Dungannon Swifts are just 90 minutes from another appearance in the Irish Cup final after edging past Donegal Celtic at the second attempt.
A stunning goal from teenager Stefan Lavery was the difference in a tight quarter-final replay at Stangmore Park on Monday night.
It took Dungannon into the semi-finals for only the second time, and a step nearer to exorcising the ghost of their 2007 cup final defeat to Linfield.
They will now play Crusaders on March 31 for a place in the final.
Head coach Darren Murphy believed Dungannon’s second half performance merited the win.
“In the first half it was a tight game but we asked the players to do a few things differently at half-time and they did that,” he said.
“Once we got ahead DC had to change their game plan. They came forward and we created a few more chances and could have had a few more goals.
“But overall in cup football the most important thing is the result and for us to be in the semi-finals is absolutely fantastic for the club.”
The winning goal was scored in the 59th minute by Lavery, who signed a new two-year contract with Dungannon last Thursday.
He was released by a long goal kick and, showing pace and skill, eased past Kevin Keegan before squeezing the ball home from an almost impossible angle.
“Stefan might be small in stature but he is brave and doesn’t shirk a challenge,” added Murphy.
“The ball was knocked up and Stefan managed to get between their defender and the goalkeeper, and it was a fantastic finish from a really tight angle.
“It’s capped off a really good week for Stefan, who has just signed a new deal at the club.”
A late goal from Conor Forker had taken this tie to a replay after a thrilling first game in West Belfast, but the striker found himself on the bench on Monday night.
He watched on as both teams made a positive start, with Robert Robinson producing a fine save to turn JP Gallagher’s early strike around the post.
Ryan Henderson then tested Niall Morgan with an effort from the edge of the box.
A superb move involving Darren Murray and Henderson then set up Kieran O’Connor, but the DC midfielder steered his strike wide of goal.
Unfortunately the game didn’t live up to its early promise, degenerating into a midfield scrap.
A curling strike from Stephen McAlorum was pushed away by the ‘keeper in the 34th minute, before Ryan Harpur’s long-range effort forced Robert Robinson into action moments later.
The early stages of the second half brought little improvement – until Lavery’s stunning strike.
Dungannon were now controlling the game, albeit they struggled to land chances on the visitors’ goal.
The visitors almost snatched an equaliser through Paul McVeigh, but Morgan stretched out a hand to tip his strike around the post.
Michael Ward had two late chances to seal Swifts’ progress.
First he was played through by Marc Brolly but the goalkeeper made a vital interception, then in the final minute he shot straight at Robinson rather than squaring to Harpur.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery, E Friars, Gallagher, Ward (C Forker, 90), Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Brolly, S Lavery (Funston, 70), Topley
Subs not used: L Donnelly, Murphy, McClean
DONEGAL CELTIC: Robinson, Keegan (McAllister, 63), Harkness, Bradley, McNamee, Burns, O’Connor (Bradley, 56), McAlorum, Henderson (C Murray, 77), P McVeigh, D Murray
Subs not used: G McVeigh, O’Hara
Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast)
