Anthony Elding scored his ninth goal of the season as Sligo Rovers equalled the Premier Division record of eight straight wins in beating Cork City 2-0 in a generally dour contest at the Showgrounds.
The victory, and fourth successive clean sheet, keeps Ian Baraclough's champions five points clear at the top of the table.
Elding scuffed an early chance dead in front of goal from a Raff Cretaro cross as a sluggish Sligo took 32 minutes to get a shot on target with Ross Gaynor finally working Mark McNulty from distance.
That did signal a rise in tempo from Sligo who duly took the lead five minutes later. Ryan Connolly did really well to get to the end line to put the ball over. The cross was only partially cleared to the edge of the area where midfielder Lee Lynch controlled it well before volleying to the right corner of McNulty's net for his first goal of the season.
Sligo should have gone in at the break further ahead but for a terrific double save from McNulty, first from Aaron Greene and then Cretaro's follow-up, in the 43rd minute.
Sligo didn't seal their win until the 83rd minute. Cork defender Kalen Spillane tugged the shirt of Evan McMillan in the box and Elding calmly sent McNulty the wrong way from the resulting penalty.