There was a reason for the emotion Vinny Perth put into his winning celebration at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.
Dundalk's head coach was "disappointed" with the personal abuse he received from some home supporters that included mentions of his family as the Lilywhites extended their top of the table lead to eight points over Shamrock Rovers.
"This ground, this place...I'm from less than two miles away, I used to play in this field," said Perth.
"I got a lot of personal abuse at different stages - a lot of stuff that was very targeted about me and my family.
"This is the best venue in Irish football at the moment, it's a credit to Shamrock Rovers. I do know what people did over the years in this club to get this built, albeit they got a hand off the council, but what some of the people did like Joe Colwell and others is amazing.
"It's something that we should all aspire to have. But that was disappointing.
"And I probably celebrated the win with our own fans more than I ever have because of what was coming my way, like mentioning people's names in my family - even where family members work - and that was disappointing.
"We respect that that's not what this club is about. I've been here before very briefly as a player, there are amazing people in it. That disappointed me and I probably celebrated more than I normally would."
Asked if he would like the perpetrators to be punished if identified, Perth replied: "Listen, is it my job to take that? When it gets personal, I think it's crossing a line.
"People might say to me, the gurus will say, 'This is what happens in football, just get on with it'. But this club is too good for that, Rovers are too good for that.
"But that's just by the way. I really wish this club well in Europe, I think everyone in the league does. I don't wish bad on other clubs, I've never been that type of person.
"Do I fight for my own team? F***in' right I do. If that makes people dislike me, fine, but if I was here (at Rovers) I'd fight for these tooth and nail as well, that's just the type of person I am."
Dundalk won't have Jordan Flores (muscle injury) fit in time for tonight's home clash with Waterford, but Robbie Benson and Jamie McGrath made their comebacks on Friday night and could feature again.
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