Max Mata's late penalty rescued a point for Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds as the Bit O’Red had to claw their way back from two goals down against Cork City in Saturday's SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash.
Goals from Jonas Hakkinen and Ruairi Keating looked like the Rebels would leave Sligo with the points. But Eanna Clancy’s first goal for Rovers was followed by Mata’s dramatic leveller after Kailin Barlow was upended by Kevin Custovic.
Facing each other for the first time since City dumped Rovers out of the FAI Cup in summer 2021, the hosts made two changes from last Monday’s win over St Pat’s. Clancy made his sixth start for Sligo, while Lukas Browning replaced Niall Morahan in the middle.
The Munster men, fresh from that eight-goal thriller in Tallaght where they led 4-2 at one stage, made three swaps with Custovic, Ethon Varian and Jonas Hakkinen each coming in.
Looking to join their hosts on seven points in the Premier Division table, Colin Healy’s side looked the more resolute in the opening half.
Matthew Healy had an effort easily saved by Sligo stopper Luke McNicholas early on, while Fabrice Hartmann, who netted Rovers’ winner over Pat’s on Monday blasted over from the edge of the Cork area shortly after.
City hit the lead on 18 minutes.
Sligo protested referee Arnold Hunter’s decision to award Cork a corner from which Rovers failed to immediately clear their lines. Ruairi Keating, once of Sligo, saw his laced volley cleared off the line by his own skipper Cian Coleman. The ball hopping up for Hakkinen who reacted first to nod across the line.
John Russell’s charges continued to struggle to break the Cork line. The closest they came to restoring parity was six minutes from the break. Greg Bolger linked up with Hartmann who played in Johan Brannefalk, but Sligo’s Swedish full back could only guide the ball into the side-netting from the angle.
Rovers started the second period with a stride but still found it tough going trying to breach a compact Cork rearguard and were knocked further back on 63.
Keating’s shot on the turn taking a touch off McNicholas’ post after it arrowed its way past the Mayo native.
The Connacht side halved the deficit 11 minutes from time when Clancy scored his first in red, from a Brannefalk corner.
Rovers substitute Bogdan Vastsuk almost levelled the game on 81 minutes but his header bounced narrowly wide of Jimmy Corcoran’s goal. While the Irish underage international had to leap to keep out another headed effort, this time from Sligo’s New Zealander Nando Pijnaker three minutes from time.
The pressure eventually told in the third of the five added minutes when Mata sent Corcoran the wrong way from the spot.
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk, Eanna Clancy, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger (Kailin Barlow HT), Lukas Browning; Fabrice Hartmann, Will Fitzgerald (Frank Liivak 69); Stefan Radosavljevic (Bogdan Vastsuk 69); Max Mata.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Kevin Custovic, Jonas Hakkinen, Ali Gilchrist, Joshua Honohan; Darragh Crowley (Albin Winbo 56), Matthew Healy (Joe Whitmarsh 81), Cian Coleman, Ethon Varian; Daniel Krezic (Cian Bargary HT); Ruairi Keating (Babatune Owolabi 69).
Referee: Arnold Hunter.
