- Philip Morrissey
- Sat, Sep 02 2023
Cork City had Ruairi Keating to thank as he claimed a hat-trick at Turners Cross for a precious victory on Friday night.
Ahead by his penalty at the break, a quick-fire double in ten minutes sealed the points in the second-half.
It moves City within three points of their rivals in the fight to avoid the relegation play-off spot.
It is another damaging loss for the away side after a damaging second-half display.
They created the better of the chances in the first period prior to the concession of a penalty. They will point to a penalty claim of their own whilst at one nil but will be worried how they fell apart after the break.
Both managers made changes following defeats last weekend. Liam Buckley brought in Jaze Kabia to play alongside Keating up front and Aaron Bolger replaced the suspended Malik Dijksteel in midfield.
Rokas Stanulevicius also made way.
John Russell made just the one alteration from the defeat to Shelbourne. Garry Buckley came in ahead of Kailin Barlow.
They were able to welcome back Daniel Lafferty, Johan Brannefalk, Karl O’Sullivan and David Cawley back into the match-day squad.
In a nervous and tense display from both sides in the early stages, it was the away side who had the only opportunity of note. Kevin Custovic was on hand to produce an excellent block to deny the shot from after a neat passing movement. Otherwise, most of the action seemed to take place in midfield with little sign of forward movement.
The visitors were beginning to exert a degree of control in the game as the likes of Frank Liivak, Niall Morahan and Fabrice Hartmann were causing problems to the City back-line and defence.
Morahan found Stefan Radosavljevic who had created a pocket of room between the midfield and backline. He played it out wide to Frank Liivak who cut inside before his effort was blocked.
Garry Buckley then had an opportunity from outside the area after the ball fell loose to him after a tackle by Cian Coleman. The curling shot from the former city player went just wide.
It was against the tide when City went in front and Sligo were the architects of their own downfall. City were on the attack, but the move had broken down.
John Mahon attempted a back-pass to Conor Walsh that was under hit. Jaze Kabia seized upon it before he was taken down by the goalkeeper. Ruairi Keating stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty.
Sligo aimed to hit back and won a series of corners. One saw Pedro Alves Correira play it short to Hartmann who saw his shot blocked. Walsh then produced a smart save at the other end to tip over a Josh Honohan header from a Ben Worman free kick.
The visitors were then left fuming as a penalty claim of their own was turned away after Reece Hutchinson went down in the box. As a further kicker, he was also booked for alleged simulation.
The Bit O’Red continued on the front foot at the start of the second-half.
They broke forward with purpose with Greg Bolger, Hutchinson and Hartmann before the latter picked it up on the left hand side before cutting in and shooting.
Oliver Byrne was forced into his proper save of the night.
City regained their composure and landed a second.
A ball was played over the defence by Bargary which Keating raced onto before finishing smartly into the bottom corner.
He almost landed his hat-trick moments later when he skipped past the last defender before his effort was saved by Walsh.
He would not be denied though. Aaron Bolger found the striker out on the left of the penalty area. He shrugged off the attention of the last defender before blasting into the bottom corner.
Walsh will be disappointed by his part in the goal as the ball squirmed underneath his grasp.
Cork were the ones celebrating at the end, but more is needed in the remaining games.
Sligo are the first back into league action after the international break when they take on UCD at home on the 16th of September.
City are in cup action that weekend but will travel to Shelbourne on the 22nd. Sligo face Derry on the same evening.
Cork City: Oliver Byrne; Joshua Honohan, Andrii Kravchuk, Cian Coleman, Conor Drinan; Cian Bargary, Aaron Bolger, Kevin Čustović, Ben Worman; Jaze Kabia (Cian Murphy 83), Ruairí Keating (Tunde Owolabi 83).
Subs not used: Jimmy Corcoran, John O'Donovan, Alexander Gilchrist, Oran Crowe, Josh Fitzpatrick.
Booked: Aaron Bolger (25).
Sligo Rovers: Conor Walsh; John Mahon, Reece Hutchinson, Nando Pijnaker, Niall Morahan, Gregory Bolger, Garry Buckley, Frank Liivak (Johannes Brannefalk 58), Stefan Radosavljević (Robert Burton 38), Fabrice Hartmann (Karl O’Sullivan 76); Pedro Martelho.
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Daniel Lafferty, Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt, Kailin Barlow, David Cawley, Owen Elding.
Booked: John Mahon (8), Reece Hutchinson (43), Nando Pijnaker (62).
Referee: Oliver Moran.
Attendance: 2484.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ruairi Keating (Cork City).
