Ryan O'Kane completes stunning Sligo Rovers comeback to break Cork City hearts as Roy Keane looks on
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 then countered, with Ryan O'Kane burying the 89th-minute winner.
Despite 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. 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. Kitt Nelson 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.
Cathal O'Sullivan was an early casualty as he was helped off, worryingly, rubbing his left knee after attempting to contest a high ball.
Maguire and Nelson had further chances as 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 to finish at the second attempt.
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: Brann; Nevin, Feely, Kelleher, Kiernan (Couto 82); Crowley, McLaughlin; O'Sullivan (Nolan 20), Nelson (Kamara 83), Fitzpatrick (Lee 82); Maguire (Lutz 75).
SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant; Reynolds (Lomboto 70), Denham, McClean, Stewart; McManus, Quirk; Fitzgerald, Hakiki, O'Kane; Elding.
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