It means the Bit O’Red need results to go their way over the next week if they are to avoid finishing in a play-off position.

After Galway and Waterford drew on Friday night, Sligo knew a win was a must in this tie against already relegated Cork City if they are to avoid finishing second bottom.

Ger Nash’s side had not won an away game all season, but their FAI Cup final in two weeks’ time will serve as motivation for his players.

With that game in mind, Nash made seven changes to his team, with one eye on that final.

All the pressure was on the hosts, who were patient early on as they tried to find the breakthrough.

City were happy to allow Sligo plenty of the ball early on, with the hosts coming close on a couple of occasions, although Conor Brann in goals wasn’t really troubled.

Ryan O’Kane and Jad Hakiki forced saves from the City ‘keeper, but Sligo were struggling to find that all-important goal despite having plenty of the ball early on.

This game was far from a classic, and perhaps that’s down to what was at stake for the home side.

And City did have chances of their own, particularly through Josh Fitzpatrick when Nash’s side went on the counter.

Again though, they couldn’t really trouble Sam Sargeant in the Sligo goals who barely had a save to make in that opening 45 minutes.

But City looked more threatening after the restart, with Sligo again struggling to trouble Brann.

Evan McLaughlin played the ball across to Alex Nolan on the edge of the box, and the former St Patrick’s Athletic fired past Sargeant with a fine finish.

That lead lasted a mere five minutes, as Sligo were back level when Owen Elding tucked his penalty past Brann after Hakiki was tripped inside the box.

Rovers were pushing hard to find a winner, knowing what was at stake, but had to settle for a point in the end.

Sligo Rovers: S Sargeant, E Agbaje, P McClean, O Denham, S Stewart (C Harkin, 70), J McManus (C Kavanagh, 60), S Quirk, W Fitzgerald, J Hakiki, R O’Kane, O Elding.

Cork City: C Brann, J FIitzpatrick, F Kelleher, F Anderson, C Drinan (C Lutz, 72), M Kiernan, G Bolger (K Kamara, 61), A Nolan (B Lee, 73), S Murray (D Crowley, 37), K Nelson, S Maguire (E McLaughlin, 46).

Referee: A O’Dowd.