Cork City reeled in again as late penalty earns Sligo Rovers a draw

Max Mata's late penalty rescued a point for Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds as the Bit O’Red had to claw their way back from two goals down against Cork City in Saturday's SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash.

Goals from Jonas Hakkinen and Ruairi Keating looked like the Rebels would leave Sligo with the points. But Eanna Clancy’s first goal for Rovers was followed by Mata’s dramatic leveller after Kailin Barlow was upended by Kevin Custovic.

Facing each other for the first time since City dumped Rovers out of the FAI Cup in summer 2021, the hosts made two changes from last Monday’s win over St Pat’s. Clancy made his sixth start for Sligo, while Lukas Browning replaced Niall Morahan in the middle.

The Munster men, fresh from that eight-goal thriller in Tallaght where they led 4-2 at one stage, made three swaps with Custovic, Ethon Varian and Jonas Hakkinen each coming in.

Looking to join their hosts on seven points in the Premier Division table, Colin Healy’s side looked the more resolute in the opening half.

Matthew Healy had an effort easily saved by Sligo stopper Luke McNicholas early on, while Fabrice Hartmann, who netted Rovers’ winner over Pat’s on Monday blasted over from the edge of the Cork area shortly after.

City hit the lead on 18 minutes.

Sligo protested referee Arnold Hunter’s decision to award Cork a corner from which Rovers failed to immediately clear their lines. Ruairi Keating, once of Sligo, saw his laced volley cleared off the line by his own skipper Cian Coleman. The ball hopping up for Hakkinen who reacted first to nod across the line.

John Russell’s charges continued to struggle to break the Cork line. The closest they came to restoring parity was six minutes from the break. Greg Bolger linked up with