League leaders Shelbourne ended this old-school battle on a bad pitch a man down but a goal up as gritty Galway United gave it all but it was not enough.
On a cold evening after a day of heavy rain, John Martin decided matters on 15 minutes, with Shels losing substitute Shane Farrell to a worrying injury at the death and having to soldier on with 10 men.
The difficult conditions ensured it was never going to be a classic but it was gripping in stages. Shels generally had United where they wanted them in the second half but the promoted Tribesmen will take plenty of positives across the Shannon this evening.
Are Shels title contenders? The encouraging thing for coach Damien Duff is that they can play better than this - and they are excellent defensively.
Duff, who turned 45 on Saturday, made three changes from the team that won in Sligo, Kameron Ledwidge, Evan Caffrey and Martin coming into the starting line-up.
Galway, who came from behind at home to beat Waterford last Friday, having won at Dundalk, picked the same starting 11 thrice in succession.
For all that there were not many chances, the first half was noteworthy in how much better United were than Shels in the first ten minutes, when the Reds barely got out of their half; ultimately, though, the star quality of Will Jarvis, on loan from Hull City until the end of the 2024 season, was the difference.
The outstanding Conor McCormack, former Red Aodh Dervin and Vince Borden - three of United's five in midfield - had half-chances for but Shels scored with their first meaningful attack.
Karl O'Sullivan couldn't control the ball, Shels broke and Jarvis struck a sweet curling effort off the butt of former Shels keeper Brendan Clarke's post. John Martin was blessed by the uncertainty of the ricochet and he tapped home the rebound.
Coincidentally, the goal came moments after an apoplectic Duff had a go at one or two of his players, who were second to most of the balls in the opening 15. Shels grew into it and JJ Lunney's effort on 20 minutes faded wide but advertised their brief ascendancy.
John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan rival Duff for sideline sideshows. After O'Sullivan got booked for a late tackle on former United defender Paddy Barrett, the United bench was surprisingly energised, Caulfield clearly imploring Horgan to chill.
Jarvis looks chilled on the ball. At times the Englishman recalls John Robertson, one of Brian Clough's most important players at Nottingham Forest, with pace in possession of the ball that is difficult to deal with. He readily raided down the left on 36 minutes but Killian Brouder cleared for a corner.
It was Brouder who had United's best chance, controlling a Dervin drive in the box near half-time but finding the ball stuck on ground that was at best soft to heavy, heavy in places.
As Ollie Horgan returned to the sideline for the second half, he had words with both Barrett and his former Finn Harps midfielder Mark Coyle; all three emerged smiling.
Borden drove a low shot on 54 minutes at former United stopper Connor Kearns after more dynamic play from Ed McCarthy; Shels broke and Brouder had to get his head in the way of another curler from Jarvis.
McCarthy drew another foul from Barrett - and this time a yellow card and claps from the United bench – before one of the moments of the game as Jarvis half-volleyed the ball on the break over the had of Colm Horgan, evoking memories of Kevin Broderick in a venue near Tolka and another code back in 2005.
Substitute Dean Williams' blatant trip on Regan Donelon could have seen more than a yellow as the game eased into the final quarter.
There was drama towards the end as Shels had brought on three batches of subs, so Farrell going off injured, holding his left arm in a makeshift sling, left United with an extra man.
Substitute Patrick Hickey dragged a shot wide as Shels held on.
Shelbourne FC: Kearns; Gannon, Barrett, Molloy, Ledwidge (Wilson 62); Caffrey (O’Sullivan 71), Coyle, Lunney; Burt (Farrell 81), Martin (Williams 71), Jarvis.
Galway United: Clarke, Horgan, Slevin, Brouder, Donelon (Costello 85); Dervin (Lomboto. 65, Borden (Kazeem 77), Hurley, McCormack (Hickey 85), McCarthy; O’Sullivan (Esua 77).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin).
