Roy Keane watches on as Cork City collapse again as late Sligo winner deepens LOI relegation fears
The hosts showed signs of life as Evan McLaughlin and Seani Maguire goals put them on the brink of a first league victory in 14 attempts.
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Cork City suffered another late collapse against Sligo Rovers
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Former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane in attendance during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Cork City and Sligo Rovers
But manager Ger Nash was denied an overdue triumph by Owen Elding and Patrick McClean's strikes.
City came close to a late winner only for Alex Nolan's wonderstrike to cannon off the crossbar.
Rovers countered as Ryan O'Keane buried the 89th-minute winner.
Despite the 11 remaining games, those goals may have all but condemned City to the drop in front of a 2,673 crowd, which included Roy Keane.
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They were booed off by the Shed End at the final whistle.
Sligo's recent success has been built on early goals, but Cork grabbed the first at Turner's Cross.
Maguire switched to Kitt Nelson in space, and the Preston loanee zipped a quality ball into McLaughlin's feet.
He jinked onto his left and deceived Sam Sargeant by whipping the ball inside the near post for his second of the season.
That seventh-minute strike was City's earliest goal in almost three months.
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The hosts weren't used to holding such an early lead, but they made life difficult for their opponents by defending in a determined low block, led by the aerial ability of Fiacre Kelleher.
Maguire's hold-up play provided a key outlet for Conor Brann's route-one balls.
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But when the keeper launched him straight through the middle, the 11-cap Ireland international delayed too long and fluffed his shot.
Cathal O'Sullivan was an early casualty as he was helped off, worryingly, rubbing his left knee after attempting to contest a high ball.
City were comfortable until the break to hold their first half-time lead in 19 games.
Brann was alert to make a flying save on the resumption as Will Fitzgerald's hit looked destined for the top corner. Fitzgerald headed their next chance over.
From that goal kick, Nelson and Nolan combined down the right to drag the ball back for Maguire.
His first shot was saved by Sargeant, but Maguire latched onto the rebound to bury his fourth goal of the season, and first in two months.
The two-goal cushion lasted just four minutes. Sligo exploited the vast tracts of empty space around the tiring City defence as Jad Hakiki fed Elding, who finished his ninth of the season after Brann's initial save.
Brann again came up trumps to push around the post from Hakiki, but from Will Fitzgerald's corner, McClean directed a bullet header into the far corner.
And once Nolan's effort bounced away from danger, Sligo came up with a late dagger through O'Kane.
Cork City 2 - 3 Sligo Rovers
SUN STAR MAN: Owen Elding (Sligo Rovers)
CORK CITY: Brann 7; Nevin 6, Feely 6, Kelleher 7, Kiernan 6 (Couto 82, 6); Crowley 6, McLaughlin 8; O'Sullivan 6 (Nolan 20, 7), Nelson 7 (Kamara 83, 6), Fitzpatrick 6 (Lee 82, 6); Maguire 7 (Lutz 75, 6).
SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant 7; Reynolds 6 (Lomboto 70, 6), Denham 6, McClean 8, Stewart 6; McManus 7, Quirk 7; Fitzgerald 7, Hakiki 7, O'Kane 7; Elding 8.
Referee: P Norton (Dublin) 6.
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