Cork City 1 Sligo Rovers 2:Sligo Rovers dealt Cork City's hopes of figuring in the League championship a serious blow at Turner's Cross last night despite yet another goal for the home team from the free-scoring Roy O'Donovan.

Cork reported that they had agreed terms for the transfer of O'Donovan to Fulham early this week, but then came the intervention of Sunderland.

Cork officials would make no comment last night beyond confirming that negotiations were continuing.

Cork were glad of O'Donovan's presence because he converted one of few chances afforded them by a driven and determined Sligo Rovers.

Sligo's high-powered start yielded the game's opening goal in the 15th minute and it followed some enterprising play by the skilful Matthew Judge.

He twice turned defenders on the edge of the area and his clever pass was driven into the net by Adam Hughes from 12 yards.

Cork responded well and quickly came to terms with the physical nature of the contest. Centre back Dan Murray played a critical role and his determined football lifted Cork.

They were level with a superb goal in the 32nd minute. Gareth Farrelly found O'Donovan with a crossfield ball and the striker sprinted into the area before turning his shot past goalkeeper Richard Brush from a narrow angle. It was his 21st goal of the season, his 14th in the league.

The Cork defence were kept busy by Fahrudin Kudozovic and his centre forward partner Matthew Judge and while they gradually tightened their grip on the trend of the play, they were never comfortable.

They were beaten again in the 56th minute when Kudozovic angled a free from the left side of the area and 25 yards from goal into the corner of the net.

CORK CITY:Devine; Horgan, Lordan, Murray, Woods; Softic (Behan 70), Healy, Farrelly, Kearney (Ryan 85); O'Donovan, McSweeney.

SLIGO ROVERS:Brush; Coleman, Pierce, McKenzie, Ventre; Cretaro (Manson 78), Boyd (Foy 54), O'Grady, Hughes; Kudozovic, Judge (Curran 67).

Referee: R Winter(Dublin).