A second half header from Dessie Baker gave Shamrock Rovers a 1-0 win over Galway United at Tallaght Stadium.
Greg Cameron missed a great chance to put Rovers in front on 48 minutes, but he saw his penalty tipped onto a post by Barry Ryan.
Baker grabbed the only goal on 52 when he rose unchallenged to head home Sean O'Connor's cross.
Vinny Faherty came closest to getting an equaliser for Galway when he headed against a post just before the hour mark.
The win lifts Rovers above Cork City into third place and provides a welcome boost heading into the mid-season break.
Galway remain in the bottom half of the table but probably deserved a draw for their endeavour in the second half.
Rovers could have been ahead as early as the first minute, but Tadhg Purcell fired over after Iarflaith Davoren misjudged Ian Bermingham's cross from the left.
On 18 minutes, Rovers' top scorer Gary Twigg failed to find his range as he dragged a shot across goal from Bermingham's clever pass.
At the other end, Davoren almost punished hesitancy in the Rovers box, but his well struck shot just cleared Barry Murphy's crossbar.
The main threat for Galway as they got into the game was captain Jay O'Shea, particularly with his set-piece deliveries.
Just after the half hour, Murphy did well to keep out Garry Breen's shot when Rovers failed to clear O'Shea's low corner.
Minutes later, another O'Shea corner caused havoc in the Rovers defence and O'Connor had to clear off the line.
The general play was scrappy with both sides guilty of wasting possession in promising positions.
However, it was Rovers who finished the half the stronger and would have gone in front but for an excellent tip-over from Ryan.
Bermingham again found space on and his clipped cross picked out O'Connor and the winger's volley brought out the best in Ryan.
Just after the break, Ryan again showed his class when he tipped Cameron's penalty onto the post.
The awarding of the spot-kick was harsh with Shane Guthrie deemed to be illegally holding off Twigg.
But Ryan could do nothing about the opening goal on 52 minutes, as an unmarked Baker headed in O'Connor's cross from the left.
The opening of the second half proved to be more exciting than the whole of the first, as Galway pressed for a quick equaliser with Faherty diving to head Cian McBrien's cross against a post.
Galway had the better possession and territory as the half wore on and Rovers sat back on their lead content to take a 1-0 win.
Michael O'Neill introduced the experience of Shane Robinson and Ollie Cahill in the closing stages to counteract Galway's growing threat.
It had the desired effect, as Galway were unable to make a mad final push for an equaliser.
Indeed, it was Cahill who almost added a second on 87 minutes but Ryan pushed away the veteran's right-foot shot after a Rovers counter attack.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Bermingham, Price, Sives, Treacy (Flynn '42), Purcell, Rice, Cameron, O'Connor, Baker (Cahill '81), Twigg (Robinson '77).
Subs: Coleman, Doyle.
Booked: O'Connor, Sives.
Galway United: Ryan, Connelly, Cooke, Breen, Guthrie, O'Shea, McGrath, Molloy (Edwards '71), McBrien, Faherty, Davoren.
Subs: O'Toole, Sinnott, Kelly, Hanley.
Booked: McBrien, McGrath, Guthrie.
Referee: T Connolly.
Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Galway United
