Neal Gawley goes ‘head over heels’ to celebrate his opening goal
Forget that this was Dungannon Swifts’ biggest victory of the season. The mere fact it was a win – of any description – is of most significance.
The first three-point haul since mid-September was claimed with relative ease as Donegal Celtic were outclassed in this crucial basement battle at Stangmore Park.
Goals from Neal Gawley, Johnny Topley and Josh Cahoon secured a comprehensive victory against the struggling West Belfast club.
The final score adequately reflects a game which Dungannon dominated. With a bit more potency in front of goal, the margin could have been even more decisive.
Having not won for 10 games, the result took precedence over the performance on Saturday.
In the end, however, manager Darren Murphy got both. Dungannon outplayed the struggling Hoops from start to finish, stretching the gap between the sides to seven points.
They were ahead inside 19 minutes when Gawley netted his first goal since signing in the summer.
Chances came and went but Topley made sure of the points when he too opened his account for the season with a simple header.
And Cahoon completed the rout when he netted from the spot. It followed an incident which saw Mark Burns sent off, completing a miserable afternoon for the visitors.
With the league now at its halfway stage, Dungannon sit third bottom but a healthy gap separates them from DC and basement side Lisburn Distillery.
Although hard work still lies ahead, it is a relatively comfortable position going into 2013.
The opening goal was a move of some quality, following a scrappy start to the match.
Matt Hazley fed a terrific ball in behind the visitors’ defence to find Gawley, and he arrived just in time to drive a low, first-time effort into the far corner.
It could have been even better, with Dungannon spurning several chances to extend their lead.
The first came after a neat turn from Topley found Hazley on the edge of the box. His effort was on target but well stopped by the goalkeeper.
Their second, four minutes from the break, was even more inviting.
Hazley, arguably the game’s standout player, delivered a superb ball to Gawley. He crossed for Terry Fitzpatrick but the midfielder, four yards out, failed to make any contact.
By contrast Celtic rarely troubled the Swifts’ goal, Andy Dolan heading their best chance straight at Niall Morgan.
The second half started in a similar pattern with Dungannon dominating the chances.
A searching cross from Fitzpatrick located Gawley in space at the far post, but his header was mistimed and several inches too high.
The visitors’ best period came around the hour mark.
Emmet Friars celebrates with goal scorer Jonny Topley as sends the Swifts into a 2 nil lead at Stangmore Park
Morgan made a decent save to scoop away Dolan’s low effort, while free-kicks in dangerous positions from Conor Downey and Mark Miskimmin looked ominous but came to nothing.
It was an isolated spell, however, with Dungannon quickly seizing back the initiative, and Topley’s 74th minute header wrapped up the points.
Chris Lavery was the architect, sending his corner kick to the back post where Topley was free to head home from three yards.
And an impressive performance was capped with a third goal seven minutes from the end.
Burns fouled Cahoon as he ran through on goal, resulting in a red card and a penalty, with the striker recovering in time to convert the spot-kick.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, R O’Neill, Brennan, E Friars, Grieve, Gawley (Glackin, 84), T Fitzpatrick, Topley (Harpur, 89), C Lavery, Hazley (S Lavery, 73), Cahoon
Subs not used: Montgomery, S O’Neill
DONEGAL CELTIC: Connolly, McNamee (McCann, 46), McShane, Hughes, Burns, Downey, Devine (McIlkinney, 76), Dean (Keegan, 46), Miskimmin, Dolan, McAllister
Subs not used: Todd, Dwyer
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)
Burns of DC takes down Josh Cahoon in the box.