Stephen O’Donnell on European race: ‘If we do our business right we're going to be competitive’

Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell may have conceded his side’s title hopes are as good as over – but he is hell-bent on ensuring they will qualify for European football next year.

The Galwegian cut a visibly frustrated figure on Friday night as the Lilywhites fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

They are now 11 points behind the Hoops as they sit in sixth – and are also positioned four points behind fourth-placed Bohemians.

But O’Donnell is confident his side can return to Europe next season.

“That's the best we've played in Tallaght since I’ve come in from a penetration point of view,” he said. “We need just to carry that form and see where that takes us.

“You'd be optimistic to think league-wise, are we 11 points behind now? We're in a good vein of form from a performance point of view.

“We've eight games left and we're going to play everyone.

“If we do our business right we're going to be competitive but if we don't it's not going to be the defeat in Tallaght with eight games and 24 points to play for that's going to cost us.

“We just need to focus on them and the cup in a couple of weeks’ time.”

Dundalk have been bolstered in recent weeks with the return of winger Daryl Horgan to Oriel Park.

But Friday’s defeat will go down as a missed opportunity to claim a scalp at Tallaght Stadium.

It would have been their first at the Dublin 24 venue in a league game since August 2019.

“We should have been going in a couple of goals up at half-time,” O’Donnell said. “When you miss those chances you're very frustrated come the end of the night when you give up the winner from a corner kick.”

However, the Lilywhites look a threat on the both wings with Horgan and Daniel Kelly using their pace to cause issues to any side in their path.

“I thought they were both very good – particularly in the first half,” O’Donnell revealed. “We had some really electric counter-attacking play. Horgs (Daryl Horgan) gives us versatility.

“That's the first time he's played in his more orthodox position. He gives us great versatility, really good quality, maturity and leadership.

“We're in a good moment as regards performance and players' form. It's just the goal we gave away is very frustrating.

“We can't accept creating chances and then giving up a very poor goal.”