National League Premier Div/Cork City 2 Sligo Rovers 0: Sligo Rovers recovered well after being outplayed in the opening half at Turner's Cross last night without ever showing the punch up front to break down Cork's stern defence.

Much of the second half of the game was played in Cork's half of the pitch but Sligo, despite all their hard work, found it difficult to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities.

The smallest crowd of the season saw Cork open with a smash-and-grab raid that quickly established their superiority. They led within seven minutes of the kick off with a goal that was, without doubt, a product from their training ground.

Centre back Dan Murray timed his run into the visiting side's penalty area to perfection as Neale Fenn picked him out with an accurate corner-kick from the right and the tall defender went unchallenged as he headed past goalkeeper John O'Hara at the near post.

Paul McTiernan should have had Sligo level when Gavin Peers picked him out with an inch-perfect cross from the right in the 22nd minute.

The striker's header was, however, lacking sufficient power and was directed straight at Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine.

McTiernan lost another chance when he over-ran a pass from Conor O'Grady that opened a clear path to goal for him after 34 minutes.

Cork's domination of play ensured the flow of the game was always directed towards Sligo's goal and, with Fenn linking play effectively, a second goal was long overdue when it finally arrived with four minutes of the first half remaining.

Denis Behan directed his header into Fenn's path on the edge of the penalty area and Fenn himself finished delightfully as he steered a shot past the helpless O'Hara.

Sligo's second-half improvement owed much to the introduction of Chris Turner in central midfield and Darren Mansaram up front for the rest of the contest.

Turner had one shot narrowly wide from 25 yards but it was former Grimsby Town striker Mansaram who impressed most. The 21-year-old gave Cork's defenders a busy 45 minutes and worked diligently in the centre and, later, when he was moved to the left wing.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, O'Brien, O'Callaghan (Softic, 75 mins), Gamble; Fenn, Behan.

SLIGO ROVERS: O'Hara; Peers, Burns, McNamara, Foy; Hughes, Curran (Turner 46), O'Grady (Flannery 75), Kudouzvic; McTiernan (Mansaram 46), Judge.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).