Galway United substitute Frantz Pierrot proved the Premier Division match winner as the Tribesmen defeated Derry City 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Ahead of the game, the major talk was the absence of the league's current top goalscorer, Michael Duffy, while James McClean was also ruled out.
With the injury news, the Candystripes, who were winless in their last four SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division fixtures, looked less potent.
Galway United saw an opportunity to pounce, and that they did.
On a dull evening on Corribside, the first opportunity of the game landed at the feet of City’s Brandon Fleming, but his effort went narrowly wide of the post.
The Candystripes had the lion's share of possession in the first 10 minutes, but it was the Tribesmen who struck first, thanks to a wonder strike by David Hurley in the 16th minute.
Hurley’s original free-kick was blocked down, before he cannoned a long-distance right-footed volley into the corner of the net to give United the lead in front of a buoyant home crowd.
John Caulfield’s outfit grew in confidence following the opener as a penalty shout on former United man Rob Slevin was waved away, while an Aaron Bolger strike was well saved by Eddie Beach.
At the other end of the pitch, Derry struck the post before the break, but Galway went into the interval in front.
In the second period, Derry stepped up a gear, creating a few more openings in the attacking third.
Firstly, Darragh Markey tested Evan Watts before James Clarke found the United net in the 63rd minute.
Clarke demonstrated superb running power to drive into the opposition penalty area and slotted a low effort into the bottom corner to bring the sides level.
Galway looked to be under pressure, but, from a counter-attack, they manufactured a glorious opportunity with 20 minutes to go. Stephen Walsh impressively slid substitute Ed McCarthy through on goal, but he was unable to find a way past the onrushing Beach.
Chances continued to arrive, in particular for Dipo Akinyemi, who would have been disappointed not to hit the target in front of goal after a moment of quality from Clarke.
As the game was on a knife-edge, the impact of United substitute Pierrot made the crucial difference and sent Derry home empty-handed.
The former Drogheda striker firstly had a penalty claim waved away, before he showed his finishing instinct in the 82nd minute to send the United faithful into a frenzy.
Matty Wolfe played the ball to Pierrot towards the right side of the penalty area, and it was a superb strike from a tight angle which secured all three points for the hosts.
Galway United: Watts: Devitt, Parker (Williams 88), Brouder, Facchineri; Bolger, Barratt (Wolfe 64), Keohane (McCarthy 64), Twardek (Lomboto 80); Hurley, Walsh (Pierrot 80).
Derry City: Beach; Fleming, Cotter (Barr 82), Bannon, Stott, Slevin; O’Reilly, Olayinka, Markey (Winchester 58); Clarke, Akinyemi (Thomas 82).
Referee: Neil Doyle
