Derry City's accomplished striker Liam Coyle bounced back yesterday with two goals in four minutes at the Brandywell to move his side back into a top six position in the Premier Division.
Having been forced out of action since early December because of a knee injury, the Derry front-man broke Galway hearts in the 68th minute after both Darren McCready and Gary Beckett had shots blocked inside the area.
Coyle raced on to a rebound and from an acute angle drove the ball high into the net from 10 yards. That goal gave the home side renewed confidence and Coyle compounded Galway's problems with a second strike in the 72nd minute.
Midfield general Paul Hegarty, who also returned to action yesterday following a two-month suspension, played an incisive pass forward and as Coyle cruised into the danger area, he accurately rolled the ball past the advancing Galway goalkeeper Eddie Hickey.
Hickey had done exceptionally well after just 10 minutes when he denied Beckett from close range and Coyle's rebound was whipped off the Galway goal-line by central defender Brendan O'Connor.
Galway's best scoring chance centred on a 39th-minute drive by Michael Keane from 20 yards. Keane's thunderous shot was superbly touched over the crossbar by Derry goalkeeper David Platt.
But it was an inspired 58th minute substitution by Brandywell manager Kevin Mahon which proved the turning point for the home side.
Flu victim Andy Moran was replaced by Darren McCaul and when Beckett was switched to the right flank, Galway began to find themselves under sustained pressure.
The Dublin derby between Shamrock Rovers and UCD was postponed yesterday because of a waterlogged pitch at Santry's Morton Stadium. Referee Paul McKeon decided just one hour before the game that the match would not proceed. No agreement was reached on an alternative date.
Two First Divison games also fell foul of the weather. But the match between St Francis and Bray Wanderers definitely gets a go-ahead at John Hyland Park on Wednesday at 7.45 p.m.
No date has yet been scheduled for the meeting of Limerick and Dundalk at Hogan Park. The FAI National League will meet tomorrow to sort out the fixture problems.
In Division One, Kilkenny's City's excellent run came to a surprise end when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Cobh Ramblers, the division's most inconsistent team.
Willie Bruton, the smallest player on the field, got the only goal of the game in the 56th minute when a Liam O'Connor corner eluded everyone on its way to the far post where Bruton arrived to head home.
Kilkenny had the better chances including a missed penalty which Davy Walsh shot against the crossbar after 16 minutes.
Derry City: Platt; McCallion, Hutton, Kelly, Hargan; Moran, McCready, Doherty, McIvor; Coyle, Beckett. Subs: Hegarty for McIvor (6 mins), McCaul for Moran (58 mins), McGinley for Coyle (82 mins).
Galway United: Hickey; Neary, O'Connor, Cleary, Quirke; Cregg, Keane, Dolan, Ogden; Foley, Levine. Subs: Goldbey for Cleary, Gorman for Cregg, Melay for Quirke (all 81 mins).
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
