Limerick are facing an exodus of playing talent as the club looks to cut its spending in the wake of well-documented financial difficulties.

While it remains to be seen if the departure of Paul Lambert encourages Stoke City to make a renewed approach to Martin O’Neill, John Delaney has said the FAI “fully expect” the manager and Roy Keane to see their current contracts through to completion.

Bohemians came from 2-0 down to beat UCD 5-3 in a penalty shootout after extra-time at Dalymount Park to advance to the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup as the wet weather wreaked havoc with yesterday’s schedule, forcing the postponement of five of the competition’s eight fixtures.

John Caulfield will ring the changes in his Cork City team for this afternoon’s EA Sports Cup against Waterford at the RSC (kick off 3pm), the first of two games in a week against the same opposition at the same venue.

Cork City will begin the defence of their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title with an away game against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park on Friday, February 16.

Club captain Johnny Dunleavy has signed for the new season with Cork City though it looks like being March at the earliest before he will be ready to return to action.

There was heartbreak for Galway United tonight as they make the drop to the First Division of the SSE Airtricity League next season despite a brave second-half comeback.

The Leesiders will have to wait to claim the League.

Victory for Galway United tonight and Mayo on Sunday would complete a perfect few days for Ronan Murray, who has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for August.

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.

With third-placed Derry City not in action until Sunday when they host Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers will tonight aim to close the gap on the Candystripes in their bid to claim a European place when they visit Eamonn Deacy Park to take on Galway United.

John Caulfield is expected to shuffle his pack for tonight’s EA Sports Cup semi-final at Shamrock Rovers, with Greg Bolger, Jimmy Keohane, and Ryan Delaney all in line to start at Tallaght Stadium tonight, writes John Fallon.

John Caulfield is expected to shuffle his pack for tonight’s EA Sports Cup semi-final at Shamrock Rovers, with Greg Bolger, Jimmy Keohane, and Ryan Delaney all in line to start at Tallaght Stadium (7pm).

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.

Cork City manager John Caulfield is confident his charges will get back to business tonight and put down the first marker of a new winning streak. 

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’s incredible winning run since the start of the season came to an end in their 13th fixture away to Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park tonight.

Cork City boss John Caulfield may have to plan without Karl Sheppard for a “couple of weeks” as the player deals with a troubling knee injury.

Conor McCormack insists there’s no talk of records or invincibility in the Cork City dressing room, despite the runaway league leaders’ remarkable haul of maximum points with over a third of the season gone.

Cork City manager John Caulfield says he hopes a supporter’s group will win their battle to wrest control of troubled Athlone Town and the match-fixing cloud hanging over the club can have a positive outcome.

The board of troubled Athlone Town says the club will work to ensure the “full truth” comes out regarding damaging match-fixing allegations surrounding the club’s 3-1 defeat to Longford Town, and want gardaí to open a “parallel investigation” to the FAI’s probe.

With Cork City and Bray facing off this evening, Dundalk know a draw at Turner’s Cross would, if they can beat Galway United, see the champions close the gap on the leaders and make second place their own in the Premier Division.

On what can’t possibly be anything other than an occasion heavy with emotion at Maginn Park tonight, Derry City will play for first time since the tragic death two weeks ago of their captain Ryan McBride.

Get knocked down. Get back up again. It’s an approach Cork City skipper John Dunleavy has taken through his career.

The Airtricity League Premier Division title race has been blown open tonight.

With Limerick boss Martin Russell freely admitting after the weekend victory over Cabinteely that, at 21 points clear and with just seven games remaining, his team are already “home and hosed” as First Division champions, the runaway leaders will this evening get a taste of what’s in store for them next season when they travel to Richmond Park to play St Patrick’s Athletic in the third round of the FAI Cup.

Vinny Faherty’s 45th minute header was the only goal of an interesting game as Galway United stunned SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park last night.

While the SSE Airtricity League top two of Dundalk and Derry are, respectively, away to Bohemians and at home to Sligo Rovers, probably the most eye-catching Premier Division fixture this evening sees third play fifth, as Cork City host St Patrick’s Athletic at Turner’s Cross.

Galway United 2 Cork City 2: Cork City became the first side this season to score, and take a point, from Eamonn Deacy Park, but John Caulfield won’t be happy as his side dropped points for a third successive game last night to fall further off the pace.

Having dropped points at home to Wexford Youths, the pressure is on Cork City to make goal chances count in Eamonn Deacy Park tonight where Galway United, third in the table to City’s sixth, are yet to concede in the league.

Wexford Youths should bounce into Turner’s Cross this evening with a newfound spring in their step, on the back of two successive wins.

While many could have anticipated that Dundalk would make up one half of an early top-of-the-table clash, far fewer would have predicted that their opponents would be Derry City.

Having produced commendable performances against some of the top sides in the country, Shane Keegan wants his Wexford Youths to finally take that major step and garner a first Premier Division victory when Derry City visit Ferrycarrig Park this evening.

Galway United 4 Bray Wanderers 0

Runaway league leaders Dundalk will be hot favourites to keep their double dream alive when they host Longford Town at Oriel Park in the first of this year’s FAI Cup semi-finals this evening (kick off 7.25pm, live on RTÉ 2).

Galway United 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 0 (St Patrick’s Athletic won 4-3 on penalties): St Patrick’s Athletic manager Liam Buckley hailed goalkeeper Conor O’Malley as a star of the future after the Mayo native saved two penalties in the shoot-out to hand the Super Saints the EA Sports Cup in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday night.

Galway United 1 Dundalk 4: Dundalk advanced to the quarter finals of the FAI Cup following a convincing win over Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Though they may have won their last three home games, Galway United manager Tommy Dunne will demand far greater effort from his players this evening if they are to make that a fourth when second in the table Cork City — unbeaten away this season — arrive at Eamonn Deacy Park.

There was more good news for champions and league leaders Dundalk ahead of tonight’s game against Derry City at Oriel Park, with midfielder Richie Towell being named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Month for April.

With leaders Dundalk and second-placed Cork City not in action tonight, Shamrock Rovers have a chance to leapfrog the Rebels when they host Drogheda United at Tallaght (8pm).