Like most League of Ireland projects, Pat O’Sullivan’s venture with his hometown club of Limerick ended in failure.

First Division pacesetters Shelbourne cruised past Galway United 3-0 to rack up their eighth league win on the trot.

Two of tomorrow’s provincial finalists lost the central figures in their hurling histories within six years of each other. Mick Mackey of Limerick passed away in 1982, while Wexford’s Nicky Rackard died in 1976.

After two decades in the professional game, Alan Bennett has learned the value of perspective.

The seventh annual running of one of the world’s richest juvenile greyhound races, the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake, was launched at Limerick Greyhound Stadium yesterday.

With one hand already on the title, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny is determined to complete the job against St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park tonight (7.45pm, live on RTÉ2).

Limerick 0 Dundalk 1

Is there a rivalry in Irish sport to match the intensity of Cork City and Dundalk in the League of Ireland over the past four years?

In a game of huge significance for both sides, but for very different reasons, Dundalk host Shamrock Rovers in a deferred SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash at Oriel Park tonight (7.45pm).

Maynooth University Town, in the words of manager Barry Prenderville, already “know the road to Cork well” having beaten Rockmount and Blarney United on their way to winning the Intermediate Cup in May and then Everton and Leeds in this year’s FAI Cup.

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

A win for Cork City in their game in hand against Derry City at Turner’s Cross this afternoon (3pm) will see the Rebels leapfrog Dundalk to go top of the Premier Division.

Garry Buckley made it three goals in two games as he got both for Cork City in last night’s Premier Division win over Limerick at Markets Field.

After losing 3-0 to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght last Monday, Cork City are looking for an immediate response, in every sense, in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division game against Limerick at Turner’s Cross this afternoon (kick off 2pm).

Ahead of tonight’s Premier Division clash with Shamrock Rovers (8pm), Cork City manager John Caulfield has pleaded with the League of Ireland to take more stakeholders into account when setting fixtures.

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The story goes that Jose Mourinho once hid in a laundry basket to brief his players covertly and get around a matchday suspension, but manager John Caulfield won’t be going to such lengths when Cork City host Sligo Rovers in their SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash at Turner’s Cross this evening (7.45pm).

Conor Clifford is looking to reignite his football career with Limerick after completing a six-month ban for betting offences.

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.

Limerick FC 0 Waterford FC 2... Waterford FC chalked up their sixth win of the season after striking either side of the break at Markets Field last night.

Limerick FC 0 Shamrock Rovers 1

Limerick 1 - Cork City 1: While they sit top of the table on their own after Dundalk’s late win over Waterford, Cork City found themselves frustrated by a strong Limerick performance at Markets Field last night.

Cork City moved into sole ownership of the Premier Division lead, but had to be content with a draw against Limerick at the Markets Field.

They used to say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Cork City striker Graham Cummins knows better.

Will the real Limerick FC please stand up? The question takes on added urgency with the visit of Cork City to the Markets Field tonight, a game which, on paper at least, would have been regarded before the season kicked off as potentially the toughest fixture the home side would face in the opening phase of the 2018 season.

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Cork City boss John Caulfield believes League of Ireland suspension rules need to be changed in the wake of Graham Cummins controversial weekend sending off.

Garryowen 18 ... UL Bohemian 3: Garryowen claimed their 39th Munster Senior Cup when overwhelming local rivals UL Bohemian 18-3 in their all-Limerick final at the Markets Field last night.

There were times throughout the last century when a Munster Senior Cup clash of Garryowen and Cork Constitution would have tested the capacities of Markets Field, Thomond Park, The Mardyke or Musgrave Park.

Providing a home for popular if somewhat discordant sporting occasions, from soccer to cycling, rugby to hurling, Gaelic football to greyhound racing.

Kieran Sadlier secured Cork City’s first ever league and FAI Cup double when he despatched the winning penalty against Dundalk on Sunday, but the 23-year-old is confident that he will be even more of an asset to the Leeside club next season.

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. 

Keep calm and carry on.

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.

Dundalk 3 Drogheda United 0: Dundalk are refusing to give up on their title.

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.

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.

There were two games in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division tonight.

Holders Cork City have been rewarded with a home draw against First Division side Athlone Town in the second round of the 2017 FAI Cup.

Holders Cork City have been drawn at home to Athlone Town in the second round of the FAI Cup.

Limerick 0 Dundalk 3: New Limerick FC boss Neil McDonald watched his side slip to defeat to Dundalk – and finish the game with 10 men after keeper Brendan Clarke was ref carded – at the Markets Field last night.

New Limerick boss Neil McDonald wants his side to lay down a marker against defending Premier League champions Dundalk at the Markets Field tonight.