Cork go joint second after comfortable victory in Sligo

Sligo Rovers 0 Cork City 3:CORK CITY are back in the race for league honours after a deserved 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds last night. Goals by Danny Murphy, Fahrudin Kudozovic and Pat Sullivan brought the Cork men level with Shamrock Rovers in second place and was sweet revenge for Paul Doolin side's defeat by Sligo in the FAI Cup.

Cork attacked the home goal from the kick-off and a corner kick by Colin Healy was missed by Sullivan at the near post after two minutes.

Sligo’s first chance came in the ninth minute when Danny Keohane sent the ball into the box but new signing Rob Turner was unable to make contact at the back post. Romauld Boco put Shaun Holmes in on goal a minute later but City survived.

Danny Murphy put Cork ahead after 25 minutes from a free-kick on the edge of the box with the ball taking a slight deflection of Sligo’s Danny Ventre.

The home side hit a purple patch as the half-hour mark approached and the City goalkeeper had to be alert to block a stinging shot by Owen Morrison.

Denis Behan had a chance to double Cork’s advantage in the 33rd minute but his weak shot in front of an open goal drifted wide.

Timmy Kiely found himself in a good position in front of the Sligo goal five minutes before half-time but he was unable to set up a scoring chance.

A probing free-kick by Healy caused concern in the Sligo defence in the 59th minute as City went in search of a second goal.

Kudozovic unhinged the Reds defence in the 64th minute but he was unable to control the ball and the chance went abegging.

But he made no mistake three minutes later sliding the ball past the Sligo goalkeeper from close range following good play by Denis Behan.

Ventre’s blistering free-kick from 30 yards whistled past Danny Connor’s post in the 78th minute in Sligo’s best chance of the second half before Sullivan made it 3-0 with a clinical finish in the 82th minute.

Substitute Matthew Blinkhorn, making his first appearance in a Sligo shirt, narrowly failed to get his head to the ball from an excellent Boco cross four minutes from time.Ventre was then sent off for a second bookable offence two minutes into stoppage.

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Keane, Holmes, Ventre, O’Grady, Cash, Ryan, Boco, Feeney, Keohane, Turner. Subs: Morrison for Feeney (22 mins); Cretaro for Turner (57 mins); Blinkhorn for Cash (57 mins).

CORK CITY: Connor, Horgan, Murphy, O’Halloran, Murray, Healy, Kudozovic, Kiely, Behan, Sullivan, O’Donnell. Subs: O’Neill for Kiely (82 mins).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).