Sligo Rovers's new Scottish manager, Jim McInally, must have taken huge encouragement from their spirited win over Cork City at Turners Cross on Saturday.

Sligo defied the team that finished second in last year's championship with a well-ordered and sustained performance that reflected credit on all concerned. McInally himself was a big influence, playing sweeper behind two dominant centre backs in Wesley Charles and Jim Sheridan.

Goalkeeper Matt Boswell was also a major player and he was equal to the few problems that a lack-lustre Cork attack presented whenever they succeeded in penetrating the Sligo defensive line.

Boswell did brilliantly to turn a header from Dobbs against an upright after only 17 minutes of play after Cork had dominated the opening quarter. He was just as alert midway through the second half when substitute John Cotter fired in a powerful shot from 35 yards that Boswell deflected over the top. Otherwise, Cork wasted a whole lot of possession. Sligo took full advantage after they broke from deep to create a splendid goal after 24 minutes. Conor O'Grady split the Cork defence for Padraig Moran to run clear and beat the advancing goalkeeper, Noel Mooney.

Sligo worked with a will to defend that lead for the rest of the match and they were not flattered by their win. The new manager has clearly gathered a spirited squad who will cause problems for many teams, particularly through the pace of their Moroccan centre forward, El Khalifi.

Cork City: Mooney; Napier, Daly, Hill, Cronin , O'Brien, Freyne, Herrick, Cahill, Morley, Dobbs. Subs: Flanagan for Herrick (46 mins); Caulfield and Cotter for Dobbs and Hill (62 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Boswell; Rossiter, Charles, McInally, Sheridan, Bonnar, Shannon, Birks, O'Grady, Moran, El Khalifi. Sub: Marshall for Birks (65 mins).

Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).