Town boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor were amongst the spectators as Airtricity Premier League leaders Dundalk defeated Luxembourg’s Jeunesse Esch 3-1 at home in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie on Thursday evening with central midfielder Richie Towell understood to be the reason for their trip.

The Blues squad have spent the week in Ireland training at the Carton House hotel in Co Kildare and play Dublin club Shelbourne in their first pre-season friendly at Tolka Park on Saturday (KO 3pm).

Although not on the scoresheet at Oriel Park, midfielder Towell netted both Dundalk’s goals, one from the spot, as they won the away leg 2-0 a week ago.

Dubliner Towell, 22, played youth football with Crumlin United before joining Celtic in 2006 when only 15.

Having made one sub appearance for the Bhoys and spent two spells on loan with Hibernian, Towell returned to Ireland and joined Dundalk ahead of the 2013 Irish season.

During a highly successful first season with the Lilywhites Towell won the PFAI Young Player of the Year, was in the PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year and was Dundalk’s Player and Young Player of the Year.

He scored seven league goals in 31 appearances during that 2013 campaign — the Irish season runs through the summer - and has already matched that total in 18 league games this season.

Barnsley, Charlton and Brentford have all previously been linked with the former Ireland U17, U19 and U21 international, whose contract is up in November.

Photo: Action Images

LancsBlue added 00:34 - Jul 11 A goal scoring midfielder? - definitely worth a look!
1

algarvefan added 01:10 - Jul 11 Buying good promising players at a snip, developing them, giving them a chance and believing in them is our future. I have a really good feeling about this coming season. COYB
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Jaffe added 01:11 - Jul 11 the new Ryan Stevenson
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unknown100 added 01:22 - Jul 11 Doyle... Hunt... Kightley.... He found these guys out of nowhere, Is this the next find? McCarthy seems to know exactly what he is doing, from bottom of the league when he took over to promotion in 3 seasons... I wouldn't put it past him, I really think this season you will see a bit more flair and style now he's established a good group of players and got them working hard at the basics

2

harlingblue added 01:45 - Jul 11 In Mick and JC we trust, they and their scouts find gold from dust, we won't throw the Towell in unless he is a must, and as for a keeper, he may have one up his sleeve?...in Mick we believe.
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alexsmith111 added 01:45 - Jul 11 Good age, weakest position, as long as he is reasonable and mm believes in his skill, go for it lad
1

dawoolah added 07:15 - Jul 11 Out of contract in November so should cost next to nothing. l imagine the jump from local football to Celtic at such a young age may have been too much too soon. Now a few years older, scored goals in Europe, sounds promising❕
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bluenod added 07:48 - Jul 11 Buy him then add a friendly to the deal, make for a longer trip to the Emerald Isle
1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 07:52 - Jul 11 Crumlin United? Like it.
1

TheSelkirk added 08:31 - Jul 11 I think we should throw the Towell in as other options are drying up.
1

jas0999 added 09:18 - Jul 11 We desperately need a goal scoring midfielder.
0

Simonds92 added 09:51 - Jul 11 I think actually mick payed an extortionate £3-5 million on hunt but obviously reading picked him out along with his brother an Kevin Doyle for virtually nothing so clearly it can be done. It's just the likes of George O'Callahan Ryan Stevenson (although from Scotland), Colin Healy and the other lad Doherty doesn't fill me with loads of confidence. However, it's basically risk free and worth a go I suppose, you never know!

1

Bergholtblue added 10:12 - Jul 11 I tend to agree with Simonds92. Having had our fingers burnt previously it makes me sceptical about signing up players who impress during pre-season. Having said that Healy was clearly Keano's way of helping his old club with their financial problems. And the last two incumbents had nothing like the ability MM has in picking out gems.
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KuqiCoup added 10:18 - Jul 11 We haven't had our fingers burnt with O'Callaghan, Stephenson and Healy. We've had our hands set on fire by Jewell and Keane. They signed the likes of Ellington and Fallon and paid close to £2m on Priskin. Mick, the man now in charge, gets players like Berra, player of the year, McGoldrick, our top scorer and Parr, a superb replacement for Cresswell for FREE. There's nothing wrong with taking a punt on a player from the Irish or Scottish leagues. When it's Mick choosing them and not the previous two idiots.

16

Eireannach_gorm added 10:45 - Jul 11 Agree with KugiCoup, the Irish imports were low cost so if it had worked out would have been amazing. While no trees were pulled up it was a low risk operation. These players were and are being picked up for low wages and low transfer money. Its unreasonable to expect semi-pro athletes to come into a professional setup and turn around a poor team..
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londonben added 10:47 - Jul 11 Wouldn't quite say the scouts 'found him from nowhere' he did with PFAI player of the year and was in the team of the year! Still, I really like that we're being linked with this kind of player...young, promising, cheap - as has been said before, it's basically a risk free chance at getting a potentially awesome player!
2

Surco72 added 11:04 - Jul 11 KuqiCoup ... did Jewell not sign Cresswell former player of the year that we have now made a large profit on ? And Chambers the captain on a free . The big money was wasted under the Keane regime . I would imagine with the sell of Wickham during Jewells time , Jewells transfer money spent on players and wages coming in and out was quite equal ? I also would rather see us cast the net a little further than Ireland and Scotland whose football standard is poor so they are not being tested week in week out , if he couldn't make it at Hibernian why would he make it at a team looking to get to the premiership ?

1

runningout added 11:12 - Jul 11 if we should be looking anywhere, it should be the Baltic area.... ie Serbia Croatia Bosnia etc
2

blueherts added 11:18 - Jul 11 Yep def worth a look ... Runningout - Think mean Balkans not Baltic - But agree with that We should check out the Fleetwood guy ( Italian/Serbian ?) Midfielder
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rinkydinkpanther added 12:04 - Jul 11 Some real excitement on here about the potential signing of a Dundalk midfielder. Good to see people finally adjusting their expectations and getting with the program!
1

Jaffe added 12:15 - Jul 11 looks like mm is trying to fill in the gaps in the squad and u21's can't see any of these signings playing in the 1st team
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runningout added 13:10 - Jul 11 'Doh' Did mean Balkans...
3

kerryblue added 13:26 - Jul 11 Ive seen Towell play a lot and he has a good pedigree,would be well worth bringing over to Portman Rd
3

brian_a_mul added 14:17 - Jul 11 A very good player and already match fit, a full preseason with us and he would be challanging for a spot in the first team squad come August. He is very talented and has an eye for goal. He wont have any issues with home sickness etc and would help out Doherty in that regard. A win win situation if we sign him. IMO this guy has better potential than Owen Garvan.
2

thatdamgood89 added 15:20 - Jul 11 UN tried at this level, more than happy to see him arrive for a small Fee as a squad rotational player but if he is expected to come in and be our creative spark and more or less carry us because of his in experience at this level I would much prefer a proven creative midfielder at this level.
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