Mark O’Sullivan’s late winner gets Cork City back on track

Cork City 3 Sligo Rovers 2

Mark O’Sullivan struck for an 88th-minute winner as Cork City moved back up to second place in the Premier Division at Turner’s Cross last night.

Having lost to Dundalk and then subsequently drawn with Bohemians, John Caulfield’s men needed something but when Sligo sub Kevin Devaney equalised on 75, it looked like it wouldn’t be the hosts’ night.

They surged forward in search of the three points, however, and O’Sullivan’s second goal in as many games gave them the win.

Less than 30 seconds had elapsed when Karl Sheppard struck for the first of his two goals, slipping the ball past Richard Brush after Dan Murray’s ball over the top.

Sheppard then missed a penalty but he made up for that by netting his second on the half-hour mark. O’Sullivan’s back-heel set Holohan away and he in turn fed Liam Miller. While his shot came back off the post, Sheppard was on hand to send the ball to the net.

Sheppard went close to a hat-trick as his shot whistled over on 37 but a minute later John Russell’s goal gave Sligo hope as he got a touch on Steven Beattie’s low cross.

In the second half, City were unable to extend their lead, Holohan going closest with a header off the top of the bar. Devaney looked to have made them pay when he managed to prod the ball home after a Russell corner broke in the area, but O’Sullivan was the home hero.

CORK CITY: Brush; Keane (Cretaro, 90 mins), Boylan, Folan, Dykes (Ledwith, halftime); Cawley, Wearen; Beattie, Russell, Puri (Devaney, 70); Corcoran. SLIGO ROVERS: McNulty; Kavanagh, Murray, D Dennehy, O'Connor; Healy, Miller; Djilali (B Dennehy, 70 mins), Holohan (Morrissey, 82 mins), Sheppard (Lehane, 85 mins); O'Sullivan. Referee: R Harvey (Dublin).