The rugged defence of Sligo Rovers denied Cork City the opportunity to reduce the gap at the head of the table in an uneventful premier league tie at Turners Cross yesterday.

Sligo, weakened by injuries, put the emphasis heavily on defence and against an ineffective Cork forward line they made their tactic tell spectacularly.

Cork enjoyed a lot of possession but were lacking in inspiration. A deflated Cork manager Dave Barry virtually conceded that Cork had lost all hope of over-taking Shelbourne at the head of the league table.

He said: "Had we won today and cut the deficit to seven points then I would have thought we had a chance . . . but a nine-point gap seems too much at this stage."

Cork City: Harrington, O'Halloran, Cronin, Daly, Coughlan, Freyne, Cahill, L O'Brien, Cotter, Morley, C O'Brien. Subs: Napier for Cronin (3 mins); Caulfield and Glynn for L O'Brien and Morley (65).

Sligo Rovers: Brujos, Kennedy, Lynch Rossiter, McLynn, Charles, Marshall, Byrne, Shannon, O'Grady, Bonnar. Subs: Khauel for Bonnar (70 mins); Oates for Shannon (72).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).