Sligo Rovers 0-2 Cork City
Cork City closed the gap between themselves and league leaders Dundalk to four points as new Sligo Rovers manager Micky Adams started his reign at the Showgrounds with a defeat.
Following a first half short on clear goalscoring chances, Mark O'Sullivan and Ross Gaynor did the damage with strikes in the 58th and 87th minute respectively. The result means that Rovers now sit just four points above basement side Limerick following the Shannonsiders' win over Bohs earlier in the evening.
An even opening period saw both sides struggle to create any meaningful opportunities. Morten Nielsen's chipped cross to the back post which was headed straight at Mark McNulty by Raffaele Cretaro on the quarter hour mark was the closest the half came to an opener. City's Karl Sheppard blazed over from the angle on 18.
McNulty found Jason Hughes' effort from 30 yards too hot to handle on 35 minutes, but managed to claim the ball at the second attempt. Sheppard went close again on 37 after he skipped past the challenge of Gary Boylan out wide.
The former Shamrock Rovers man whipped his shot across the face of the Sligo goal in an attempt to find the far corner, moments before Steven Beattie did similar against his former employers.
City took the lead 13 minutes into the second half. Gavin Peers upended former Rovers full-back Gaynor who was introduced in place of the injured Kevin O'Connor. Liam Miller laid the ball off to O'Sullivan from the resulting free-kick and although Brush got a touch to the latter's low drive, he was unable to keep it out.
O'Sullivan headed straight at Brush on 68 minutes as John Caulfield's side looked to double their lead.
Adams introduced both Gary Armstrong and Ruairi Keating in an effort to add sharpness to what had been a rather limp Rovers attack.
The Rebels continued to look dangerous going forward. Sheppard's mazy run brought him past Sligo full-back Regan Donelon on 78, but he was again unable to find the target from the wide position.
Cretaro passed up a golden opportunity to salvage a draw with five minutes left but headed over from inside the six-yard box as City struggled to clear their lines.
The home side were made to pay as Gaynor put the game beyond doubt three minutes from time. Brush did well to keep out Beattie from close range but Gaynor was on hand to tap the rebound between the Sligo goalkeeper and the near post for his second goal against his former club this year.
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Tim Clancy, Regan Donelon; Sander Puri (for Gary Armstrong 71), Jason Hughes, Gary Boylan, Raffaele Cretaro; Morten Nielsen, Dinny Corcoran (for Ruairi Keating 71).
Cork City: Mart McNulty; Colin Healy, Alan Bennett, Dan Murray, Kevin O'Connor (for Ross Gaynor 55); Steven Beattie (for Danny Morrisey 90+1), Liam Miller (for Stephen Folan 90+1), Johnny Dunleavy, Garry Buckley; Mark O'Sullivan; Karl Sheppard.
Referee: Paul Tuite.
