Cork City interim manager Colin Healy says he still believes they can avoid automatic relegation from the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
A brace of goals from Pat Hoban saw Dundalk emerge from Turners Cross with the points on Tuesday night, helping them to move back up to the last Europa League place.
City, champions just three seasons ago, are at the foot of the table, seven points from safety with three games to play. The gap to the play-off place, currently occupied by Finn Harps, is two points.
But Healy, speaking to RTÉ Sport, is still backing his players to perform the great escape
"Of course, why wouldn't I?," is his response when asked if he can avoid going straight down to the First Division.
"Everybody's seen tonight we've got players in there that want to wear the jersey. They want to run around for each other.
"I think we've enough in that dressing room, but we have to come to training on Thursday, get ready for Waterford, and give it everything we've got."
Reflecting on a game that the hosts were doing well in until conceding two quick goals, Healy said that a lack of concentration cost his side.
"We were up against a very good side tonight and gave two silly goals away," he admitted.
"That's just the way it is sometimes. We always knew it was going to be difficult against Dundalk.
"We'd a good team shape about ourselves, but unfortunately we just couldn't see out the game. It's very hard to recover (from the quickfire goals) but the boys dug in and kept at it.
"I asked them to go out and give everything they've got and they did that."
For his opposite number Filippo Giovagnoli, the result moves them into pole position to secure European qualification again for next season.
But, with Europa League group games to come against Molde, Rapid Vienna and Arsenal, the Italian says that it's about utilising the full extent of his squad for the rest of the season.
"We did some rotation after the Europa League matches. I know some people criticised our results that we had at home, but we had to rotate the players.
"The thing was to have all of them fit and sharp for us to be competitive.
"Every game we play from now is important - the league, the Europa League - there is a big prize. I'm not forgetting the FAI Cup at the end of November.
"We want to do well in every competition and I think now we are ready and prepared to do so."
Watch Shamrock Rovers vs Derry City in the SSE Airtricity League this Friday night on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7.30pm.
