Cork City 0
Sligo Rovers 1
CORK CITY SUFFERED a second straight home league defeat as Rhys McCabe’s goal four minutes into the second half earned victory for Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.
After a lacklustre first half, the Premier Division leaders had begun the second period with more intent as Garry Buckley curled a shot off the post, but immediately after that Sligo had the lead as McCabe’s cross from the left corner looped over Mark McNulty in the home goal.
While Sligo didn’t create a multitude of chances, victory can’t be said to have flattered them as they frustrated a City side who found it difficult to penetrate the visitors.
Former Sligo man Kieran Sadlier went close early on with a low effort into the side-netting, but chances were difficult to come by for the remainder of the half, with Raffaele Cretaro not far away with Sligo’s best effort, albeit from distance.
Coming up to half-time, Karl Sheppard might have put City ahead as his driving run brought him into the area but his shot was across goal and wide. On the resumption, Buckley went close but then McCabe suckered the home side.
City were always going to press after that, but Sligo, with Craig Roddan doing well in midfield, did very well. The best chance for the Rebel Army came when Jimmy Keohane headed off the crossbar from Shane Griffin’s centre, and then Keohane’s cross for Connor Ellis was headed wide.
Sligo finished with ten men as Roddan was sent off for a late second booking, but they had done enough.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; Conor McCormack (Steven Beattie 61), Alan Bennett, Ryan Delaney, Shane Griffin; Gearóid Morrissey, Greg Bolger; Karl Sheppard, Garry Buckley, Kieran Sadlier; Jimmy Keohane.
SLIGO ROVERS: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Kyle McFadden, Séamus Sharkey, Regan Donelon; Craig Roddan, Chris Kenny; Jamie McDonagh (Greg Moorehouse 89), Rhys McCabe, Raffaele Cretaro (Gary Boylan 85); Vinny Faherty (Benny Igiehon 76).
Referee: Ray Matthews (Longford).
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