The opening series of Eircom Premier League fixtures commenced this evening with last season's top two,Cork City and Derry City getting off to winning starts. Cork secured a 1 nil victory over promoted club Dublin City courtesy of a penalty scored by Eircom League 'Player of the Year' George O'Callaghan. Derry City meanwhile, had a more comfortable start with a 2 nil win over UCD in the Brandywell.

At Dalymount Park, the quietly fancied Drogheda United scored the only goal of the match to record a valuable away victory. Down the east coast at the Carlisle Grounds, hosts Bray Wanderers and their much vaunted visitors Shelbourne shared the spoils in a four goal encounter. There were no goals in the final Premier League fixture of the evening where St Patricks Athletic entertained Waterford United at Richmond Park.

The Eircom League First Division also kicked off this evening with the Tolka Park meeting of two illustrious clubs. Shamrock Rovers, playing in the second tier of Irish football for the first time in their history, scored an opening 2-1 success over Dundalk. Tonight also saw Galway United travel north to Monaghan Town and earn a point in a scoreless draw. Finally, Hogan Park, home of Limerick City, was the victim of heavy flooding forcing the postponement of the home club's meeting with Kildare County.