Cork City's hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup suffered a heavy setback at the showgrounds on Saturday night where they crashed to a heavy defeat by Sligo Rovers.
Sligo began in whirlwind fashion and were three goals to the good after just 22 minutes. The decision of Sligo boss Nicky Reid to stick by the local strike-force of Donagh Oates and Sean Flannery was vindicated when each of the youngsters got on the score sheet early on.
Oates headed the opener after nine minutes and Flannery followed up with a cracking volley five minutes later. Another local teenager, Conor O'Grady, stretched Sligo's lead direct from a corner kick in the 22nd minute.
Brian Barry Murphy converted a penalty to reduce the deficit in the 64th minute but Sligo wrapped it up when Oates grabbed his second goal.
Sligo Rovers: Broujos, Thew, Hutchinson, Reid, Cobesson, Birks, Jones, O'Grady, Flannery, Oates, Rowlands. Subs: Southworth for O'Grady (74 mins), Hallows for Flannery (85 mins).
Cork City: Mooney Napier, Cronin, O'Donoghue, Coughlan, Freyne, Hartigan, Flanagan, Kabia, Hill, Glynn. Subs: Long and Caulfield for O'Donoghue and Flanagan (45mins), Barry Murphy for Glynn (58 mins).
Referee: P McKeown (Dublin).
