Cork City recorded a crucial 3-0 victory in their quest to aovid the drop from the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division by defeating Sligo Rovers at Turners Cross
A Ruairi Keating hat-trick helped the Leesiders on their way to a win that puts them within three points of eight-placed Sligo who currently occupy the final survival spot.
City have some tough fixtures coming up, but this result will give them something to salvage and fight for over the closing weeks of the campaign.
Sligo threatened in the early stages when a Reece Hutchinson strike was blocked well by City's Kevin Čustović.
The away side had a great chance to score on 18 minutes, when Frank Liivak ran unchallenged into the penalty area, but his effort from close range was vitally blocked down by City captain Cian Coleman.
Despite Sligo appearing to be on top in the overall exchanges by the midway point of the first half, the Leesiders were awarded a penalty kick in the 28th minute when Jaze Kabia was taken down by Bit o' Red goalkeeper Conor Walsh.
Keating duly did what he does best, finding the back of the net with a well taken penalty kick.
City went close to getting a second goal in the 34th minute, when Josh Honohan saw his header tipped around the post following a cross by Ben Worman.
At the end of the opening half, City held the advantage and were halfway to completing what could potentially be a significant result in their survival battle.
Sligo dangerman Fabrice Hartmann was proving a threat, and he went close early into the second half, when his shot forced a good save out of City goalkeeper Ollie Byrne.
The Cork City FC night got even better on 65 minutes. From a throw in by Cian Bargary which set Keating away, the attacker found the back of the net with a well taken finish to the corner.
This was a night that saw the full potential of Keating shine to the forefront, and it also showed how important a player he is to this Cork City side.
That sort of goal scoring form will prove crucial if the club are to ensure Premier Division survival.
It was a result that saw the gap between the teams reduced to three points, as the battle to avoid the relegation playoff intensifies.
Sligo (30 points) are now starting to look even more nervously over their shoulder at City (27), with the league season heading into the close stages.
With an FAI Cup quarter final also to look forward to against Wexford FC, it could be an exciting end to what has been at times a challenging return to top flight football for Cork City.
Cork City: Ollie Byrne; Cian Coleman, Aaron Bolger, Ruairí Keating(Tunde Owolabi, 83) , Cian Bargary, Conor Drinan, Ben Worman, Josh Honohan, Andrii Kravchuk, Kevin Čustović(Gordon Walker, 38), Jaze Kabia(Cian Murphy, 83) .
Sligo Rovers: Conor Walsh; Reece Hutchinson, Greg Bolger, Niall Morahan, Pedro Alves Correia, Frank Liivak(Johan Brannefalk, 58), Fabrice Hartmann(Karl O’Sullivan, 79) , Stefan Radosavljevic(Robert Burton, 39) , John Mahon, Garry Buckley, Nando Pijnakaer.
Referee: Oliver Moran.
