Michael Duffy celebrates as Derry City win in Galway
Though Cian Byrne’s dismissal left Galway with an enormous challenge, they were already second best.
Benson’s sweetly struck right-footed effort had given the Candystripes the lead in the 47th minute and came two minutes before the hosts saw Cian Byrne dismissed.
Galway’s Patrick Hickey had previously cancelled out Danny Mullen’s opener for Derry but the Tribesmen forced few chances after Byrne’s red card.
Whyte struck in injury-time to make the game safe with his first goal since joining from Portsmouth in January, although there was still time for Vince Borden to nod home for Galway after a late corner sparked a goalmouth scramble.
Derry stay sixth despite the victory but have cut the gap to Galway directly above them to just two points.
Derry took the lead after 16 minutes when Michael Duffy cut in after the ball had been recycled from a corner and unleashed a wicked, curling effort.
Galway keeper Evan Watts got a strong hand to the shot but Mullen was quickest to react and headed home the rebound.
The hosts pushed for an equaliser but, 10 minutes from the break, Derry keeper Brian Maher produced a brilliant save to stop Greg Cunningham’s header from finding the top corner.
John Caulfield’s side would draw level before half-time, however, when Robert Slevin’s hopeful ball forward sparked hesitation in the Derry defence and Patrick Hickey nipped in to poke the ball beyond Maher.
Derry appeared to feel their had been a foul in the build-up, however, and manger Tiernan Lynch was sent to the stands for his protests at half-time.
Two minutes after the interval, the visitors were back in front when Robbie Benson’s curling effort found the far corner and only two minutes later things got worse for Galway when Cian Byrne was shown his second yellow card for a trip.
As the 10 men pressed to get back in the game, penalty appeals were waved away when Slevin went down inside the box.
Galway searched in vain for an equaliser and were caught on the counter in injury time when former Northern Ireland international Whyte coolly slotted into the far corner after being put through by Paul McMullan.
Galway went almost straight up the other end and reduced the deficit as Borden nodded home after a series of corners but there was only enough time remaining for the restart.
Next match for Derry is on Tuesday night when they welcome lowly Sligo Rovers to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Galway United: Evan Watts; Robert Slevin (Sean Kerrigan 84), Killian Brouder, Greg Cunningham; Jeannot Esua, Cian Byrne, Jimmy Keohane (Cillian Tollett 84), Vincent Borden, Bobby Burns (David Hurley 74); Patrick Hickey, Moses Dyer (Stephen Walsh 75)
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce (Hayden Cann 76), Sam Todd; Carl Winchester, Dom Thomas (Paul McMullan 85), Robbie Benson; Danny Mullen (Sean Patton 68), Gavin Whyte, Michael Duffy
Referee: Declan Toland
Tags: