Rebels stun Sligo as Horgan bites back.

By David Kent (@kento180)

Cork City 3-1 Sligo Rovers

Cork City gave Sligo Rover's hopes of retaining their title a blow, after 2 goals from Daryl Horgan, and one from debutant Ciarán Kilduff saw the Leesiders come out on top.

Cork set up in a traditional 4-4-2 for the first time in a while, with Kilduff and Daryl Kavanagh leading the line. Dave McMillan made his first start for Sligo, having scored against the home side for UCD last week.

And it was Kilduff who created Cork's first opportunity, when his cross fell to Kavanagh, but the ex-Rovers man shot straight at Gary Rogers. As the half went on the visitors slowly started to gain momentum, McMillan trying an overhead kick, as well as Danny North and David Cawley having shots.

Cork weren't out of it however, Shane Duggan's long range shot skidding wide but never bothering Rogers. And it was Duggan who tracked back to prevent Lee Lynch from pouncing. The sides went in scoreless at the break.
 Halftime Cork City 0-0 Sligo Rovers
Whatever Tommy Dunne said at half time to his players, it worked, because 4 minutes into the second half, and City had the lead. Joseph Ndo's attempted backpass fell short, and there to capitalize was Horgan. The Galwegian chipped the onrushing Rogers, and the Rebel Army were ahead.

Sligo almost equalized minutes later, when Cawley again tested Mark McNulty, but on 74 minutes, Horgan struck again. Duggan fed the ball to Horgan, who flicked it around Alan Keane, advanced on Rogers, and swept the ball into the bottom corner to send the Curragh Road Stand delirious

But as has been the case so often this season, Cork fans were left biting their nails, after McMillan drilled home on 83 minutes, to become the first player to score against the same opposition for two different clubs in consecutive games.

But the points were sealed by Kilduff just a minute later, and again it was a defensive horror show. Gavin Peers and Rogers failed to communicate, and it allowed Kilduff to nip in, flick it over Rogers, and finish into an empty net.

Sligo will have to re-group for the visit of Molde FK in the Champions League, whereas Cork have a visit from West Ham United on Sunday, before traveling to Tolka next Friday.


Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Kalen Spillane, Garry Buckley, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner, Gearoid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Daryl Kavanagh (Behan 86), Ciaran Kilduff (Furlong 86).

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jeff Henderson, Ross Gaynor, Lee Lynch (Evan McMillan 84), Seamus Conneely, Joseph Ndo ( Davoren 69), David Cawley, David McMillan, Danny North ( Elding 65).

Attendance : 1,538
On The Sidelines MOTM: Daryl Horgan (Cork City). The ex-Sligo player came back to haunt his former club, and struck his 3rd goal in 3 league games, with a calm finish past Rogers.