of what is increasingly resembling a ‘B’ international squad for next week’s friendly games against Ecuador and Boston.