Towell hails Dundalk team performance

Richie Towell has hailed the belief in his side’s ranks for their continued run of fine form as they took a huge step in their title challenge while at the same potentially delivering a lethal blow to fellow chasers Sligo Rovers.

The Dubliner was in sensational form once again as he and his teammates put in another mammoth effort to bring them their fifth successive win on home turf and he also pointed to the Bit o’ Red’s win at Oriel Park earlier in the campaign as being something they wanted to put right.

“The team performance was unbelievable today and to get three points against a great side and the reigning champions is just phenomenal and all the lads deserve credit it was a real team effort,” said the former Celtic man.

“They came here earlier in the season on a day when we had some injuries and didn’t have a full strength team but then we went to their place and beat them 1-0 and we had great belief tonight that we could go out there and win the game and we are just delighted that we did it.”

For his all-action display in the middle of the park alongside Stephen O’Donnell, the 22-year-old was awarded the man of the match but he sheepishly redirected all the credit from this accolade back towards the team as a whole.

He continued: “It is always nice to get man of the match but it wasn’t about myself and I think the whole team performance tonight was unbelievable we had Chris with the goal and Darren with the set-pieces and the back four too and I thought Pat Hoban was unbelievable again so we can all be pleased.”

One of the most popular songs echoing around stadia all over the country when the Lilywhites are involved is their ode to the midfield hero, pleading with the powers that be at the club not to sell the number 17.

He laughed when discussing the song: “Yeah hearing that song alright definitely drives you on and when you are feeling tired and then start singing that then it gives you an extra yard and makes you run and turn that bit more.

“It really makes you want to push yourself and the fans have been brilliant all year and it is great that they continue to keep coming out in their numbers.”

Despite title chasing Sligo and Derry City both suffering defeats on Friday night, Towell is refusing to rule anyone in or out of winning the trophy and says his side care only about what they do themselves and refuse to acknowledge how anyone else performs and he is also eyeing a cheeky double as Limerick loom in the FAI Cup quarter-final next week.

“We are only focusing on ourselves and aren’t even looking at any other team around us and we are just going into the run in with the mindset that if we win all our games we will win the league and hopefully if we can do that then it will be in our hands,” he said.

“Limerick is going to be a massive game and to win the league would be nice but it would be unbelievable to win the double and I don’t see why we can’t and we just need to keep focusing on each game as it comes.”