A scoreless draw at Sligo means Cork City lost their chance to close in on Dundalk last night.

A win would have brought Cork within five points of the Airtricity League Premier Division leaders and given them hope in the title race

However, John Caulfield’s side are seven points behind the reigning champions, albeit with a game in hand.

The Rebels had to endure a period of pressure at the start of the game at the Showgrounds as Karl Sheppard cleared the ball off the Cork goal line from a header by Sligo’s centre-half Gavin Peers.

Then Sligo’s Kieran Sadlier sent a dangerous low ball across the Leesiders’ goal, only for Liam Martin to miss out by inches from scoring.

The home side then missed another chance to go in front as Sadlier was denied by City keeper Mark McNulty.

The away side had a chance themselves towards the end of the first half when Garry Buckley headed Sheppard’s cross straight at Nugent from point-blank range.

Buoyed by their chance, the title-chasers then hit the post early in the second half when Buckley’s screamer from a free kick 30 yards out hit the crossbar.

The sides exchanged more chances as the half went on only for City to have a goal disallowed six minutes from time after Dave Mulcahy, a second half substitute, drifted offside before an easy tap-in.

However, the match ended in a stalemate and the Rebels will have to rely on a head-to-head with Dundalk next month to give them any hope of landing the 2016 League of Ireland title.