Two goals in the dying minutes of the first half gave Inverness Caley Thistle the edge in the first Highland derby of the season at Global Energy Stadium.
County were on top for most of the first half but it was the visitors who went ahead in the 42nd minute when Miles Storey swept home a Liam Polworth assist. The visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when James Vincent headed home from close range.
The home side did pull one back in stoppage time when Liam Boyce headed home but the visitors held out for the three points and a 2-1 victory.
Caley Thistle forced the first corner of the match in the fourth minute after Storey broke in the home box but his goalbound shot was deflected behind.
At the other end Stewart Murdoch controlled a Richard Foster knockdown from Marcus Fraser's free-kick but his effort was well held by Caley Thistle goalkeeper Owain Fon Willliams.
County threatened again in the 14th minute when Michael Gardyne fired a the ball across goal but Caley Thistle defender Daniel Williams stepped in to knock the ball behind for a corner.
The home side mounted another attack three minutes later. Brian Graham's cross from the left was headed behind by David Raven and from the resultant corner Jonathan Franks screwed a shot just wide of Fon Williams' left hand post.
County were gaining the upper hand and after Raven misjudged a Boyce ball into the box Gardyne blasted the loose ball over with only Fon Williams to beat.
But County forced a corner at the other end when an attempted overhead kick from Boyce deflected off Devine.
But against the run of play Caley Thistle took the lead three minutes from break. Raven fed Liam Polworth down the right and Storey side-footed home from eight yards.
It got worse for the home side in first half stoppage time when a Greg Tansey corner was headed towards goal by Devine and James Vincent scored with a downward header.
County started the second half strongly and a deflected shot from Boyce found its way through to Fon Williams, then Boyce laid the ball off for Graham inside the area but the big forward screwed his shot well wide.
The home side had strong claims for a penalty turned down when Foster went down in the box after being tackled by Draper - but referee Willie Collum ignored them.
There was a hold-up in play as County goalkeeper Scott Fox went down in his box and had to be replaced by Gary Woods.
It was one-way traffic in the second half but the Caley Thistle defence were holding firm.
County substitute Tony Dingwall did well to fend off three defenders to get a cross into the box but Josh Meekings got there before Boyce to thwart the danger.
The home side did get a goal back in the first minute of stoppage time when a Raffaele De Vita corner was knocked back by Chris Robertson and Boyce headed in from 10 yards.
But it was all too late as their Highland rivals held on for the points.
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