Ronan Coughlan netted the equaliser against his old club as Sligo Rovers and Cork City played out an absorbing stalemate at the Showgrounds.

Marksman Graham Cummins had given Cork the lead with just six minutes elapsed.

But the Bit O’Red recovered to level the game through the industrious Coughlan mid-way through the opening half.

The Leesiders made the most of a sluggish start from the home side as they hit the lead early on.  

Romeo Parkes’ attempted clearance from a James Tilley corner, landed at the feet of Cummins, who unleashed a vicious first-time volley past Ed McGinty.

City remained in charge for the next quarter of an hour.

Gearoid Morrisey testing McGinty from distance, while goal-scorer Cummins had sight of goal twice in quick succession.

Rovers eventually found their feet in this game and Parkes’ ball across the face of goal only lacked a tap-in at the back post on 24 minutes.

Liam Buckley’s charges finished the first half the stronger and clawed their way back into this game three minutes later.

Daryl Fordyce heading Parkes’ set-piece from deep back across goal, where the determined Coughlan arrived late to head past Mark McNulty from close range.

Kris Twardek worked McNulty again before the break as Sligo searched for a second.

While Parkes did all the hard work on the stroke of half-time as he took control of a neat through ball from Ronan Murray. The Jamaican dodging the challenge of several Cork defenders, but could only balloon his resulting effort from ten yards.

Twardek turned up a decent chance after more Parkes magic three minutes into the second half as Rovers picked up where they left off.

McGinty then twice kept out James Tilley, his second shot a speculative drive from 30 yards as John Cotter’s men kept the Rovers rearguard busy.

Sligo substitute John Russell mis-read the flight of the ball as, unmarked, he could only loop Sam Warde’s cross over McNulty’s crossbar at the front post on 70.

Russell stabbed wide after hard from Parkes and Lewis Banks with just over a quarter of an hour to go.

It was then Cork’s turn to spurn a golden opportunity as the result could have fallen either way.

Cummins doing well to wriggle free of his marker but could only sky his header at the front post as he met Tilley’s squared ball.

Darragh Rainsford then floated a glancing header narrowly wide of McGinty’s post with the young goalkeeper all but beaten.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, Jack Keaney, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Sam Warde; Daryl Fordyce (John Russell 67), Kris Twardek; Ronan Murray; Romeo Parkes, Ronan Coughlan (Liam Kerrigan 84).  

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Colm Horgan, Conor McCarthy, Dan Casey, Garry Comerford (Ronan Hurley 56); Gearoid Morrisey, Kevin O’Connor; Daire O’Connor (Darragh Rainsford 75), Garry Buckley, James Tilley; Graham Cummins.  

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

Attendance: 1,984

Kevin Toner cancelled out Jack Keaney’s opener as Sligo Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic played out a draw at the Showgrounds.

Keaney’s free-kick via a number of deflections gave the Bit O’Red the lead with ten minutes to go, but Toner’s volley barely one minute later claimed a point for Harry Kenny’s men.

Against a Sligo team without a number of key players due to injury, suspension and even international commitments, Pat’s had the better of the early play.

Dave Webster couldn’t hook his early opportunity over Ed McGinty’s head, while Toner’s cross bounced off the top of the Rovers goal shortly after.

Sligo took time to settle into this one and Ronan Coughlan had Saints goalkeeper Brendan Clarke on his toes 16 minutes in.

The Rovers attacker cutting inside but Clarke was alert to swipe the ball from Coughlan at the end line.

Pat’s raised their play once more and went close twice in quick succession through Ciaran Kelly and Gary Shaw.

Kelly wriggling free of the Sligo defence at a Mikey Drennan corner, but the centre half couldn’t steer his free header goalward.

While Shaw’s clever turn allowed him space to shoot from the edge of the area, but his rasper cracked the crossbar with McGinty beaten.

The home side had sight at goal late in the opening period through both Romeo Parkes and Daryl Fordyce. But neither were able to trouble Clarke as both efforts sailed wide.

Pat’s were able to scramble away a Lewis Banks header from a Cawley corner just after the restart.

The oncoming Clarke then did just enough to put off Parkes, after good work from both Fordyce and Ronan Murray in the build up.

Drennan should have had Pat’s in the lead on 62. But he somehow ballooned the ball over the crossbar from directly under it, after sustained pressure following a Saints corner.

Rovers skipper Kyle Callan-McFadden then spurned a great chance to open the evening’s scoring when he got his co-ordinates all wrong, heading over from Keaney’s clever set-piece.

Clarke spilled Parkes’ speculative drive on the next attack but recovered in time.

While both Murray and Dave Webster worked the respective opposition net minder mid-way through the half.

McGinty keeping hold of Webster’s powerful header, while Clarke went full stretch to keep out Murray’s long-ranger.

McGinty had to tip Shaw’s header over his goal with a quarter of an hour to go, as this game hung in the balance.

The game’s opener eventually arrived when Keaney’s free-kick from 30 yards, took a touch off a number of players before the ball finally making its way past a flat-footed Clarke.

The lead last less than a minute however.

Shaw’s initial header came back off McGinty’s far post, but the danger wasn’t cleared as the ball landed to the waiting Toner who fired an unstoppable volley to the Sligo net.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, Jack Keaney, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Lewis Banks; Sam Warde; David Cawley, Daryl Fordyce (Kris Twardek 86); Ronan Coughlan; Romeo Parkes, Ronan Murray. 

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ciaran Kelly, Kevin Toner, David Webster; Simon Madden, Ian Bermingham; Darragh Markey (Chris Forrester 82), Rhys McCabe, Cian Coleman; Mikey Drennan, Gary Shaw (Jake Walker 93).

Referee: John McLoughlin.

Attendance: 2,336

The scoreline didn’t truly reflect the story of the game as Sligo Rovers were beaten by four goals to nil by Dundalk at Oriel Park.

A John Mountney hat-trick, supplemented by a Patrick Hoban spot-kick put an end to Rovers’ seven-game unbeaten run as the Lilywhites opened up a three point lead over the Hoops at the summit.

In search of their fifth league victory on the spin, Dundalk certainly helped matters when they hit the lead within the opening minute.

A quick throw-in from Dean Jarvis allowed Michael Duffy the time and space to whip a ball onto the head of Mountney, who finished with aplomb.

Buoyed by their early goal, the home side came at Rovers in waves, targeting their right side in particular.

Jordan Flores skimmed the side netting with an effort ten minutes in. While the same man saw his glancing header fly past Ed McGinty’s post from another Duffy cross.

Rovers had their first sight at goal on 25 minutes.

Daryl Fordyce and David Cawley combining in front of the Dundalk area as the latter slipped the ball through to Romeo Parkes.

The Jamaican’s effort from the angle cutting across the face of the goal and just beyond Gary Rogers’ back post.

Duffy was at it again just past the half hour when he ventured inside from his wide position.

McGinty needing to fist the winger’s shot away after Vinny Perth’s side burrowed their way through the Sligo defence.

Rovers then startled the champions somewhat, starting the second half on the front foot.

Rogers was almost caught out by a clever set piece from Cawley, but all of Sligo’s good work was undone on the hour.

Kyle Callan-McFadden somewhat unfortunate to concede the penalty when he dived in front of a Hoban shot.

Hoban missed a penalty on the opening night against the same goalkeeper, but he made no mistake this time as he sent McGinty the wrong way for goal number 11 of the year.

The league leaders made it three on 68 when Duffy delivered another super ball onto the head of Mountney, who placed the ball beyond McGinty for his brace.

Mountney had his hat-trick on 80.

Referee Rob Rogers adjudged McFadden to have upended a Hoban in the area. Mountney firing past McGinty from 12 yards.

Jack Keaney’s superb second half set piece settled the tie as an in-form Sligo Rovers beat Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Following a scoreless first half, it was Daryl Fordyce who opened his Sligo account with a special effort on 55 minutes.

Aaron Greene replied with his own piece of magic eleven minutes later, but it was youngster Keaney who settled the tie with a 35 yard free kick on 74 minutes.

In a game which produced three wonderful goals, it was Sligo who created the best of the early opportunities.

Regan Donelon had Alan Mannus worried just three minutes in when his volley flashed past the post less than three minutes in.

