Already-relegated Drogheda faced a Galway side clearly focusing on next Tuesday's play-off against Bray, for the visitors made 10 changes from the side that beat Bohemians last week.

First blood went to Drogheda in the seventh minute when Galway keeper Conor Winn badly fumbled a corner kick and the ball was only scrambled clear as far as Brendan McGill who drove a 25-yard shot to the net.

But the Tribesmen levelled eight minutes later in similar fashion when Derek O'Brien lashed a ferocious 20-yard volley past Drogs keeper Paul Skinner.

Conor Sinnott went close to restoring the home side's lead when he curled a free kick onto the roof of the crossbar, but instead it was Galway who got their noses in front on the half-hour when Karl Sheppard was bundled over almost 30 yards from goal and blasted the resulting free kick through the defensive wall and past a static Skinner.

John Flood failed to connect with a header that would surely have resulted in a Drogheda goal, but Bobby Browne's side did draw level at 2-2 before half-time when Conor Sinnott's fine pass released Peter McMahon who produced a finish to match.

The entertainment level dropped off in the second half amid a flurry of substitutions, but Galway got their noses in front on 70 minutes when one of those subs, Rory Gartland, forced the ball to the net after David Sheppard's initial effort was parried by Skinner.

There was one more twist in the 79th minute, though, when Jamie Harris flicked a long clearance into the path of Darragh McNamara who shot past Winn from close range.

Drogheda United: 1 Paul Skinner; 10 Paul Crowley, 5 Alan McNally, 4 Yael Haro, 12 Eoghan Osborne; 9 Peter McMahon (14 Ronan McEnteggart 86), 8 Conor Sinnott, 6 Eric McGill (17 Paul Matondo 77), 7 Brendan McGill, 15 Jamie Harris, 11 John Flood (13 Darragh McNamara 64). Subs not used: Stephen Campbell, Robert Duggan.
Booked: None

Galway United: 1 Conor Winn; 15 Tom King (8 Stephen O'Donnell 69), 12 Evan Preston Kelly, 4 Philip Reilly, 17 Steven Walsh; 20 Ger Cheevers, Neil Keane, Gary Kelly, 11 Derek O'Brien (14 Rory Gartland 65); 10 Karl Sheppard (9 Darragh Duggan 58), 7 David Sheppard. Sub not used: Shane McInerney.
Booked: None

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).