Cork City 2 Sligo Rovers 0: Cork City struggled to overcome a spirited Sligo Rovers at Turner's Cross and keep alive their prospects of European competition next season.
Cork deserved their win in the Premier Division clash, but they were made work harder than they could have anticipated by a Sligo team who were determined in their approach.
Sligo Rovers might have been excused had they approached this contest with a degree of caution, given the proximity of their FAI Cup semi-final against Derry City.
They were strong and positive in the opening 20 minutes, however, despite the absence of three of their regulars - goalkeeper John O'Hara, Chris Turner and Harpal Singh.
The replacement goalkeeper, Richard Brush, distinguished himself with two excellent saves in the opening half.
He reacted smartly to palm over a fierce volley from Colin O'Brien in the 24th minute and raced off his line to dive and smother an attempted shot by Roy O'Donovan in the 33rd minute.
Sligo should have made better use of their early scoring chances but twice Paul McTiernan was too high with his finishing efforts after he had done extremely well to create openings in the fifth minute and again after 16 minutes.
Sligo repeatedly troubled Cork's defence in breakaway attacks with Paul McTiernan especially prominent.
He set up Gary Curran for a cracking shot from 30 yards after 51 minutes and although Cork had more possession, Sligo should have gone in front in the 70th minute.
Curran fired a ball low across the penalty area from the right and after McTiernan failed to make contact, it ran through to Kudozovic just six yards from goal. He miss-kicked his shot, however, and deflected it into the hands of a grateful goalkeeper in Mick Devine.
Sligo were to rue this miss for Cork scored from Devine's clearance. Neale Fenn won possession and angled a pass behind full-back Gavin Peers, which found Billy Woods in full flight, and he carried the ball into the penalty area before beating goalkeeper Brush at the near upright.
The second goal arrived in the 87th minute when Sligo were victims of their own offside trap as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
Substitute Denis Behan set up Neal Horgan and his excellent pass sent Roy O'Donovan through the middle to beat goalkeeper Brush.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; Lordan (Behan 79), O'Brien, Gamble, Woods (O'Callaghan 90); O'Donovan, Fenn (Sullivan 88).
SLIGO ROVERS: Brush; Peers, Burns, McNamara, Foy; Hughes, Curran (McKenzie 88), O'Grady, Kudozovic; McTiernan, Mansaram (Bellew 77).
Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).