While the sun seemed to startle the Hoops net minder when he fumbled Fordyce’s header from Donelon’s searching cross.

The former Linfiel man relying on his defence to clear the danger at the second call.

Stephen Bradley’s men when settled, began to find space and runners in front of the Sligo back line.

Ronan Finn’s superb cross-field ball found Greene who managed to get a low drive off. But Sligo goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney did enough to block the effort away with his legs.

Dylan Watts flashed an effort across the face of goal a quarter of an hour in as the Dubliners continued to trouble on occasion.

Liam Buckley withdrew injured full-back Johnny Dunleavy mid-way through the half, but the switch didn’t affect Sligo in the short term.

Ronan Coughlan’s speculative effort from all of 35 yards, took a touch off a defender’s foot on its way over. Mannus left flat-footed as he watched the ball sail narrowly over the far side of his goal.

While David Cawley couldn’t keep his glancing header down after he beat his marker to another Donelon cross from the left.

Donelon was involved again six minutes into the second half when he stung the palms of Mannus with a long range drive.

But the stopper could do little about Sligo’s opener.

With nowhere to go, Coughlan pulled the ball back to Fordyce who curled a stunning 25 yard strike past Mannus’ reach.

The league leaders had their reply eleven minutes later.

Greene’s super close control allowed him to keep hold of Trevor Clarke’s cross, before the attacker executed a classy overhead kick to tie the contest.

But the westerners were back in the lead, settling the game on 74 with style.

Keaney, who scored a stunner in Dundalk on the opening night, did it again when he smacked his set piece from all of 35 yards beyond Mannus and into the top corner.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Johnny Dunleavy (Kris Twardek 26); Lewis Banks, Regan Donelon; David Cawley, Jack Keaney; Daryl Fordyce (Niall Morahan 90); Romeo Parkes, Ronan Coughlan.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Joey O’Brien, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Trevor Clarke; Ronan Finn, Greg Bolger (Joel Coustrain 85); Dylan Watts (Dan Carr 77), Aaron McEneff, Jack Byrne; Aaron Greene. 

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 2,053

David Cawley’s late goal was not enough as Sligo Rovers were beaten by St Patrick’s Athletic.

Chris Forrester and a Mikey Drennan penalty had given the Saints the advantage. Rovers were impressive for periods in the second half but couldn’t find the net until Cawley’s goal two minutes from time.

A generally dour opening to the game was thankfully lifted nine minutes later with a moment of inspiration from Forrester.

Sligo central defender John Mahon miscontrolled a long ball over the top with his chest. It ran loose into the path of Forrester who nonchalantly lobbed the ball over ‘keeper Mitchell Beeney for his first goal for the club since his cross channel return.

The visitors were stretched six minutes later as Dave Webster’s ball down the right gave Drennan a run. The striker bustled his way past Lewis Banks to bring a save with his body from Beeney.

Pat’s had their second when Drennan was granted a fortuitous penalty on 24 minutes.

Though Forrester was fouled following a clever dribble, referee Rob Hennessy played an advantage. The ball broke for Conor Clifford whose low drive sent Beeney diving down to the right corner of his goal to bat the shot away.

The move of the half from St Pat’s was then thwarted by frantic defending a minute before the interval.

Drennan, skipper Ian Bermingham and Clifford were all involved before Forrester’s shot was bravely blocked by Rovers left-back Banks.

With Kris Twardeck on from the restart, Sligo had a little more about them, striker Romeo Parkes audaciously shooting off target from close to the halfway line minutes in.

St Patrick’s soon regained control, however, with the hardworking Clifford rifling a shot narrowly over Beeney’s crossbar just before the hour.

Beeney was worked 12 minutes later by the impressive Forrester confidently hitting a first time volley from distance.

Gary Shaw was then inches from extending St Patrick’s winning margin on 81 minutes, his header from Clifford’s cross shaving the bar.

Despite that, St Pat’s had to endure a nervous finish when Sligo skipper David Cawley drilled home from close range following Banks’ assist on 88 minutes for the visitors’ consolation.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Dave Webster, Ciaran Kelly, Lee Desmond; Simon Madden, Chris Forrester (Cian Coleman 79), Rhys McCabe, Conor Clifford, Ian Bermingham; Gary Shaw (Jake Walker 90+2), Mikey Drennan.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; John Dunleavy, Dante Leverock, John Mahon, Lewis Banks; Niall Morahan (Kris Twardeck h-t), David Cawley; Jack Keaney, Daryl Fordyce (Liam Kerrigan 69), Ronan Coughlan; Romeo Parkes.

