The only one of John Gill’s nine new signings in the close-season not to make his debut, Paul Crowley finally ended his spell on the sidelines at home to his ex-club Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park on Thursday evening, as the midfielder played the final half-hour of the 2-1 defeat to the Hoops. Crowley replaced Paul Shiels shortly after the hour-mark, and in his reaction afterwards, he admitted that he was just pleased to be back in action.
 
Speaking to dundalkfc.com, he said: “I’m just happy to get back playing. There’s a great atmosphere about the place, and I’m looking forward to getting fit and trying to get myself back into the team. I’m only back in full training really a week, so it will take me a few games to get fit, but it’s a long season. I’m just looking to work on my fitness now. It’s not about results in these pre-season games, it’s just an important workout for the lads, where we’re just trying to gel together and get fit.
 
“They’re a good bunch of lads. He has kept a decent core from last year - he’s nearly got the whole back four there and the ‘keeper, so that’s important. And he’s brought in lads then all over the pitch; there’s competition everywhere - nobody’s going to have a regular place every week, which means we’ll all be pushing each other.”
 
Adding to his positives, the artificial pitch’s quality has also met with Crowley’s approval as, speaking about his first impressions on the Oriel Park surface, the 27-year-old admitted: “I like the pitch. It’s nice to be able to play a bit of football on it, because you’re going to be going to a lot of places where the pitches aren’t going to be great.”