Shamrock Rovers came out tops in the battle of the Rovers as they managed to steal an unlikely 1-0 victory from this entertaining contest at Tolka Park, writes RTÉ's Shane Murray.
Sligo dominated much of the opening half and near misses from Chris Butler and Romauld Boco, to name just two, saw them fail to find the breakthrough.
The Hoops improved significantly after the break, and their endeavour was rewarded in the 69th minute when Sean O'Connor beat Richard Brush to the ball and his cross-come-shot was slotted home on the line by Padraig Amond.
Shamrock Rovers striker Tadhg Purcell had the first chance of note when he shot wide in the fifth minute, but it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring three minutes later when Chris Butler's crisp left-foot free was brilliantly tipped behind by goalkeeper Barry Murphy.
The resulting corner from the left was played short to Butler, and his cross found Gavin Peers at the back post, but his header skimmed well wide.
The visitors played the better football in the opening period and the lively Romauld Boco and Sean Doherty combined to good effect for the latter to cross for Brian Cash, but he volleyed wide from close range when he really should have done better.
A15th minute corner for the home side saw Purcell pounce on the breaking ball, but he couldn't direct his shot through the crowd and past Richard Brush in the Sligo goal.
Yet another decent move from the visitors in the 21st minute, characterised by a patient, methodical build-up, saw Boco tee up captain Conor O'Grady on the edge of the box, but the midfielder pulled his right-foot shot low and wide of Murphy's right hand post.
Pat Scully's men, who drew 1-1 with St Patrick's Athletic last time out, created another opening from a corner in the 23rd minute, but Danny O'Connor shot weakly into Brush's arms after finding the ball at his feet at the edge of the box.
In the 24th minute, Purcell and Darren Stapleton combined well on the left to set up a chance for Simon Madden, but Boco then missed a gilt edged chance at the other end, lifting his shot high and wide of the advancing Murphy after being put through by O'Grady's astute pass.
Paul Cook's men, 4-1 winners over Finn Harps last week, were well on top at this stage and on the half hour the home supporters vented their growing frustration after yet another poor pass went astray inside their own half.
A short worked corner in the 36th minute saw the ball moved to right-back Sligo Rafael Cretaro, but his shot was pulled well wide, but almost turned into a good pass for the lurking Boco near the edge of the six-yard box.
Five minutes later, a long ball from Cretaro into Boco saw the Benin international set Cash up with the deftest of touches, but his cross-come-shot was cleared by the Hoops defence.
Boco and Ventre both then tested Murphy as the Shamrock Rovers goal continued to lead a charmed life, but somehow the hosts managed to keep the ball out and the game remained deadlocked.
The second half began as the first ended with Sligo on the attack - four minutes in Boco, Doherty and Ventre all went close in a matter of seconds as the Hoops continued to dice with danger, but a combination of Murphy's reflexes and some last ditch defending saw it remain scoreless.
Substitute Mark Leech almost found the key to unlock the Sligo defence two minutes after his 50th minute introduction, but his cross from the right into Amond was well cut out by Mauro Almeida on the six yard box.
Leech's presence was giving the visiting defence more to think about and together with Madden and Amond they were beginning to ask serious questions of their opponents without really testing 'keeper Brush, midfielder Stephen Rice's ballooned effort typical of their profligacy in front of goal.
Boco almost got through when put clear in the 64th minute, but Murphy's burst from his line did enough to force him wide and his subsequent cross from the right corner flag saw Doherty volley over from an acute angle.
A minute later, Amond's mis-hit cross was pushed away acrobatically by Brush as the Dubliners began to find their rhythm, with the game becoming much more expansive with both sides prompting for a breakthrough.
And it was the home side who were rewarded for their increased adventure in the 69th minute, when 'keeper Brush was beaten to a hopeful Sean O'Connor ball into the box by Danny O'Connor and his cross was slotted home almost on the line by Amond.
Sligo substitute Paul McTiernan, making his first appearance in a Sligo jersey since his return from Athlone Town earlier this month, set O'Grady up well in the 77th minute, but again his drilled shot drifted harmlessly wide.
Butler shot narrowly over a minute later, but similar to recent games against Derry City and UCD, Sligo just didn't bring their shooting boots and were left to rue their several earlier misses.
Sligo had a late penalty appeal ignored, while Sean O'Connor fired over from distance for the hosts as the Hoops confirmed their recent revival to close the gap on sixth placed Sligo to two points with a game in hand.
For Sligo, it's a long journey back down the N4 following another disappointing return from the capital, but Cook and his players can take heart from another performance full of invention and endeavour, but sadly lacking the vital finish.
Shamrock Rovers: 1 Barry Murphy, 2 Ger O'Brien, 3 Pat Flynn, 4 Aidan Price (capt), 5 Darragh Maguire, 6 Danny O'Connor, 7 Simon Madden (13 Sean O'Connor 60 mins), 8 Stephen Rice, 9 Padraig Amond, 10 Tadhg Purcell (15 Mark Leech 50 mins), 11 Darren Stapleton (17 Eoin Doyle 37 mins). Substitutes not used: 14 Eric McGill, 16 Karl Coleman.
Sligo Rovers: 1 Richard Brush, 2 Rafael Cretaro, 3 Chris Butler, 4 Gavin Peers, 5 Mauro Almeida, 6 Conor O'Grady (capt), 7 Brian Cash (13 Mikey Creane 77 mins), 8 Danny Ventre, 9 Gary Curran (12 Paul McTiernan 58 mins), 10 Romauld Boco, 11 Sean Doherty. Substitutes not used: 14 Christopher Kelly, 15 Jason Noctor, 16 Patrick Jennings.
Referee: Richie Winter.