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).

Second half strikes from James Finnerty and Dinny Corcoran moved Bohemians into second spot as they saw off Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

The Bit O’Red shaded the opening half but a Ronan Murray red card turned this game as a clinical Gypsies enjoyed the more impressive second half.
The Phisboro men finished the game with ten men themselves. Rob Cornwall sent tothe stands eleven minutes from time.

Looking to leap ahead of both Derry and Dundalk, it was Bohs who were responsible for the game’s first chance.

Against his home town club, Kevin Devaney’s smashed effort from out wide on his right foot had Rovers goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney beaten. However the Sligo net minder was left relieved when the ball crashed into the side netting.

Sligo, defeated in each of their last three outings, were the better side in the first half and should have gone ahead on 16 minutes.

Ronan Coughlan did well to control Daryl Fordyce’s cross, but could only blast the ball against James Talbot’s chest from close range.

Having gone close with a low drive from 20 yards out, Murray was involved for all the wrong reasons two minutes from the break.

Referee Derek Tomney adjudged the Mayo man to have dived at the edge of the box.

Murray allowed his frustrations get the best of him when he threw the ball towards the official, resulting in a straight red for the former Dundalk attacker.

Bohs had their own chance to break the seal in added time at the end of the half.

In space at the front post, Darragh Leahy could only hook Devaney’s corner wide as Rovers struggled to deal with the set piece.

The second half was in its infancy when the Dubliners took the lead in spectacular fashion.

Finnerty’s superbly timed, acrobatic effort from Keith Buckley’s cross looping over Beeney and into the net.

Rovers then had Beeney to thank moments later when he got a fingertip to Corcoran’s shot after a clever back heel from fellow ex-Sligo man Keith Ward.

Corcoran mis-timed a free header while unmarked two yards from the target, before Ward fired wide on 69 as Bohs pushed to cement their authority.

The second did arrive on 76.

Corcoran’s initial attempt came back off the post, but with Beeney grounded, there was little work left for the striker to do as he tapped the ball across the line.

Bohs were then reduced to ten three minutes later. Cornwall the last man when he dragged Romeo Parkes to the ground.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Johnny Dunleavy (Kris Twardek 77), Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Mahon, Regan Donelon (Lewis Banks 77); Jack Keaney; Daryl Fordyce (for Dante Leverock 55), David Cawley; Ronan Coughlan; Ronan Murray; Romeo Parkes.

Bohemians: James Talbot; Derek Pender, James Finnerty, Rob Cornwall, Darragh Leahy; Conor Levingston, Keith Buckley; Daniel Grant (Ryan Graydon 83), Keith Ward (Aaron Barry 80), Kevin Devaney (Ali Regbha 88); Daniel Corcoran.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Sligo Rovers were knocked out of the EA Sports Cup at the second round stage on Monday evening after they were beaten 2-1 by Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

On a wet night in Donegal, it was the home side who finally broke the deadlock courtesy of a superb Mark Coyle opener.

However, Rovers struck at the death to force extra-time through Dante Leverock.

But it was to be Harps’ night as Stephen Doherty hit the winner five minutes into the added 30 minutes.

Sligo Rovers will put league duties aside this Monday evening when we take on Finn Harps in the EA Sports Cup at Finn Park.

The Bit O’Red are bidding to win the League Cup for the first time since 2010.

Derry City knocked us out at the semi-final stage last season.

Kick-off in Ballybofey is 8pm.

Our next SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game is this Saturday, April 6th when we host Bohemians. Kick-off at the Showgrounds is 7.45pm.

Second-half strikes from David Parkhouse and Ciaron Harkin sealed Derry City’s win over Sligo Rovers.

The Brandywell men had skipper Barry McNamee to thank for the win, as the talented midfielder drove the home side onto a much improved second half display.

