Emmet Friars celebtrates scoring the opening goal
Dungannon Swifts claimed an impressive win over title hopefuls Crusaders on a day when two unwanted records fell at Stangmore Park.
They secured a first home victory – at the fourth attempt – after goals in either half from Emmet Friars and Joshua Cahoon.
This result also ended Dungannon’s five-year wait for a home win against Stephen Baxter’s men.
And few could argue that it wasn’t deserved after a superb 90-minute performance which mixed attacking flair with defensive discipline.
Friars put them in front in the 39th minute with a thumping header, before Cahoon wrapped up the points with another late strike.
It further cemented the young player’s fast-growing reputation at the club.
The Crues will point to several excellent chances which were spurned in the first half, but overall it was a disappointing display from the all-Ireland champions.
A clearly frustrated Baxter kept his side locked in the changing room for 30 minutes after the final whistle to sort out what went wrong.
For Dungannon, however, it was another big step forward.
Their recent record against the Crues is dismal, including a defeat in last season’s Irish Cup semi-final, but this is a major boost to confidence.
The opening goal came from an unlikely source, with Friars meeting a cross from his brother Sean and powering home a header from six yards.
That first half lead was just about deserved, albeit Dungannon rode their luck at times.
An example came after six minutes when Chris Morrow fed Timmy Adamson. His low shot beat the goalkeeper but shaved the outside of the back post.
Sean Friars drilled an early free-kick wide for Dungannon before Adam McMinn missed a wonderful chance to open the scoring.
A quick break saw two defenders charge forward, Friars squaring to McMinn, but he miscued when well-placed in front of goal – a case of right place, wrong man.
In a half which swung from end to end, Crusaders then should have edged ahead.
After the goalkeeper produced a superb block to deny Paul Leeman, the ball dropped to Paul Heatley but he dragged a low shot inches wide.
Friars’ goal seemed to jolt Crusaders into life, and they almost levelled soon afterwards.
Gary McCutcheon latched on to a penetrating through-ball and ghosted past his marker, only to be thwarted by a fine block from Niall Morgan.
The one moment of concern for Swifts came at the end of the half when Sean Friars, already on a yellow card, got involved in a needless dispute with Crues ‘keeper Sean O’Neill.
Baxter wasted little time in changing things around, bringing on Jordan Owens and Declan Caddell at the start of the second period.
Stefan Lavery battles with possession
At the other end, the Friars brothers were continuing to cause problems.
Another Sean corner found Emmet but this time his header went over, while a repeat incident from a free-kick produced a similar outcome.
Crusaders rarely threatened, with Baxter cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline.
They did have a chance when Owens peeled off his marker to meet a cross from Craig McClean, but his header went wide of the back post.
And Dungannon wrapped up the points two minutes from time through Cahoon.
Michael McKerr burst down the right wing before crossing to Terry Fitzpatrick, and his header was perfectly placed for the substitute to drive home.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, R O’Neill, Montgomery, McMinn, E Friars, Fitzpatrick, Topley, Hazley, S Friars (McKerr 76), S O’Neill (Cahoon 85), S Lavery (Hutchinson, 87)
Subs not used: Brennan, C Lavery
CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Leeman, Magowan, McClean, Morrow (Snoddy, 52), Robinson, McMaster (Owens, 46), Watson (Caddell, 46), Heatley, Adamson, McCutcheon
Subs not used: Gibson, Rainey
Referee: Hugh Carvill (Belfast)
