Galway United defeated Sligo Rovers 1-0 at Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to a fine first-half strike from Jimmy Keohane.
Corribside played host to the 100th Connacht derby on a clear but chilly night in Galway, where the Tribesmen picked up their first win of the Premier Division season.
Ahead of the encounter, the home outfit made two switches to their side, with Barnsley-loanee Connor Barratt and Ed McCarthy named from the start. New signing Frantz Pierrot is due to land in the country in the coming days, with the former Drogheda United striker set to strengthen John Caulfield's attacking options.
John Russell made three changes to his line-up, as Gareth McElroy and Carl McHugh were picked in defence, while James McManus was selected in midfield.
On the pitch, the opening opportunity of the game fell the way of David Hurley, who capitalised on a defensive error, but his tame left-footed effort was unable to truly test Sam Sargeant.
Straight after, in the 19th minute, United did find the breakthrough through captain Jimmy Keohane.
Following neat play between McCarthy and Stephen Walsh, the latter teed up Keohane, who clinically slotted the ball into the roof of the net to give the Tribesmen the lead.
It was a contest where Rovers struggled to gain a grasp of proceedings, as tackles flew in and aerial battles were contested all around the park.
With the clock ticking towards half-time, the home side should have doubled their lead when McCarthy missed a glorious chance at the back post. In the build-up, Keohane did superbly to break through the opposition backline before he passed the ball across for McCarthy, and with an open goal in sight, the United winger was only able to sky his effort over the crossbar.
Just after the break, the Bit O'Red manufactured their only clear-cut chance of the contest when they broke out from a United corner, which resulted in Ryan O’Kane stinging the palms of Evan Watts, before the rebounded headed effort was put off target by Mai Traore.
At the other end of the pitch, the duo of Keohane and Walsh combined again, as the veteran striker - making his 375th appearance for the club - arrowed an outside-of-the-foot effort just wide of the top corner.
A little while later, United midfielder Aaron Bolger also had an opportunity to bury the game, but his low strike was straight at Sargeant.
The remaining action saw a late scare for the Tribesmen from a Sligo corner, before a red card was shown to Carl McHugh for an adjudged dangerous challenge.
In the end, the home team deservedly took the victory in the derby, which was also Caulfield’s 100th win as United manager.
Next up for Galway United is an away trip to St Patrick's Athletic, while Sligo Rovers host Drogheda United.
Galway United: Watts; Devitt, Parker (Williams 90), Brouder, Facchineri; Bolger (Wolfe 77), Barratt, McCarthy (Twardek 61), Keohane; Hurley (Piesold 90), Walsh.
Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Stewart (Nolan 59), Esua, McElroy, McHugh; Quirk, McManus (Kavanagh 80), Fitzgerald, O’Kane; Meekison (Hakiki 46 / Patton 70), Traoré.
Referee: Rob Hennessy.
