mallards-10-1-15-035Gary Liggett ended his barren run in front of goal with a classy double to fire Dungannon Swifts through to the last 16 of the Irish Cup.

The striker came off the bench to make a game-changing impact on this absorbing fifth-round tie.

He scored twice to end Ballinamallard’s cup dreams and set up a meeting with Championship One club Ballyclare Comrades.

Ninety minutes weren’t enough to separate the sides in a match which was high on drama and incident, if not quality football.

A storming start by Dungannon saw them race into a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes.

But a goal late in the first half from Johnny Courtney roused Ballinamallard into life, and they quickly took charge of the tie.

An eye-catching free-kick from substitute David Kee levelled it at 2-2.

But the visitors’ hopes were hit by Johnny Lafferty’s red card. His exit, and Liggett’s introduction, eventually saw Swifts through.

Dungannon now face Ballyclare and, while an away tie will be awkward, they have a terrific chance of making the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the Mallards can now focus on their primary objective of securing their senior status in the closing weeks of the campaign.

They showed tremendous character, battling back from two goals down despite missing a host of experienced players.

But Whitey Anderson will rue a poor opening half-hour which gifted Dungannon a two-goal lead.

The first came in the third minute and isn’t one Stefan McCusker will want to see again.

Matt Hazley’s tepid strike should have been a simple collect for the goalkeeper, but the ball somehow squirmed through his grasp.

Ballinamallard, missing six defenders, fielded Jason McCartney in a makeshift back line.

Therefore it was perhaps little surprise that they looked vulnerable each time Dungannon got the ball forward.

Dougie Wilson could have made it 2-0 but his left-foot strike from outside the box was parried wide.

Dungannon doubled their lead in the 19th minute after more hesitancy in the visitors’ defence.

Jamie Douglas timed his run to meet a terrific pass from Hazley. His strike was blocked by the goalkeeper but Jamie Glackin was there to drive home the rebound.

Perhaps it was too easy for Dungannon, and there was more than a hint of complacency about Ballinamallard’s goal.

A careless back pass from Andrew Burns was intercepted by Courtney and he aimed for goal, although his strike did benefit from a big deflection off David Armstrong.mallards-10-1-15-012

It meant the second half was more competitive than it should have been.

Ballinamallard enjoyed plenty of possession, but it wasn’t until the 76th minute that their pressure told.

They won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Kee seized responsibility, curling a sublime left-footed effort past Alvin Rouse.

Extra time beckoned, but the Mallards’ hopes took a blow with the dismissal of Lafferty, controversially shown red for an off-the-ball incident.

Dungannon took full advantage, edging back in front in the 99th minute.

Douglas swung over a corner which Liggett met on the half-volley, with the ball taking a bounce as it squeezed past the goalkeeper.

And any doubts were ended at the start of the second period when Liggett ran on to a pass from David McCullough and scored with a classy low finish.

DGN SWIFTS: Rouse, Lowe, Armstrong, Burns, Wilson (O’Rourke, 57), Glackin (Fitzpatrick, 72), McCullough, Hutchinson, Hazley, Douglas, Mitchell (Liggett, 82)

Subs not used: Coleman, Sanusi

BALLINAMALLARD: McCusker, Phair (Kee, 63), McKenna, Carters, McCartney, Courtney (Elding, 82), Hutchinson, Foy (Currie, 70), Martin, Lafferty, Campbell

Subs not used: Murphy, N Beacom

Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)