Sligo Rovers 0-0 Cork City
CORK CITY MOVED back to joint top in the league with a 0-0 draw at The Showgrounds this evening.
Sligo goalkeeper Gary Rogers was arguably the savior of the evening as two stunning saves from the Meath man kept City at bay.
The visitors took some time to threaten the Sligo goal, and it was Rovers who had the best of the early chances. First, John Dunleavy got in the way of an Evan McMillan header from an Aaron Greene cross, before Greene was on the receiving end of a Cretaro ball, which he failed to convert.
John Caulfield’s men began to come into their own towards the half hour mark, the much sought after Brian Lenihan swung the ball in for new signing Cillian Morrison, but his shot did not trouble Rogers.
City’s attack continued when Kieran Djilali missed Gary Rogers’ kick-out, allowing Lenihan to leap on the loose ball. The 20-year-old played it in for Billy Dennehy, but he spurned his effort and blasted it well over the Rovers goal.
Sligo had their best chance of the half when Djilali’s corner was cleared to Cretaro and his shot was straight at Mark McNulty, who spilled the ball and the onrushing Danny North just struggled to get a foot to it.
Shortly afterwards, Rogers was called into action when a Dave O’Leary shot was blocked by Kalen Spillane, before Garry Buckley let rip – forcing a stunning save from the Rovers goalkeeper.
A spectactular Danny North free-kick was just pushed on to the cross-bar by the finger tips of McNulty minutes after the re-start. City’s new signing John O’Flynn then did well to run down the right hand side, but saw his attempted cross blocked by former Cork man Spillane.
It was another stunning save by Rogers that kept the game scoreless, when O’Leary’s long-range effort looked set for the top right corner.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers, Keane, McMillan, Spillane, Conneely, Cretaro, Cawley, Conneely, Russell, Djilali, North (Keating, 87).
Subs not used: Brush, Gaynor, Donelon, O’Conor, Maguire, Peers.
CORK CITY: McNulty, Lenihan, D. Dennehy, Murray, Davoren (O’Leary, 34), Healy, Dunleavy, Morrison (O’Flynn, 46), Buckley, B. Dennehy (Kearney, 73), Mark O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Murphy, Lehane, O’Brien, O’Shea.
Referee: Neil Doyle.