League Report: Sligo Rovers 1 - 2 Cork City

For the second time in three days, Sligo Rovers have been beaten at the Showgrounds. Goals from Cork City’s Sean Mc Loughlin and Gearoid Morrissey saw the Rebel Army get their first win of the season on Monday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

In a fairly competitive first half, it was John Caulfield’s side that took their chances when, after 14 minutes, Sean McLoughlin met a Shane Griffin corner to put the Leesiders 1-0 up. The goal seemed to wake Rovers up as they pushed and pushed but never really challenged Mark McNulty in the Cork goal.

Both Romeo Parkes and Daryl Fordyce had chances late in the first half to grab a Sligo equaliser. The home side were dealt a blow after minutes minutes when left back Regan Donelon was forced off with an ankle injury. He was replaced by debutant Niall Morahan.

It didn’t take Cork City long to double their lead after the break. With 49 minutes gone, Cork’s Gearoid Morrissey picked the ball on the edge of the Rovers penalty box and his superb shot curled into the Rovers goal leaving Ed McGinty planted to the line. Morrissey’s goal will be worth watching on the highlights of this game.

Like the goal in the first half, it spurred Rovers on and they started to exert some pressure on the Cork defensive line. On 59 minutes Jack Keaney took a free kick, he curled in the ball towards goal but his effort went just wide of the post.

The Bit O’Red managed to score their first goal of the season at the Showgrounds when captain Lyle Callan Mc Fadden met a Jack Keaney corner to beat McNulty in the Cork goal.

On 78 minutes, Romeo Parkes received the ball on the left hand side of the pitch and his shot went wide of the target.

As the game entered it’s final stages, Cork showed all their experience to run the clock down and pick up their first three points of the season. For Sligo Rovers, its one point from nine after the opening three games. They will face Finn Harps away on Friday while Cork City welcome Derry City to Turner’s Cross.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty, Lewis Banks, Regan Donelon (Niall Morahan 7), Kyle Callan Mc Fadden (c), Daryl Fordyce (Sam Warde 65), Kris Twardek, Jack Keaney, John Mahon, Liam Kerrigan (David Cawley 65), Romeo Parkes, Dante Leverock

Subs Not Used: John Russell, Darren Collins, Mitchell Heaney

Cork City: Mark Mc Nulty, Sean Mc Loighlin, Gearoid Morrissey, Conor Mc Cormack, Garry Buckley, Daire O Conor (James Tilly 75), Karl Sheppard (c), Shane Griffin, Conor Mc Carthy, Dan Casey, Liam Nash (Dan Smith 75)

Subs Not Used: Tadhg Ryan, Colm Horgan, Darragh Rainsford, Kevin O Conor, Garry Comerford

Attendance: 2,275

Referee: Ben Connolly