Dungannon Sporting Success | Three Clubs | Four Finals | Four weeks

It’s a magical time for everyone associated with Dungannon Swifts FC, but it’s also a special month for the town in general as the football, rugby and hockey clubs all prepare for major cup finals.

In the case of the men’s rugby team, they kick off in the Ulster Senior Cup final in Ravenhill at the exact same time as the Swifts are lining out at Windsor Park across the city.

And if that wasn’t enough, Dungannon Hockey Club have two cup finals coming up – the Irish Challenge Trophy this Saturday and the Ulster Senior Cup the week after the rugby and football finals – meaning they at least will be able to cheer on one of the other teams, although they will have to choose which one!

The three clubs are situated just a few minutes’ walk from each other on the same side of the same road and there are strong bonds of family and friendship, with players and staff frequently lending their support when their own team is not in action.

The hope is that the extra special buzz around the town this month will help drive all three to bring silverware back to Mid Ulster.

Swifts manager Rodney McAree said all associated with the football club will be sending their best wishes to both the rugby and hockey teams as the town aims for a unprecedented treble.

Having played a little rugby himself during a period at the Royal School (inside centre, for those curious), before football took precedence on Saturday mornings, he still gets to Dungannon, Ulster or Ireland matches when he can and has many friends in both the rugby and hockey clubs, as well as the town’s GAA club, the Clarke’s.

“Stevie and John Scott would be very friendly with a lot of guys in the rugby club, having come through school together, and I’ve lots of friends who are involved or were involved,” he said.

“It’s just great to see everyone doing so well and we are all massively supporting each other this month.

“There is a great buzz around the the town.”

The first chance of silverware comes as early as this weekend, when the hockey team take on Instonians in the Irish Challenge Trophy at Playball, Stormont.

After that it’s back to the same location to try to retain the Ulster Senior Cup against Randalstown on May 10.

Nicola Cardwell, chairperson of Dungannon Hockey Club, said Norman Purdy’s team are also in the hunt for promotion to the premier league, with success in any of the competitions capping off memorable 50th anniversary celebrations for the club this year.

She recalled how the hockey club actually began life training at Stangmore Park, and have used both the football and rugby club’s facilities for their events.

Many of the ladies go straight from hockey matches to support the rugby or football teams, and captain Lucy Redmond is a footballer herself and a big Swifts fan.

“There have always been very good relationships – it’s a small town and everyone is connected in some way,” Nicola said.

“We have people whose husbands or other family members play or are on committees and we are all located on the same road.

“We don’t have our own clubhouse so originally we would have gone to Dungannon Swifts and now we have been at the rugby club for a number of years.

“We are all sporting minded and are very happy that we will be able to watch the cup final.”

At Stevenson Park, meanwhile, the rugby team’s head coach Jonny Gillespie is also pushing for both promotion and cup glory at the business end of successful year for the first XV.

And while there is disappointment that the football and rugby finals clash, it’s a nice problem to have for anyone connected to the three teams.

“I think it’s amazing that the hockey, rugby and football teams have all had successful seasons,” he said.

“When you’re driving home and hear the other sports reports about Dungannon, it’s great to have three teams in the town doing very well.

“On behalf of rugby football I extend best wishes to the Swifts and the hockey club – the whole town will be rooting for them.”