Sligo stage second-half comeback to break Cork City hearts and push club closer to drop

Sligo Rovers' Ryan O'Kane scores the winner to break Cork City hearts. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Premier Division: Cork City 2 (McLaughlin 7’, Maguire 56’) Sligo Rovers 3 (Elding 60’, McClean 79’, O’Kane 89’)

An hour constituting Cork City’s best performance of the season was followed by a half hour characteristic of the reasons they’re staring relegation in the face.

This was the first time in Ger Nash’s reign that his team scored more than once but all the 2-0 lead triggered was a capitulation in keeping with their failings.

Failure to see out the job against ninth-placed Sligo swung a potential shortening of the gap to five points into an 11-point gulf. Even Roy Keane, watching on from the stand could analyse the morass.

Nash pleaded for unity in the build-up, acknowledging the fractures surrounding the club since his arrivals, especially off the pitch with rancour against owner Dermot Usher.

Trying to fuse a team has proven a challenge too.

Transfer turnover is an occupational hazard when attempting to survive in the top-flight but just when activity entered a lull, came news of Malik Dijksteel’s pre-contract transfer to St Mirren at the end of the season.

Nash made a point of declaring commitment from his players on the eve of the match, making it little surprise to see Dijksteel culled entirely from the squad. The flying Dutchman’s move to Scotland could be accelerated to this window.

Conversely, that Kitt Nelson chose to stay rather than return to his parent club, Preston North End, was cited as the reason for him being the sole non-Irishman in the team.

He had scored in both of the 1-1 draws against Sligo this season and was again a livewire without rattling the net.

When Seáni Maguire zipped the ball into his feet after seven minutes, the attacker had the vision to try swap passes with Evan McLaughlin inside the box.

His run sufficiently distracted Sligo to allow the Derryman cut in from the right side and drill his shot through the legs of Patrick McClean and past Sam Sargeant despite the ‘keeper getting a hand to the effort.

McLaughlin’s previous goal this season came in City’s last win on Easter Monday and it had the effect of allaying the anxiety that the side seemed to be crippled by this term.

City carried all the attacking impetus in a first half they ought to have had more to show than a single strike. 

Josh Fitzpatrick’s long throw led to Nelson having a crack and he was again denied by Sargeant as the interval approached.

Fiacre Kelleher, playing his first league game at Turner’s Cross since returning from England, was a colossal presence at the back. He posed a danger in the opposition box too, towering from a corner to nod marginally wide.

City also had to withstand the loss of teenage spark Cathal O’Sullivan on 20 minutes. For a player with a history of knee injuries, it was a concern to see him clutching that area when hobbling off. Any prospect of him being snapped up by an English club in this window now?

Any prospect of his club staying up hinged on victory too, and although Will Fitzgerald twice went close early in the second half, City grabbed what at the time felt the crucial second goal.

While Maguire’s poacher’s instincts have been scarce this season, his trademark repertoire was demonstrated after 57 minutes. Cutting in from the right, he was initially denied by Sargeant before Fitzpatrick tried to complete the rebound. He didn’t have to, as Maguire swivelled before burying the loose ball home from eight yards.

Two goals to the good, the other side of City’s season soon afflicted them. Three minutes later, Jad Hakiki was afforded too much time and space in the middle to free Elding. He followed in to finish after Conor Brann thwarted his initial shot.

Fitzpatrick then blazed over at the other end and the miss would be costly.

When Brann turned Hakiki’s 78th-minute shot around the post, City’s defence were caught napping from the resultant corner. McClean availed by planting his header into the far corner.

Despite the visitors holding the momentum, City forged the next best chance as O’Sullivan’s replacement, Alex Nolan, crashed a 20-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar.

That was in the 88th minute and within 60 seconds, the net at the opposite end bulged.

One of Sligo’s new loan captures, Ryan O’Kane, sidestepped debutant Kaedyn Kamara inside the box and his rising shot sneaked past Brann at his near post.

CORK CITY: C Brann; H Nevin, F Kelleher, R Feely, M Kiernan (B Couto 83); D Crowley, E McLaughlin; C O’Sullivan (A Nolan 20), K Nelson (K Kamara 83), J Fitzpatrick (B Lee 83); S Maguire (C Lutz 75).

SLIGO ROVERS: S Sargeant; C Reynolds (F Lomboto 70), O Denham, P McClean, S Stewart; S Quirk, J McManus; R O’Kane, J Hakiki, W Fitzgerald; O Elding.

Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).

Attendance: 2,673.