SLIGO Rovers' strike force of James Mulligan and Ian Gilzean tormented Cork City's defence at Turners cross yesterday and set up a comprehensive win in this league championship tie.
Mulligan scored both Sligo's goals and should have had more as Sligo coped comfortably with the challenge of a young and experimental Cork side.
Sligo's win left them in joint leadership and despite the fact that they have had to find replacements for nine of last season's squad, they are clearly going to be one of the front runners in the championship race.
Sligo must have been surprised, however, at the ease with which they succeeded in opening up the Cork defence.
Mulligan was the main beneficiary and four times he found himself in the clear with only goalkeeper Phil Harrington to beat. Twice he failed to hit the target, chipping over the bar and then striking a shot that bounced wide off an upright. But his two goals were superbly taken.
The first came after 27 minutes, after Harrington had come outside his penalty area, to head a clearance. Gilzean picked up the clearance and promptly sent Mulligan clear to shoot home from a narrow angle.
Sligo's second came 17 minutes from full time after a long clearance from full back Ryan Cross found Cork's defence in disarray. Mulligan carried the ball on before shooting calmly past Harrington.
In between those goals Cork had their only return when Gareth Cronin converted a penalty after 54 minutes.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)