Cork City 3 - 1 Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers hopes of defending their league title have been dented following a shock 3-1 defeat to Cork City at Turners Cross on Friday night.

The visitors looked in control of the game at half-time, just missing a final touch in front of goal, but Daryl Horgan proved he wasn’t missing it when he beat Gary Rogers with two very good finishes.

David McMillan got his new side back into the game with seven minutes to go, but Cork’s own debutant, Ciaran Kilduff, restored the two goal lead just moments later to secure a massive three points for the Leesiders.

Kilduff set up the first chance of the match after five minutes when he crossed for Daryl Kavanagh who shot straight at Gary Rogers from an angle. Sligo’s first opportunity fell to Danny North when Joseph Ndo played a quick free-kick to him, turning quickly before drilling a shot just wide of the near post.

The visitors came even closer to scoring after 11 minutes when a fine passing move finished with David Cawley turning Danny Murphy before unleashing a shot which Mark McNulty did well to parry away.

A cross from Ross Gaynor after 20 minutes almost resulted in an own goal when it struck Ian Turner and was turned away by McNulty. But Kilduff was proving to a nuisance for the Rovers defence and he set up another good chance for Cork two minutes later as he passed for Shane Duggan just outside the box whose effort never troubled Rogers.

At the other end of the pitch Duggan showed his defensive qualities as he did really well to intercept a Danny North cross that was destined to find Lee Lynch who was ready to pounce at the far post.

The most spectacular effort of the game came from David McMillan when he attempted an overhead kick after latching onto an Alan Keane cross, but he couldn’t apply enough power behind the shot to trouble the ‘keeper.

Cork City got off to the perfect start in the second half, capitalising on a rare Joseph Ndo mistake as his underhit back pass to the keeper was picked up by Daryl Horgan who strode forward and chipped Gary Rogers, who was off his line, to break the deadlock.

The hard working North did well to set up a chance for David Cawley just minutes later on the edge of the box, but McNulty denied him for a second time.

There was little in the way of goal scoring chances in the following 20 minutes, but another chance finally fell in the 72^nd minute and it was a strike that saw Cork double their lead.

A quick pass from Shane Duggan picked out Daryl Horgan whose exquisite took him past Alan Keane before slotting the ball in the bottom right corner.

With seven minutes remaining, Sligo reduced the deficit to one goal when Anthony Elding nodded a cross down for David McMillan to drill the ball home for his 13^th goal of the season and his third in two weeks against the Leesiders.

Just a few moments later, calamity at the back resulted in Cork restoring their two goal lead when confusion between Gavin Peers and Gary Rogers allowed Ciaran Kilduff to knock the ball over the keeper, run on to it and tap the ball into an empty net.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Kalen Spillane, Garry Buckley, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner, Gearoid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Daryl Kavanagh (Denis Behan 86), Ciaran Kilduff (Danny Furlong 86).
Subs not used:  Kevin Burns, Alan Browne, John Kavanagh, Stephen Kenny.

Bookings: Kilduff (26), Turner (82).

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jeff Henderson, Ross Gaynor; Lee Lynch (Evan McMillan 84), Joseph Ndo (Iarfhlaith Davoren 69), David Cawley, Seamus Conneely; David McMillan, Danny North (Anthony Elding 65).
Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Marty Owens, Ryan Connolly, Liam Martin.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 1,538

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Daryl Horgan (Cork City).