Dundalk bowed out of Europe last week, the focus immediately switched to finding their way back there next summer.
Best laid plans, and all that.
Because this derby defeat to Drogheda United - and results elsewhere - has consigned the Lilywhites to the relegation playoff spot.
That’s hard to get your head around when you consider the heights this club has scaled for the best part of eight years.
But on the other hand, it’s not all that difficult to fathom as it’s entirely in keeping with their basket case season and fading memories.
Mark Doyle inflicted all the damage with two excellent goals either side of half-time before Michael Duffy’s belter ensured a tense final half hour.
But Drogheda - who had gone 10 league meetings without a win over their neighbours - held out for a first victory over Dundalk since 2014 and a first at Oriel since 2012.
In terms of their own slim European ambitions, Tim Clancy’s battling side are just five points off third-placed Sligo Rovers.
But they have played three games more than the Bit O’Red and also have in-form Bohemians and Derry City just ahead of them.
Dundalk are 11 points adrift of Sligo and will need a miracle. Hauling themselves out of the relegation playoff spot is Vinny Perth’s alarming concern now.
Drogheda came into this derby clash in tragic circumstances after their Under-14s coach David Conroy died in a car crash on Thursday.
Family members were among the 500 supporters allowed into Oriel Park and his son, Alex, was embraced by Drogheda’s players and staff as he watched their warm-up.
At full-time, he was held shoulder high by some of the players as he joined in their on-pitch celebrations.
Doyle gave him reason to cheer with the opening goal 10 minutes before half-time.
It was the jolt of life the game was crying out for as, safe to say, it was dour stuff up to that point with chances at a premium.
But Jordan Adeyemo ought to have buried a first time shot from Conor Kane’s precise cross but, with just Alessio Abibi to beat, he packed no power in the shot.
Still, Dundalk made a hash of gathering the ball cleanly and it skidded away from his grasp, but to safety over the line.
The Lilywhites - who lost Daniel Clearly to an eighth minute injury in just his second game back after a lengthy layoff - started new signing Sami Ben Amar wide right.
But the former Moroccan youth international didn’t quite have the dream debut he hoped for.
He was central to Drogheda’s first goal having coughed up possession with a stray, backwards pass to Darragh Markey and the Drogs livewire made hay.
Markey sprayed the ball to Doyle and he led Ben Amar - tracking back trying to make amends - and Andy Boyle on a merry dance.
Doyle even nutmegged Boyle for good measure as he scampered into the box before curling a low, sweet finish home at Abibi’s far post.
Sonni Nattestad - who replaced crocked Cleary early on - might have tested David Odumosu in first-half injury time had Gary Deegan not blocked the header.
But that was the height of the host’s attacking intent in that dreadfully stale opening period where they missed the swagger and creativity of injured Patrick McEleney.
Sensing Dundalk’s unease, Drogheda - willed along by banned boss Tim Clancy in the stands - kicked on in search of a second and Abibi denied Killian Philips.
Odumosu then did well to keep out a Hoban effort at full stretch having seen the shot late through a sea of limbs deep in the box.
But just as Dundalk were readying their response, they were rocked by Doyle for a second time in the 56th minute.
He intercepted a Ben Amar ball to Raivis Jurkovskis and played in Kane wide on the left who then dropped a deep cross to the back post for Doyle to head home.
Drogheda were in dreamland but the smile was wiped off their face two minutes later when Duffy reduced the arrears with a thumping shot from Dummigan’s pass.
But try as they did, there was no way back.
DUNDALK: Abibi; Dummigan, Boyle, Cleary (Nattestad 7), Jurkovskis; Stanton, Sloggett (Murray 45); Ben Amar (Han 60), Patching, Duffy, Hoban.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Odumosu; Brown, Redmond, O’Reilly, Kane; Philips, Deegan, Hyland (Heeney 60); Markey (Murray 88), Adeyemo (Clarke 87), Doyle.
Referee: B Connolly
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