Cork City left frustrated as big calls go against them against Sligo Rovers at Turner's Cross

Cork City 1 Sligo Rovers 1 

Cork City will feel incredibly hard done by referee Eoghan O’Shea after this draw with Sligo Rovers in front of 3,543 spectators at Turner's Cross on Friday night. 

City were denied at least two penalties from O’Shea, with further decisions going against them on the night.

Sligo took the lead midway through the first half before Kitt Nelson levelled in the second period. 

The visitors had to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men after Conor Reynolds was sent off. However, City couldn’t break down a resilient Sligo defence despite a heavy onslaught on the Sligo goal.

City made three enforced changes from the side that lost to Waterford. Rio Shipston, Sean Murray and Milan Mbeng came into the starting 11 in place of the injured duo of Greg Bolger and Sean Maguire, with Freddie Anderson missing the game through suspension.

Good link-up play between Alex Nolan and Nelson saw the latter have an opportunity on goal but Nolan was unable to keep his effort on target. Nolan would have been disappointed to have not at least hit the target, especially since it was a very similar chance to the goal he scored against Waterford just four days earlier.

There was a moment of controversy midway through the half when Ruairi Keating went down under a challenge from Reece Hutchinson. Referee Eoghan O’Shea deemed the tackle to be fair from Hutchinson and the reaction of Keating might have indicated the referee made the right call.

Sligo went ahead soon afterward when a deep cross from Lintott found Owen Elding - son of former City player Anthony Elding - who managed to guide his header into the far corner of the net. Although Elding was giving a lot of space in the penalty, he still had a lot to do and he deserves a lot of credit for his finish.

City had the chance to level when Charlie Lyons' downward header fell to Keating but he blasted over the crossbar.

Lyons was next to come close but after mis-hitting his first effort, he directed his overhead kick off target.

City should have been given a penalty when Shipston was brought down by Connor Malley just inside the penalty area, but referee Eoghan O’Shea deemed the foul to be outside and awarded a free-kick instead, with nothing coming from it.

City thought they had levelled when Lyons had the ball in the Sligo net but the goal was ruled out for a foul by the City player on Sligo keeper Conor Walsh, a decision that looked incredibly harsh on Lyons.

The start of the second half saw another claim by City for a penalty when a Keating cross struck the outstretched arm of Hutchinson but again their appeals were in vain.

Lyons was a constant threat from set-pieces and he almost levelled the contest with a headed effort but was denied by a smart save from Walsh.

O’Shea’s night wasn’t getting any better when he somehow missed John Mahon's blatant handball inside the six-yard area when the Sligo captain diverted Keating’s strike wide of the goal with his hand.

City were deservedly level when Nelson opened his City account when he neatly finished into the bottom corner of the net after the ball had fallen to him inside the penalty area.

Sligo substitute Conor Reynolds, who was on the pitch less than two minutes, received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Dijksteel. Although O’Shea had not done City any favours in the game up to that point, the referee had no choice but to give Reynolds his marching orders.

CORK CITY: Troost; Crowley, Mbeng, Lyons, Couto; Nolan, Nelson (Skieters 80), Shipston, S Murray, Dijksteel (Fitzpatrick 72); Keating.

SLIGO ROVERS: Walsh; Lintott (Reynolds 67), Mahon, Denham, Hutchinson; Fitzgerald, Wolf (Manning 67), Hakiki (Mallon 78), Malley, Elding; Kavanagh (Lomboto 46, McElory 90).

Referee: E O'Shea.