Derry gave a full debut to goalkeeper Nathan Gartside, who had to replace the injury Peter Cherrie, while Eoghan Stokes came in for Conor McDermott, who also missed out completely with a groin problem.

As for Rovers boss Liam Buckley, he made five changes to his side which lost to Shamrock Rovers last time out.

It was Derry who went close on 10 minutes but Eoghan Stokes’ left footed strike, which had Rovers keeper Mitchell Beeney beaten, hit the side netting.

Gartside was called into action a minute later as at full stretch he brilliantly tipped over Liam Kerrigan’s super curling 20 yard effort.

Just after the mid-way point of the half Beeney had to make a smart save, to keep out Junior’s 25 yard shot, after Stokes’ clever flick set-up the City winger.

Early in the second half Junior went close but his tame header from Barry McNamee’s left wing cross, never really troubled Beeney and the Rovers keeper easily gathered.

On 57 minutes Beeney dived low to his left to keep out McNamee’s shot on the turn and Stokes’ follow-up strike came back off the post.

Derry deservedly took the lead two minutes later as that McNamee picked up a the loose ball, before playing in Parkhouse, who took a touch and made no mistake drilling the ball low into Beeney’s bottom left hand corner.

Liam Buckley’s men side missed a golden chance to level things on 76 minutes as substitute John Russell, cut the ball back from the left to find Ronan Coughlan, but the striker side footed wide from close range.

On 85 minutes Russell was inches away from equalising but his 20 yard strike whistled just past Gartside’s right hand post.

Deep into stoppage time and as the visitors were pushing forward for an equaliser they were caught on the break with City substitute Gianni Seraf’s pass finding Harkin, who blasted home from the right hand side of the box.

Liam Buckley picked up his first win in charge of Sligo Rovers as the Bit O’Red battled to beat Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

First goals for striker Romeo Parkes and winger Kris Twardek had Rovers in the driving seat.

The Donegal men however, never let their opponents out of sight and pulled one back through Daniel O’Reilly.

Sligo did create chances to put the game to bed, but didn’t require a third as Harps couldn’t fashion an equaliser.

With both sides looking for their first wins of the season, it was the away team who manufactured this contest’s first chance.

The industrious Liam Kerrigan turning his man before firing narrowly over Peter Burke’s goal.

Rovers, who lost skipper Kyle Callan-McFadden mid-way through the half, should have hit the lead on 19.

Parkes latched on to debutant Ronan Murray’s set piece from the wing, but could only nod wide despite finding himself unmarked four yards from goal.

Harps had a chance of their own just 60 seconds later.

Sligo centre half John Mahon allowed a ball bombed forward bounce at the edge of his own area.

Goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney arrived in an effort to salvage the situation but he was beaten to the ball by Nathan Boyle whose attempted lob ended up on the roof of the net.

Buckley’s charges recovered to hit the lead just short of the half hour.

Kris Twardek fed Parkes who timed his run to beat the high Harps line, before taking a touch past Burke and subsequently slotting home for his maiden goal for Rovers.

The second half was four minutes old when Sligo had their second.

Burke had pulled off a smart save to deny Murray’s snapshot but could do little about Twardek’s strike from the resulting corner, which looked to have taken a touch off a defender on its way in.

Ollie Horgan’s men didn’t lie down and halved the deficit on 56.

Loose at the back stick, O’Reilly powered his header past Beeney from a Caolan McAleer corner at the town end of the ground. 

Parkes went close from another headed effort from a Murray free-kick on 78.

While O’Reilly did just enough to divert Dante Leverock’s shot from close range after Jack Keaney’s corner caused trouble in the Harps box.

Finn Harps: Peter Burke; Daniel O’Reilly, Jacob Borg, Keith Cowan; John Kavanagh, Mark Russell (Caolan McAleer 55); Gareth Harkin, Mark Coyle (Niall McGinley 83); Raff Cretaro; Nathan Boyle, Sean Boyd (Mikey Place 79).

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Niall Morahan, John Mahon, Dante Leverock, Lewis Banks; Jack Keaney (David Cawley 87), Kyle Callan-McFadden (Sam Warde 24); Kris Twardek, Ronan Murray (Daryl Fordyce 93), Liam Kerrigan; Romeo Parkes.

Referee: Derek Tomney.