Vinny Perth wants to hear Tallaght roar next Tuesday night to help keep Dundalk's Europa League dreams alive.
The Lilywhites fell to a 1-0 loss at Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday night in the first leg of their third-round qualifier, David Holman's 86th-minute strike finally breaking the visitors' resistance.
John Mountney almost snatched an away goal in injury-time when his header was touched on to the crossbar by home keeper Dominik Greif and Perth believes his team proved they are capable of turning this tie around.
With the second leg to be played at Shamrock Rovers' home ground, Tallaght Stadium, on Tuesday night, Perth appealed to all Irish fans to make their presence felt.
"I'd love as big a crowd as possible," he said.
"We need people to get behind us. Irish football could do with a boost. I think this is still a winnable tie for us. You saw the difference a partisan crowd can make tonight. We could do with that next week."
The home fans were bouncing at the end of the Tehelne Pole Stadium clash but Dundalk had kept them quiet in an impressive first half display.
Slovan were a different animal in the second period though, and finally got their goal having pinned their opponents back for large spells.
"Losing so late hurts," Perth added.
"I thought we were dealing with it; albeit there were a lot of blocks and Gary made one wonderful save but their keeper made a wonderful save as well (to deny Mountney), so we're probably disappointed we haven't scored. I think there was a goal there for us; we felt there was.
"The tie is alive for next week anyway. We think there's chances against them, we said that before the game, but their attacking play is very good. We're at a higher level here.
"Every team has little bits of quality. You saw their centre forward and their left-winger in particular, two outstanding footballers. We're up against us but I fancy us to have a right crack at it in Tallaght next week.
"We could have nicked the away goal right at the death. It would have been a massive boost for us, but we've got to be pragmatic again next week and keep a clean sheet, and I think there's goals in this team and big moments i it.
"We'll be ready for it."
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