Cork’s title aims take a huge dent
CORK CITY have all but relinquished their league title for this season after they slumped to a first home defeat of the season against bogey side, Sligo Rovers at a wet and miserable Turner’s Cross last night.
The champions made the ideal start, taking the lead after just eight minutes to stamp their authority against third from bottom Sligo but they still suffered their first home league defeat after the Bit O’Red staged a fine second half recovery.
Karl Sheppard, with his sixth league goal of the season, headed home Barry McNamee’s free kick on the edge of the box after he had been fouled by Kyle McFadden.
Cork, needing a point to qualify for European football for the fifth year in a row, made four changes from the team that beat Maynooth University in the FAI Cup with Aaron Barry and Johnny Dunleavy making rare first team starts. Sligo came into the tie with decent away form and Cork had won their three previous meetings but last night’s setback leaves Dundalk six points clear at the top of the Premier Division with six matches to go to the end of the championship race.
McNamee and Sligo’s Jack Keaney missed some good goal chances as the corner-kick count read 2-2 at the break. Sheppard popped up to take a Patrick McClean header off the line and substitute Kieran Sadlier drove a free kick off the far post just past the hour mark as the game crackled along after the interval.
Sligo drew level on 71 minutes when Mark McNulty parried skipper and man of the match Rhys McCabe’s long-range free kick and Dave Cawley was on hand to slot the loose ball to the net from inside the six yard box.
It was no more than the visitors deserved such was their fighting spirit and they hit the front at 2-1 on 83 minutes to silence the home fans when super sub Raffaele Cretaro kept his cool with a clinical finish past McNulty at the Shed end.
Dundalk are now six clear at the top with six games to go after Patrick McEleney popped in an 81st-minute winner against Limerick at the Markets Field on a night of small margins for the league’s big two.