Galway United gained very little joy at the Brandywell as Jeff Kenna's side continued their fight against relegation to the First Division.
Having lost out to the Candystripes in the FAI Cup semi-final in Terryland Park last weekend, Stephen Kenny's men certainly did not grant their visitors any favours and, indeed, really should have won this game by more.
Now two points behind Finn Harps at the wrong end of the Premier Division, Galway will continue their battle on home soil next Friday night hosting a 'must-win' fixture against the Donegal side.
The home side broke the deadlock after just ten minutes following a sustained bout of early pressure.
Kevin Deery's angled shot was well parried by keeper, Gary Rogers, but when the ball broke to Gareth McGlynn he found the net with an overhead-kick from close-range.
Galway caused Derry no shortage of problems after that goal but they failed to seriously extend home keeper, Gerard Doherty.
Indeed, the home side finished the opening half much the stronger and really should have doubled their lead but for the brilliance of Rogers.
The Galway keeper did well to push a Ruaidhri Higgins free-kick around his post before getting a superb block on a shot from Sammy Morrow after Marc McCulloch's header back to his keeper fell short.
After the break the home side went close again. Niall McGinn, who was proving a constant thorn in the side of the Galway defence, broke clear in the 60th minute but his shot was blocked by keeper, Rogers before the ball was hacked to safety.
But Galway were not so fortunate two minutes later when McGinn did find the net to double his side’s lead.
A deep cross from the right by McGlynn found the advancing winger and with time and space on his hands, he directed his downward header home from 16 yards.
In the 67th minute, the Candystripes went close again when another cross from the right by Aaron Callaghan saw McGlynn's header crash off the Galway crossbar.
And just to highlight the fact that it was not to be Galway's night, their leading marksman, Jay O'Shea, failed to reduce the deficit when he had been awarded a penalty in the 69th minute.
The striker had been tripped as he entered the penalty area but Doherty, diving low to his right, diverted O'Shea's spot-kick wide of his upright.
Galway pressed at every opportunity, but their luck was out again in the 81st minute when O'Shea curled a shot onto the Derry crossbar from 20 yards.
Derry City – Doherty; Callaghan, Delaney, Hutton, Gray; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, McGinn (Martyn, 84); Morrow (Stewart, 76), Farren (McHugh, 76).
Galway United – Rogers; Conneely, A. Keane, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; J. Keane (Davoren, 63), Lester, Foley (Glynn, 56); Russell (Murphy, 78), O'Shea, Faherty.
Referee: R. Winter (Wicklow).
