SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Derry City 0 Galway United 1
Derry City fell to back-to-back defeats as Galway United deservedly claimed all three points at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
The Foylesiders were disappointing throughout the 90 minutes and more worryingly for them they never tested Galway goalkeeper Brendan Clarke all night.
Not for the first time during Ruaidhrí Higgins’ term as manager, the Candystripes struggled to have any cutting edge in the opening 45 minutes and in truth, the visitors were comfortable.
City have aspirations of winning the league for the first time in over 20 years, but on too many occasions they struggle to perform and just let 45 minutes pass them by, which with the squad of players they have simply isn’t good enough.
The Brandywell men made three changes to their side which lost at Bohemians before the international break, with Shane McEleney, Will Patching and Michael Duffy coming in for Sam Todd and Pat Hoban, who were all on the bench, while Adam O’Reilly missed out through injury.
United went close to taking an early lead but Karl O’Sullivan’s 20-yard snap-shot was parried away by a diving Brian Maher.
City had their first real chance just before the half-hour mark as Duffy’s right-wing corner found McEleney at the back post, but the big defender headed wide from close range.
Just before the hour mark, Duffy’s right-wing free-kick found Mark Connolly, but his powerful header, which had United keeper Brendan Clarke worried, flew just over the bar.
Derry should have done better on 64 minutes as Duffy’s left-wing corner found an unmarked Ronan Boyce, but the defender’s header was well off target.
Galway missed the best chance of the encounter minutes later as Jordan McEneff gifted possession to the visitors but with only Maher to beat Aodh Dervin’s close-range effort was superbly parried away by the Derry keeper.
After the big save from Maher, the home side made a change with Pat Hoban coming off the bench for winger Daniel Kelly, who again disappointed.
The biggest cheer of the night came on 75 minutes as Ciaron Harkin came off the bench to replace McEneff, it was the Creggan man’s 100th appearance and his first since 2022.
Galway deservedly took the lead in sublime fashion on 85 minutes as substitute Walsh got in behind McEleney, before superbly clipping the ball over Connolly and coolly slotting home past Maher.
In the closing stages Paul McMullan’s right-wing cross found Duffy at the back post, but he volleyed wide when well placed inside the box.
Derry City Maher, Boyce, S McEleney, Connolly, McJannet; Patching, McEneff (Harkin 76), McMullan; Kelly (Hoban 65), Mullen (Patton 84), Duffy.
Galway United Clarke, Slevin, Brouder, Dervin (Walsh 69), Hurley (Donelon 94), O’Sullivan (Nugent 90), Borden (Hickey 90), McCormack, McCarthy, Kazeem, Esua.
Referee Declan Toland (Dublin).
