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

Two goals and regular starts for Preston in the Championship and a League of Ireland winner’s medal virtually in the post — all Sean Maguire needs now to complete a heady 2017 is to get the nod from Martin O’Neill to play his part in an Irish redemption song as the World Cup qualifying campaign reaches its conclusion.

Cork City 1 - Limerick 0: Cork City are now two league points and one cup final away from an historic double, after a first-half Garry Buckley goal was enough to see them edge out Limerick in a tight and tense semi-final at Turner’s Cross.

Cork City might be the team harbouring realistic dreams of a glorious double but Limerick will have designs on a notable double of their own when they travel to Turner’s Cross for tonight’s FAI Cup semi-final. 

Cork City 1 - Dundalk 1: Cork City were just three minutes away from their first title in 12 years last night but, frustratingly for the home side, a Robbie Benson goal — cancelling out a first half Brian Gartland own goal — smashed and grabbed the point for Dundalk which was enough to prevent the trophy officially changing hands at Turner’s Cross.

CORK City will have to wait another few weeks to finally relieve defending champions Dundalk of their league crown and smash their four in-a-row bid after a highly-charged and dramatic night’s football at a sold out Turner’s Cross tonight.

Limerick 2 Cork City 1: It’s 12 years since Cork City last lifted the Premier Division trophy but the last three weeks have proven particularly frustrating for a side that will hope to finally relieve Dundalk of the title when the reigning champions visit Turner’s Cross on Monday.

The Leesiders will have to wait to claim the League.

The league title is within touching distance for Cork City but you wouldn’t think it judging by the poker faces around Bishopstown and Turner’s Cross this week.

FAI Cup quarter-final: Longford Town 1 - Cork City 4: A professional performance that delivered a convincing win brought a spring to the step of Cork City manager John Caulfield as he left City Calling Stadium on Saturday night.

Champions-elect Cork City were beaten away from home for the first time all season and they shipped three goals for the first time too as Shamrock Rovers repeated their EA Sports Cup, semi-final victory over the same opposition at Tallaght Stadium tonight.

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley has played down his simmering feud with John Caulfield, saying he respects Cork City and that the club will be deserving league champions.

Cork City boss John Caulfield has reignited his war of words with Shamrock Rovers, saying his club are expecting “gamesmanship” in their meeting this week and accusing Hoops players of “hitting the deck for no reason”.

If things had worked out a little differently, Cork City defender Ryan Delaney could have been preparing for a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United next month.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Cork City 0 (AET): At the end of a long night in Tallaght, Shamrock Rovers finally got the better of a gutsy Cork City to qualify for the EA Sports Cup final against Dundalk on September 16.

Manager Pete Mahon reckons that Bohemians’ shock defeat of Cork City will have done his embattled Drogheda United team no favours as top plays bottom at United Park this evening.

Cork City 2 Galway United 1: A commanding second-half performance saw Cork City come from behind and start the post-Maguire-and-O’Connor era off in the best possible fashion as they moved ever closer to a first SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title since 2005 at Turner’s Cross last night.

AEK Larnaca 1 - 0 Cork City (AEK win 2-0 on agg.): Cork City boss John Caulfield had to accept a heartbreaking defeat and Europa League exit in the heat and humidity of Larnaca in Cyprus last night.

THE heat and humidity of Larnaca and the AEK Arena proved to be too much for FAI Cup holders Cork City as they bowed out of the Europa League here in Cyprus tonight.

Cork City manager John Caulfield is convinced that Irish clubs will continue to make inroads in Europe in the coming years.

Kevin O’Connor and Stephen Dooley are both doubts for Cork City’s Europa League rescue mission against AEK Larnaca in Cyprus tomorrow night.

A second-half goal from Joan Truyois saw AEK Larnaca take control of this Uefa Europa League second qualifying round tie as they defeated a gallant Cork City in front of a packed Turner’s Cross last night.

Cork City can now turn their sights towards Thursday’s big Europa League clash with AEK Larnaca after yesterday’s deserved 1-0 victory over 10-man St Patrick’s Athletic saw them extend their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League to 12 points with two games in hand on second-placed Dundalk.

Cork City 4 Levadia Tallinn 2 (Cork City win 6-2 on aggregate): Seán Maguire gave Cork City another taste of what they’ll be missing from next month with a brilliant hat-trick to inspire his team to victory on a memorable Europa League night at Turner’s Cross last night.

LEVADIA TALLINN 0 - 2 CORK CITY: John Caulfield hailed his side’s clinical away performance as their two-goal Europa League first qualifying round first leg win in Estonia last night leaves the second leg close to a formality.

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.

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.

Cork City needed extra-time before eventually seeing-off battling Wilton United to capture the Munster Senior Cup for the first time since 2008 at Turner’s Cross last night.

Dundalk 0 Cork City 3: Here at Oriel Park, on a balmy evening on the brink of the summer break, was a tantalising meeting between this season’s unstoppable force and the last three seasons’ immovable object.

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.

Cork City have extended their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier League Division to 16 points following a 2-1 victory over Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds last night.

Cork City FC 5 Drogheda United 0: Cork City provided emphatic proof that the end of their winning run was merely a blip as Drogheda United were shrugged aside with ease at Turner’s Cross last night.

Galway 1 Cork City 1: It was unlucky 13 for Cork City last night as their 100% start to the season came to an end at the hands of a gritty Galway United in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Cork City 5 - Finn Harps 0: THE Cork City juggernaut shows no sign of stopping as John Caulfield’s green machine made it 12 league wins out of 12 as four second half goals saw them romp to an emphatic win over Finn Harps at Turners Cross last night.

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

The performance was more industrious than inspirational but Cork City continued their incredible start to the season, marching to the EA Sports Cup semi-finals with a deserved win at Turner’s Cross yesterday.

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.

If there was already a gripping battle on the pitch for league honours, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny raised the ante off it with his questioning of Cork City’s penalty count.

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.

Priority number one for Limerick as the league leaders came to town on the back of six straight wins from their first half-dozen games must have been the need to make John Caulfield’s side work for every single opening.

Cork City 2 - Dundalk 1: Six points clear after six games is hardly daylight, but Cork City are certainly going to take stopping in the Premier Division title race this season.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Cork City 2: Despite the day that was in it, it was the Shamrock that was left wilting in Tallaght as Cork City extended their grand parade at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division table.

Hot shot Sean Maguire with his seventh and eighth goals of the season eased Cork City six points clear at the top of the Premier Division with a lucky 2-1 away win over Shamrock Rovers at a wet and windy Tallaght Stadium.

Drogheda United 1 Cork City 4: Cork City leapfrogged Dundalk to move top of the Premier Division table after a convincing win over 10-man Drogheda at United Park.