Galway United defeated Waterford 1-0 in Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to first-half strike from Patrick Hickey.
It was a game that had the feel of a six-pointer in Galway with both sides itching to keep in touch with the teams at the top end of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table.
The Terryland surface was in immaculate condition on a dry evening on Corribside which set the tone for a lively encounter in the west.
Following an even start to proceedings, USA native Patrick Hickey had the opening opportunity of the contest.
The hardworking Stephen Walsh, who made his 319th appearance for the club - putting him in fourth place on the all-time Galway appearance list - lifted the ball into the box which Hickey headed goalwards but Sam Sargeant was well placed to gather possession.
Hickey wasn't to be stopped ten minutes later, in the 23rd minute, as he put United in the lead when he cannoned a volley into the back of the net after he was quickest to react in the box to a Robert Slevin knock-down from a long throw.
The same man, Hickey, who was in the thick of the action throughout the first half, came close to a second goal a few minutes later when he flashed a header just wide of the target from an inswinging Conor McCormack corner.
The Blues had few answers to the Tribesmen’s direct play in the first 45 minutes as their two centre defenders were booked, but they did go very close to an equaliser at the other end of the pitch.
Just before the break, Pádraig Amond latched onto Connor Evans’ cut-back but the striker saw his effort rattle the crossbar to the relief of both Brendan Clarke and the home faithful.
With the match on a knife-edge, Keith Long’s outfit managed to manufacture half chances in the second period as Dean McMenamy tested Clarke with a low strike before Darragh Leahy made the United shot-stopper work to palm away a dangerous driven cross.
The Blues, who came into the encounter with five wins from their last seven league fixtures, continued to push for the leveller as Amond tried to get a touch goalwards in a goalmouth scramble and McMenamy tried his luck from distance to no avail.
The Tribesmen held strong defensively and were able to withstand the Waterford pressure until the full-time whistle to earn a crucial three points.
Up next in the league for Galway United is an away trip to Sligo while Waterford take on Drogheda United in Weavers Park.
Galway United: Clarke; Slevin (Burns 80), Brouder, Nugent, Walsh (Lomboto 52 / O’Sullivan 89); Hickey, Keohane, McCormack (Hurley 45), McCarthy (Ogedi-Uzokwe 80), Buckley; Esua.
Waterford FC: Sargeant; Power, Horton, McCormack, Amond; Parsons, Evans (Arubi 60), Leahy, Radkowski (Bellis 73), McCourt (Burke 80); McMenamy.
Referee: Damien McGraith.
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