Sligo Rovers drop points to Cork City in bid to avoid relegation playoff

This was a must-win game for Sligo with John Russell’s men back to ninth in the standings due to the previous night's draws for Galway United and Waterford.

Cork City'ss Alex Nolan celebrates. Pic: Patrick Browne.

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 1 (Owen Elding 63 pen), Cork City 1 (Alex Nolan 58)

FAI Cup finalists Cork City dug deep to take a point from the Showgrounds as a 1-1 outcome leaves Sligo Rovers still in jeopardy of ending up in the relegation/promotion play-offs.

Both goals came in the second-half. Alex Nolan’s goal for Cork was quickly followed by a Sligo equaliser from Owen Elding’s spot-kick conversion to set up a stalemate.

This was a must-win game for Sligo, who hadn't lost to Cork all season, with John Russell’s men back to ninth in the standings due to the previous night's draws for Galway United and Waterford FC.

Relegated Cork, counting down the days to their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup final against Shamrock Rovers on November 9, had this trip to the north-west and a home game against Derry City to use as preparations for their date at the Aviva.

The Ger Nash-managed Leesiders, who lost 1-0 to Drogheda in their last game, made seven changes to the line-up from their previous fixture.

In wintry conditions, with a nervy atmosphere to boot, the hosts threatened first with a shot from Owen Elding that Conor Brann saved.

An even better save from Brann kept out a fierce drive from Owen Elding as Sligo pushed for a breakthrough.

But Cork were far from obliging opponents and efforts from Alex Nolan and ex-Sligo man Greg Bolger were blocked by Patrick McClean.

Ryan O’Kane was the next to threaten for Sligo and the second of these efforts was superbly denied by Conor Brann.

Even with Joshua Fitzpatrick busy for Cork, the visitors struggled to get striker Seani Maguire into proceedings as Sligo's pressure and possession forced them to defend.

Ryan O'Kane’s delivery from the right led to Jad Hakiki firing wide in the last five minutes of the first-half as Cork were succeeding in frustrating the home side.

Cork started the second-half with Evan McLaughlin coming in for Seani Maguire.

Sligo continued to press for a goal to relieve the tension and went close through Ollie Denham’s header from a Will Fitzgerald cross.

Cork were proving resilient, however, and Alex Nolan blasted over from a cross-cum-shot.

It was Nolan that gave Cork a 58th minute lead with a curling shot after a phase of positive Cork play that involved Joshua Fitzpatrick.

Sligo replied within five minutes when top scorer Owen Elding smoothly converted a penalty - for his 15th goal in all competitions,with the spot-kick awarded after an infringement on Jad Hakiki.

Neither side managed to create anything clear-cut in the closing stages as Cork relied on counter-attacks.

In the 90th minute The Showgrounds almost erupted but Cian Kavanagh’s close-range effort was blocked.

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Agbaje, Denham, McClean, Stewart (Harkin 70); Quirk, McManus (Kavanagh 60); O’Kane, Hakiki, Fitzgerald; Elding.

Cork City: Brann; Fitzpatrick, Kelleher, Anderson, Kiernan, Drinan (Lutz 73); Bolger (Kamara 60), Murray (Crowley 37), Nolan (Lee 73); Nelson, Maguire (McLaughlin 46).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.

Attendance: 3,060.