Rampant Cork City reclaimed top spot in the Premier Division with this emphatic victory over struggling Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Midfielder Kelvin Flanagan took the scoring honours with a splendidly taken hat-trick, his first goal arriving on nine minutes, as Cork overtook St Patrick's Athletic at the top of the table.

There was little between the sides in a lively opening and Sligo must have been entertaining hopes of a shock result when Johnny Hoeks put them on level terms in the 14th minute with a spectacular drive from the edge of the area. With Brian Barry Murphy and Ollie Cahill posing a constant threat on the left flank, Cork quickly regained the upper hand and put the issue beyond doubt with two goals in a blistering three-minute spell towards the end of the first half.

Flanagan headed his second from Barry Murphy's cross in the 37th minute and Pat Morley made it 3-1 three minutes later, heading home from close range after good work by Gerald Dobbs.

Flanagan completed his hattrick four minutes after the break with a precise lob to the roof of the net after a mis-kick by Sligo goalkeeper Matt Boswell.

Substitute Glen Shannon grabbed a consolation goal for Sligo in the 76th minute after Noel Mooney had parried a close range effort from Marcus Hallows.

However, Cork finished in style and rounded off a highly impressive performance when Ollie Cahill scored from the spot four minutes from time.

SLIGO ROVERS: Boswell, McLynn, Hutchison, O'Grady, Charles, Birks, Kennedy, Oates, Hallows, Hoeks, Lynch. Subs: Shannon for Oates (65 mins); Marshall for Lynch (73 mins).

CORK CITY: Mooney, O'Donoghue, Cronin, Hill, Barry-Murphy, Freyne, Cahill, Flanagan, Dobbs, Morley, Herrick. Subs: Caulfield for Freyne (72 mins); Hartigan for Flanagan (80 mins); O'Halloran for Morley (88 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).