Sligo Rovers will go to Tallaght Stadium on the final day of the season with a relegation play-off a real possibility after they failed to beat basement side Cork City at the Showgrounds.
On a night of real frustration for the Bit O'Red, they fell behind just short of the hour when Alex Nolan gave a battling Rebels the lead.
Owen Elding did give Rovers some hope from the penalty spot five minutes later, but a dull Sligo attack failed to find a winner in this one.
The result means Rovers sit level on points with both Galway and Waterford going into the final weekend of the year, with Sligo maybe requiring a result against Shamrock Rovers to avoid a bottom two finish.
Knowing victory in this one would act as a big step towards securing their 21st consecutive season in the top flight since Rovers' promotion back in 2005, manager John Russell made just the one change from their defeat to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
Winger Ryan O'Kane, who scored a dramatic late winner against Cork back in August returned in place of Sligo's goal-scorer against Shels, Cian Kavanagh.
Chasing a first league win away from home at the final attempt, City made seven changes from their defeat to Drogheda last week, with cup final places up for grabs. Ger Nash bringing in experience in the shape of former Rovers pair Greg Bolger and Sean Maguire who missed that defeat in Louth.
Desperate for the points which would lift them back out of the relegation play-off spot, there was an expected nervousness around the Showgrounds despite the hosts starting with noticeable urgency.
City stopper Conor Brann was forced into an early save when Rovers' top-scorer Elding ran on to a smart through ball from James McManus, Elding's shot lacking the power to worry Brann.
O'Kane and Elding both fashioned further chances, Brann doing well to stop the latter's bullet effort from the angle on eleven minutes.
When they settled, the Leesiders did find joy down their right side courtesy of Joshua Fitzpatrick. Paddy McLean had to get in the way of Bolger and Alex Nolan shots after Fitzpatrick caused issues on his flank. While Hakiki's header from an O'Kane cross was pushed into the air and caught at the first attempt by Brann.
Elding fluffed his lines from close range on 20 after trojan work from Will Fitzgerald allowed O'Kane swing a cross towards the young striker. Elding's reaction said it all as his miss-hit shot from seven yards dribbled past the post.
Elding's header from another O'Kane cross then flew narrowly wide before the break as the tension in the stands seemed to transfer on to the pitch.
Seeking that release, Rovers did create the opening chance of the second period. Ollie Denham's header from a Fitzgerald assist dropped in front of the City post before bouncing out of bounds.
Cork however threw a major spanner in the Sligo works on 58 minutes when Nolan lashed his strike beyond the reach of Sam Sargeant after patient build-up play by sub Evan McLaughlin.
McLaughlin tees up Nolan who duly fires it home!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) October 25, 2025
What a finish 👏 pic.twitter.com/4DELU7dJ6C
The lead lasted just five minutes.
Elding picking out the bottom corner from 12 yards for his fifteenth goal of the year after Irish underage international Hakiki was fouled inside the Cork area.
The Showgrounds thought they had a glorious late winner when substitute Ciaron Harkin found the net, but their bubble was burst by referee Aaron O'Dowd after Cian Kavangh had fouled a Cork defender.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Edwin Agbaje, Ollie Denham, Paddy McClean, Sean Stewart (Ciaron Harkin 70); James McManus (Cian Kavanagh 60), Seb Quirk; Ryan O'Kane, Jad Hakiki, Will Fitzgerald; Owen Elding.
Cork City: Conor Brann; Fiacre Kelleher, Matthew Kiernan, Freddie Anderson; Greg Bolger (Kaedyn Kamara 61), Sean Murray (Darragh Crowley 37); Joshua Fitzpatrick, Kitt Nelson, Conor Drinan (Charlie Lutz 73); Alex Nolan (Brody Lee 73); Sean Maguire (Evan McLaughlin HT).
Referee: Aaron O'Dowd
Attendance: 3,060.
