Sligo Rovers 0 Cork City 1:DENIS BEHAN'S first-half strike was the highlight of this lack-lustre Eircom Premier Division game at the Showgrounds yesterday.
Cork were the fitter of the teams during the opening 45 minutes in spite of their exertions in the Uefa Cup in Finland earlier in the week.
Alan Mathews's side laid the foundation for the win, which keeps them well in touch with the league leaders, with solid defending over the 90 minutes.
They took full advantage of their only real chance of the game, in the 21st minute. An astute ball played in by Neal Horgan was met by Behan, whose clever downward header gave Richard Brush in the home goal no chance.
A delighted Mathews said: "We came here with one thing on our minds - to get three points. There were some tired legs out there but the lads put in a terrific performance and on another day we might have got two goals and we defended excellently.
"We have been on the road a lot and the players are battle-weary but the win was sweet. Our attitude was spot-on and we showed we have the mettle for a challenge. What happened in Finland was parked there and we must now move on."
The Sligo boss, Paul Cooke, was understandably disappointed.
"Things are not going our way at the moment and Cork gave us the run-around for 10 minutes in the first half," he said. "If you don't create chances over 90 minutes you don't win games.
"We never looked like getting an equaliser and I don't think we are yet safe from relegation. The players gave it everything but Cork were too clever for us on the day."
Early Sligo pressure almost paid dividends when Romauld Boco's effort came back off the post following good build-up play by Rafael Cretaro and Séamus Coleman.
Cork's first chance, on eight minutes, came after Behan was taken down on the edge of the penalty area, but Danny Murphy's free kick hit the woodwork.
Dave Mooney went close for the visitors after nine minutes. Danny Murphy caused panic in the Sligo goal on 37 minutes when his well-directed free kick deceived the home defence with the keeper out of position. As for Sligo, they earned few clear-cut chances.
SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Coleman, Butler, Peers, Almeida, O'Grady, Cretaro, Ventry, Boco, Ryan, Doherty. Subs: McDaid for Doherty (70); Cash for Coleman (80); Curran for Ryan (82).
CORK CITY: Devine, Horgan, Ryan, Murray, Gamble, Lordan, Healy, Darren Murphy, Behan, Danny Murphy, Mooney. Subs: Dufield for Darren Murphy (62); O'Flynn for Healy (77); Kelly for Dufield (87).
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
