Jim McGuinness has paid tribute to his Celtic bosses Neil Lennon and Dermot Desmond for allowing him time to focus on Donegal’s push for a three-in-a-row.

Celtic fans’ favourite Henrik Larsson hopes to return to Parkhead to play in a legends charity match.

Ciaran Kilduff proved Shamrock Rovers’ supersub with a dramatic stoppage time winner as they beat Coleraine 2-0 at the Showgrounds for a 2-1 aggregate victory to set up a cracking Setanta Sports Cup quarter-final tie with Linfield.

Cork City 4 Cliftonville 0

Holders Shamrock Rovers beat Cliftonville 3-1 on penalties to advance to the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup on a dramatic night at Solitude.

Goals in each half from Billy Dennehy and Colin Hawkins gave holders Shamrock Rovers a 2-0 first leg lead over Cliftonville to put them in the driving seat ahead of the second leg at Solitude on March 20th.

A goal on his 23rd birthday from Dinny Corcoran and a wonderful strike from Karl Moore got Aaron Callaghan’s Bohemians reign off to the uplifting start that all at Dalymount Park would have hoped for as they’ll take a deserved 2-1 lead to Portadown for next week's second leg.

This is the story of a Celtic footballer who jumped out of the Glasgow goldfish bowl, got two tickets to see Riverdance in Kerry, and ended up in Belfast.

COLERAINE defender Johnny Black last night spoke of his shock after he was punched by a Cliftonville supporter following Northern Ireland’s League Cup semi-final at Solitude.

HAVING put out Belfast’s big three of Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville on their way to Saturday’s Setanta Sports Cup final with Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk boss Ian Foster admits he would relish the prospect of an All-Ireland League.

Cliftonville 1 Dundalk 3

St. Patrick’s Athletic 2 Cliftonville 0 (Cliftonville won 3-2 on aggregate)

Cliftonville 3 St. Patrick’s Athletic 0

Cliftonville 2 Sligo Rovers 3

WHERE once the fixture would have garnered massive headlines, Derry City’s visit to Windsor Park for this evening’s Setanta Cup game against Linfield (kick-off 5.30pm) is, dare one say it, almost something of a distraction for the Candystripes, whose priority remains the chase for a European spot in the League of Ireland, with big games coming up this week away to Cork City and at home to Shamrock Rovers.

THAT infamous night in November, when Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland collided in a crucial World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park in 1993, stands out in the minds of many of us who were there as one of the most tension-filled and downright hostile sporting events we have ever attended.

Cork City 0 Drogheda United 0

Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts will both be looking for their first points of this year’s Setanta Cup campaign as they meet at Solitude tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

ONE of the more potent domestic rivalries of recent seasons resumes at Turner’s Cross tonight when Cork City face Drogheda United in the Setanta Cup (Setanta Ireland, 8.05pm).

Portadown will be looking to bounce back as they face Dungannon Swifts in tonight's Setanta Sports Cup Group Two clash at Shamrock Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

Mobile phones, cash, jewellery and a watch were stolen after a robbery at Cork City’s Deerpark training base on the southside of the city last night.

AS the Saipan-upon-Lee controversy rumbles on, the players and board of Cork City FC are now expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the row concerning the club’s training facilities.