Joshua Cahoon celebrates putting the Swifts into the lead.
The draw specialists of the Irish League served up yet another stalemate as Coleraine battled back for a share of the points at Stangmore Park.
Between them these sides have drawn 15 of their league games this season, so it was perhaps unsurprising that Saturday’s encounter failed to produce a winner.
But the result, if somewhat predictable, was nonetheless fair with neither team doing enough to merit three points.
Dungannon had led through Josh Cahoon’s 30th minute goal, his seventh of the campaign.
But the Bannsiders came storming back after the break, with Curtis Allen coming off the bench to equalise midway through the second half.
So far this season Dungannon have lost six times – the same number as Linfield and Portadown. The key difference, however, is the amount of draws in that period.
Eight of Swifts’ 16 games have ended in stalemate and, had they turned just a few of those results into wins, the table would look a lot healthier.
Overall, however, Murphy will be satisfied by another committed, hard-working performance against a Coleraine side beginning to re-emerge as a force in local football.
This was a clash between two sides struggling for form.
Although Coleraine began the day in third place, they had claimed just one victory in six games since beating Dungannon – themselves without a win in seven – in late September.
And both teams’ struggles were reflected in a lacklustre first half which produced few chances.
Neither goalkeeper had been seriously troubled prior to Cahoon breaking the deadlock.
The goal came in the 30th minute following a mistake by Lee Colligan. Neal Gawley stole possession and pulled the ball back to Cahoon, who side-footed home from 12 yards.
A foul on Matt Hazley on the edge of the box handed Swifts an opportunity to stretch that lead, but although Gawley’s free-kick was on target, it lacked the power to beat the ‘keeper.
At the other end it was a relatively comfortable half for Niall Morgan, albeit he did pull off one superb block to thwart Ciaran Clarke.
The second period got off to a more promising start with chances at either end.
Dungannon threatened when Cahoon snatched possession in the box from Colligan, but his cross narrowly evaded the onrushing Chris Lavery.
Coleraine then went close as Aaron Canning’s delivery reached Clarke, but his angled effort clipped the post and went behind.
Back at the other end, Hazley touched the ball on for Lavery but the ‘keeper got a touch to help direct his low effort away from danger.
Coleraine boss Oran Kearney made some big calls, axing Darren Boyce from the squad and dropping top scorer Allen to the bench.
The latter finally entered the action just before the hour – and quickly made his point.
Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, Allen turned and unleashed a left-foot strike which found the bottom corner, despite Morgan getting a touch to the shot.
Just like the previous weekend at Glentoran, it was a goal the Dungannon ‘keeper will be hugely disappointed to concede.
As the clock ticked on and the rain poured down, both teams pushed for a winner.
Ryan Harpur’s cross found Stefan Lavery at the back post, but his effort was deflected wide. Emmet Friars powered over a header from the resulting corner.
Morgan then redeemed his earlier error with an important block to deny Coleraine.
Cameron Grieve in action for the Swifts
After fisting Ruairi Harkin’s free-kick clear of danger, the ‘keeper charged out to close down Stuart McMullan as he was about to unleash a shot.
Dungannon, however, nearly snatched it in the final seconds. A pass from Ryan O’Neill found Chris Lavery in space, but he was denied by a crucial tackle.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, R O’Neill, Brennan, E Friars, Grieve, Harpur, Hazley (Fitzpatrick, 69), C Lavery, Cahoon (S O’Neill, 79), Topley, Gawley (S Lavery, 48)
Subs not used: PJ Lavery, Glackin
COLERAINE: Doherty, Beverland, Hegarty (Boyd, 59), Lowry, Harkin, McIlmoyle, Canning, Jennings (Allen, 59), Clarke (Bradley, 59), Colligan, McMullan
Subs not used: Gillan, Owens
Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon)