Zak Johnson is targeting a win over Sligo Rovers before the midseason break which he feels would put Dundalk in a strong position to propel up the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table, after a “disappointing pill to swallow” against league leaders Shelbourne.

Johnson, whose loan deal from English Championship club Sunderland expires on July 4th, was part of a young defence against Shels which included fellow 19-year-old Seán Molloy in goal and 20-year-old Mayowa Animasahun beside him.

The central defender has been one of Dundalk’s best players this season, his performances earning him a nomination for the Soccer Writers of Ireland Player of the Month award for May, and he spoke about potentially extending his time here.

14 February 2024; Dundalk’s new loan signing Zak Johnson poses for a portrait after he was unveiled at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

But Johnson was keen to focus on immediate matters and foremost in the mind is Sligo at Oriel Park – the last opposing team to find the net there three months ago – on Thursday night (kick-off 7.45pm), before the league takes a break for the Euro 2024 group stages.

Dundalk are hoping to go into that mini-holiday in ninth place, having dropped back to the foot of the table after Friday’s results where Drogheda United earned a home point from a scoreless draw with Saint Patrick’s Athletic.

However, Johnson insists that the target in the dressing-room is much higher than just finishing above their near neighbours, whose visit to the Carrick Road on July 12th would be the first game he would miss if he returns to the North East of England.

15 March 2024; Zak Johnson of Dundalk during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Waterford at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

“It’s not really something to look at,” Zak said, about being back on the bottom. “Where we are doesn’t show what we’re about. It doesn’t show the results that we’ve got over the last few weeks. I think, no doubt, we’ll be off the bottom soon.

“I think a win against Sligo coming into the break will put us in a really good position to kick on after it and push higher up the table. Ultimately, we’re not looking to get off the bottom – we’re looking to push higher and go above Pat’s, go above teams like Galway, because I feel we have the quality in the team to do that.

“Going toe-to-toe with teams that are at the top of the table just shows our quality. We need to get some good results in our good performances and climb higher.”

7 June 2024; Zak Johnson of Dundalk during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Dundalk at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

On there being little between all the teams in the league…

“I think we’ve got to take full confidence from that. When we’re at our best – which we weren’t against Shelbourne and we can say that, I don’t know if it was fatigue or if it was more of a mentality thing where we try to just get a point rather than pushing for the win – I feel like there’s nothing between the teams.

“We went toe-to-toe with Derry where we should have won that game definitely, I feel like we pushed aside Pat’s quite well – we conceded two sloppy goals but I feel we were comfortable in that game.

“And you go to the top of the league, you know they’re going to have spells and they’re going to have moments where they’re going to be in control and they’re going to keep possession. But ultimately, it’s how we keep our shape and how we defend that, which I thought we did really well up until the goal. It’s really frustrating.

“But as well, you’ve got to look, we played Rovers at home and beat them. There’s nothing in the league at all. If we tidy up our away form – obviously, we got three points against Pat’s which is really, really positive – it’s just unfortunate we didn’t build on that.”

7 June 2024; Zak Johnson of Dundalk after his side conceded the first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Dundalk at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

On the result against Shels…

“It was a frustrating one to take. I think it was just a lapse in concentration from the team. It’s a disappointing goal, I think it’s an easy goal that we gave them, they haven’t really cut us through and scored, which is frustrating. I thought we defended well as a whole.

“We really need to tidy up on our in-possession play. I feel like we were sloppy. When we’re doing doggies and we’re tired and we win the ball back, that’s when we need to stay calm and keep the ball. I feel we kept giving it back and it was taking our momentum from the game.

“It’s a disappointing pill to swallow but we’ve just got to move on, and we’ve got to look forward to Sligo.”

7 June 2024; Mark Coyle of Shelbourne leads his side out before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Dundalk at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

On the tightness of the game…

“We know a lot about Shels. They obviously score and they’re very hard to play against when they get a goal. I think we nullified that really well up until 71 minutes, which is really frustrating. But there’s a reason why they’re top of the league, because they find a way to win.

“You’ve got to give full credit to them. Obviously, a 0-0 would have been a better result for us, but I honestly feel like it was a fair result, they got the win, credit to them. I’m really disappointed that we’ve come out of the game with nothing, but we’ve got to keep our chest out and look ahead to Sligo.”

7 June 2024; Dundalk goalkeeper Sean Molloy during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Dundalk at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

On 19-year-old Seán Molloy’s performance in goal…

“He was absolutely fantastic. I was really, really impressed with him. He should be really proud of himself. I thought he came in and didn’t look out of place at all. He actually looked really confident.

“His play in possession, the way he went about himself, I could hear him talking to me and Boyler (Andy Boyle) at the back a lot. The way he came in and showed that he was mature and growing into the game really well, I was really impressed with him. Massive credit to him.”

7 June 2024; Zak Johnson of Dundalk during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Dundalk at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

On potentially extending his loan deal from Sunderland…

“It’s a tricky one. I would obviously love to keep playing for Dundalk. I’m contracted until July 4th which is the Rovers game. I’m just looking to play my games up until then and any decision that gets made after that, gets made.

“Ultimately, playing these games is all I’m going to be thinking about, because I don’t want to take my concentration away from the games. If I’m an important player for Dundalk then I’m going to try my best for Dundalk. That’s where I stand.”

Ticket information for Thursday night’s game will be released soon.