Derry woes deepen with defeat at Galway United

Irish Premier Division Galway United 2 - 1 Derry City FT Derry City's winless run stretched to five games as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Galway United in the Premier Division at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night. A stunning volley from man-of-the-match David Hurley put United in front inside 16 minutes. The Candystripes responded in the second period, and a terrific individual goal from James Clarke brought them level just past the hour mark.

But Frantz Pierrot had the final say, netting brilliantly from a narrow angle with less than 10 minutes to go to inflict a fourth defeat of the league campaign on Tiernan Lynch's side . Galway leapfrogged Derry with three points, with the Foylesiders now falling to eighth, just above the relegation play-off place through the first series of games. Pressure mounting on Lynch Under-fire manager Tiernan Lynch was forced to make two changes to his starting XI from the previous game against Drogheda, with star player Michael Duffy and James McClean both ruled out through injury.

With both teams needing a victory, the game began at a frantic pace. Galway took the lead just after a quarter of an hour. Hurley's left-footed free kick went straight into the wall, but he followed up with a superb dipping volley off his right boot.

In the first of four consecutive away games amid the ongoing developments at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, City were once again under significant pressure early on. The Candystripes had won in Galway on Good Friday the previous season, and to their credit, came out rejuvenated for the second half. With Duffy absent, Clarke looked the most likely route to goal and produced a sublime equaliser in the 63rd minute when he cut inside from the left and drove his shot low into the bottom right-hand corner.