Stephen Walsh's brace sinks lacklustre Derry City in historic night at Pearse Stadium

A LACKLUSTRE Derry City were brought crashing back down to earth at Pearse Stadium as Stephen Walsh bagged a brace for Galway United, inflicting a seventh defeat of the season on the Candy Stripes.

It was another limp display from the Brandywell men who have lost almost one third of their league games this season after 23 fixtures despite appearing to have turned a corner with last week's emphatic 4-1 victory over Bohemians.

The Galwegians have taken seven points from a possible nine against Lynch's troops this season across three different venues - Eamonn Deacy Park, Celtic Park and now Pearse Stadium. This latest result will heap intense pressure on Tiernan Lynch whose position as manager will be under renewed scrutiny after a short reprieve.

There's no doubt this result was damaging as Galway moved to within a single point of the Foylesiders and the Tribesmen have two games in hand. It's one win in their last nine matches, however, the performance will be of real concern to the powers that be at Brandywell as Galway were full value for the three points. Derry was slow and laborious throughout and devoid of ideas.

On Monday night Derry travels to Tallaght to play champions Shamrock Rovers, who are 18 points ahead before returning to the new state-of-the-art grass hybrid pitch at Brandywell Stadium next Friday against Drogheda United.

In an historic night in Galway as John Caulfield's side played their first-ever game at the home of Galway GAA in Salthill, it was the club's record appearance holder, Walsh, who made the difference with goals in either half despite Michael Duffy’s late penalty.

Lynch made one change from the big win over Bohs last week with Barry Cotter dropped to the bench for James Olayinka. With the recent departures at Brandywell, the bench was inexperienced, featuring four players from the club's U21 panel.

There was good news with the return of goalkeeper Brian Maher for the first time since having surgery on his broken wrist bone back in March as he made the subs bench.

It was the home side who looked most threatening in the opening stages and from a long throw after four minutes there was danger signs for Derry. Ed McCarthy's throw was flicked backwards into a packed six yard box by Conor Barr and Lee Devitt reacted quickest as his first time with inside of his right foot hit the crossbar. It rebounded into the goalmouth but the Derry defence managed to clear it behind with Walsh lurking dangerously at the front post.

Walsh found himself through on goal after David Hurley opened up the Derry defence with a lovely pass but the striker's effort on his left foot was scuffed and went safely into the hands of Eddie Beach.

Galway took the lead in the 24th minute, and it was a preventable goal from Derry's perspective. McCarthy crossed from the right as Cameron Dummigan failed to close him down in time. Walsh moved smartly between Kevin Dos Santos and Barr and his close range header sneaked in at the near post past Beach who appeared to have the sun in his face.

Derry's first real attempt on goal arrived just short of the half hour mark when Duffy's effort from distance failed to trouble the keeper.

With three minutes to go before the half-time break Dos Santos clipped in a cross and Duffy went down under challenge of Jimmy Keohane appealing for a penalty due to a push on his back but referee

Daryl Carolan waved play on.

Lynch surprisingly replaced the lively James Clarke who scored twice against Bohs last weekend, with Liam Boyce at the interval as the visitors attempted to get themselves back into the game.

However, Galway threatened again in the 49th minute when Hurley played a sublime ball over the top into the path of Walsh who fired across the face of goal and into the far corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Duffy and Dos Santos both had efforts from range which sailed high and wide of the target but Derry never looked like getting back into the contest.

That was until Brandon Fleming did brilliantly down the right wing to get past both Alex Piesold and Keohane and make his way into the box but Duffy was unable to get a vital touch to the wingback's dangerous cross into the six yard box with 33 minutes remaining.

James Olayinka burst into the Galway box but his low strike was gathered cleanly by Watts on 75 minutes. Moments later Fleming cut inside onto his right foot before curling a strike over the crossbar as Derry continued to be frustrated.

There was a glimmer of hope for Derry when Boyce's shot hit the outstretched hand of Walsh inside the box and the match referee was well placed and immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

Skipper Duffy took responsibility and fired low into the bottom corner with two minutes remaining to give the Candy Stripes a lifeline. It wasn't enough and Galway deservedly took the spoils to put Lynch's position as Derry boss under the microscope once again.

Derry City: Beach; Dos Santos, Barr, Dummigan, P. McClean, Fleming; Markey (J. McClean 56), Olayinka, O'Reilly, Duffy; Clarke.

Galway United: Watts; McCarthy, Keohane, Brouder, Facchineri; Wolfe (Williams 81), Bolger (Thiam 90), McCormack, Devitt, Hurley (Piesold 58), Walsh.

Referee - Daryl Carolan.