Galway United suffered their first SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division defeat of the season at the hands of Shamrock Rovers thanks to an early second half goal from Rory Gaffney.
On a dry but cloudy evening on Corribside, United came into the fixture unbeaten in their first seven outings, while Rovers sat five points behind the Tribesmen with a game less played.
Before the encounter at Eamonn Deacy Park, a heartfelt tribute and standing ovation was observed for the late John Herrick, a former Galway United player-manager, following his recent passing.
In the early stages of proceedings, the opening half chances of the game came the way of the home team when Patrick Hickey was unable to direct his glanced header goalwards before Vincent Borden tested Leon Pöhls down low.
Pöhls, who replaced the suspended Ed McGinty, was relieved to see a Borden header go just wide of his post, while the German shot-stopper was forced into producing a fine one-handed save from a Moses Dyer free-kick just before the break.
At the other end of the pitch, United loanee goalkeeper Evan Watts had a lucky escape when his wayward clearance cannoned off Rovers striker Gaffney, with the deflection going wide of the target.
A few minutes into the second half, the Welsh underage international was not as fortunate when his attempted clearance from a corner kick led to the opener.
Galway native Gaffney, who was making his first league start in just under a year, benefited from the error and had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty net to put Stephen Bradley's side one to the good in the 48th minute.
The Tribesmen tried to search for an equaliser, as the lively Dyer got in behind the Rovers' defence, but he was adjudged to have fouled in the build-up.
A few minutes later, the New Zealand attacker leaped highest at the back post but had too much to do to direct his header on target.
As United pushed forward, gaps started to appear in their defence, which Rovers very nearly exploited.
Danny Grant’s pace got him in behind but he failed to hit the target with a clear sight of goal, while substitute Aaron Greene also went close when he tested Watts at his near post.
In the end, Bradley’s team did enough to preserve their one-goal advantage until the final whistle to pick up a valuable three points.
Up next for Galway United is the first Connacht derby clash of the season away to Sligo Rovers, while Shamrock Rovers host Waterford FC in Tallaght.
Galway United: Watts; Byrne, Slevin, Brouder, Walsh (Keohane 59); Cunningham, Dyer, Hickey, Borden, Burns (Donelon 80); Esua (Hurley 85).
Shamrock Rovers: Pöhls; Honohan, Lopes, Cleary, Watts (Byrne 84); McEneff (O’Neill 78), Burke (Greene 69), Healy, Gaffney (Noonan 69), Grant; C. O’Sullivan (Grace 45).Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.
