Galway United 2 (Curran 65, 66) Sligo Rovers 1 (Corcoran 84)

Enda Curran scored twice in a minute as Galway United claimed the derby honours and a crucial three points in their fight to avoid the drop.

At a lively Eamonn Deacy Park, Curran turned home Conor Melody’s shot 25 minutes from time to give the Tribesmen the lead and make sure of the points with a header a minute later.

The win sees United climb six points clear of the automatic relegation spot into eighth place, but Rovers, who pulled one back late on through Dinny Corcoran, slip further into the relegation fight with this defeat.

Chances were few and far between for Galway in the first-half and it was the away side that finished the first half strongly and the hosts had Conor Winn to thank for keeping them scoreless.

Dinny Corcoran was first to test Winn when he burst into the box in the 40th minute and moments later he kept out Tim Clancy’s overhead kick.

After a scoreless first half the chances continued to flow for Rovers, but their poor form in front of goal came back to haunt them when Curran finished well from the six yard line to open the scoring.

And he doubled his tally a minute later when he headed a long clearance from Winn over the advancing Brush, and despite Corcoran’s strike and some late pressure United held on for the precious win.

Galway United: Winn; Horgan, Oji, Cantwell, Ludden; Shanahan, Sinnott, Connolly, Melody (O'Leary 76); Keegan, Curran (Walsh 87).

Subs not used: Hanley, Raftery, O'Connell, Barry, Saarelma.

Sligo Rovers: Brush; Keane, Peers, Clancy (Elding 90), Donelon; Myrie-Williams (Cretaro 76), Cawley, Boylan (Ward 76), Puri; Nielsen, Corcoran.

Subs not used: Coulter, Ledwith, Keating, Lehane.

Referee: R Rogers