On Friday 2nd December 2011 the Southern Area Hospice held a fundraising variety concert in the Cohannon Inn. Three players from Dungannon Swifts and Dungannon United Youth were asked to go along and entertain the crowd with their silky football skills by doing different tricks and keepy-ups on stage. The boys showed off their skills while the song “I’m Sexy and I know it” was playing in the background.
A great night was had by all for such a great cause. Dungannon Swifts and Dungannon United Youth were delighted to be a part of this even.
Well done to the three boys who took part in the evenings entertainment, Eoin Teague, Shea Gordan and Ciaran Corey all pictured above.
A 19-minute hat-trick from local football’s hottest property floored Dungannon Swifts as Cliftonville stretched their winning run to 13 games.
Rory Donnelly reinforced his fast growing reputation with another three goals, guiding the Reds to a comprehensive victory on a bleak afternoon at Stangmore Park.
It was a setback for Dungannon, but they are not the first team this season to be on the receiving end of a heavy defeat against this exciting young team.
Linfield and Ballymena have both slumped to six and seven-goal losses respectively, and for a brief spell this threatened to be another Reds rampage.
They raced into a three-goal lead and, only for a series of superb saves from goalkeeper Niall Morgan, would have been even further ahead.
Fortunately Dixie Robinson regrouped his side for the second half, denying Cliftonville the time and space which they had exploited so effectively in the opening period.
Joe Gormley added a stunning fourth before Michael Funston secured a hint of respectability by pulling a goal back in the closing stages.
This was Swifts’ 10th league defeat of the season, and the fourth time they have shipped four goals.
There were mitigating factors – a heavy deflection on the first, a handball in the build-up to the second – yet few could argue with the final score.
The game was as good as over with half an hour played.
Indeed Cliftonville were ahead before some supporters had taken their seats, with Rory Donnelly scoring the fastest goal seen at Stangmore Park this season.
Barely 40 seconds had elapsed when he collected a Ciaran Caldwell pass, with his strike taking a crucial deflection as it flashed past the ‘keeper.
Frustratingly for Dungannon, it came moments after John Connolly pulled off a superb save to prevent Funston scoring at the other end.
No matter, the tone of the match was set, and Cliftonville’s advantage was soon extended when the two Donnellys combined to carve apart the home defence again.
Neat approach play from Martin Donnelly created an opening, and he squared the ball to the back post for his namesake to convert at the second attempt.
And the hat-trick was sealed less than two minutes later. Barry Holland crossed towards Donnelly, who stuck out a leg to divert the ball past a helpless goalkeeper.
It was proving another harsh lesson for Dungannon, whose focus had now shifted towards avoiding another heavy, morale-sapping defeat.
They did produce glimpses of encouragement, however, despite the seemingly hopeless situation.
Funston brought some respite with a long-range effort saved at full-stretch by Connolly. The resulting corner found Dermot McCaffrey, whose downward header was also kept out.
Yet Morgan remained Dungannon’s most influential player – a sign of how the match was progressing.
Another superb passing move saw Caldwell exchange passes with Martin Donnelly before setting up Holland, whose low strike was blocked by the ‘keeper.
Morgan also tipped away another Holland effort, this time from a free-kick, before thwarting Caldwell following a surging run from midfield.
On the touchline Robinson continued to shout encouragement and bark orders – but already it looked a hopeless task.
As the second half began and the heavens opened, the efforts rained down on Morgan’s goal.
One back pass from Johnny Montgomery put him in real trouble, with the ‘keeper making a desperate clearance to prevent an own-goal.
Chris Scannell, drafted from the bench, also tested him with one terrific effort.
Funston, one of Swifts’ better players, twice went close in reply. One header was blocked while a second on a PJ Lavery delivery went flying over the bar.
But as Dungannon pushed for a goal, they were hit on the counter. A lightening break saw Scannell feed Gormley, whose spectacular shot flew into the top corner to make it 4-0.
There was some encouragement for home supporters when Funston scored late on, converting a Shea McGerrigan cross with a backward header.
Tonight’s game, Dungannon Swifts v Annagh United in the Quarter Final of the Mid Ulster Cup at Stangmore Park has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
It won’t win any goal of the season competition, but it could go a long, long way towards securing the far greater prize of Premiership survival.
When Dermot McCaffrey scores it is often spectacular and always memorable.
His dramatic equaliser in the closing seconds of this relegation scrap at Mourneview Park fits, if not into the former, then certainly the latter category.
From two yards out rather than his normal 20-plus range, it was enough to rescue what could yet prove a priceless point against the league’s basement club.
And it proved the end for Marty Quinn, who stepped down just hours after the chance of a rare win was snatched away in the closing stages by Dungannon – for the second time this season.
Just like the reverse game at Stangmore Park in September, the Lurgan Blues were on the verge of a victory which would have lifted them off the bottom.
But then McCaffrey struck to shatter their hopes.
The goalkeeper failed to claim a corner from Shea McGerrigan and Stefan Lavery flicked the ball on for the defender, who slotted home at the back post.
It leaves Glenavon still rooted to the foot of the league and now without a manager, following the resignation of Quinn on Saturday night.
No more excuses, he had insisted earlier in the week, describing this as “must-win”. Yet it was another of those could have, should have afternoons.
His side were less than two minutes from victory and, with a bit more composure and quality, would surely have added to Jay Magee’s first half opener.
Instead, it was another game which slipped away. And with it, Quinn’s tenure at Mourneview Park.
“Glenavon FC deserves to be in a better position than where it is at the moment,” he said afterwards.
For Dungannon, this was a timely confidence boost ahead of a difficult December.
Challenging games against Cliftonville, Coleraine and Crusaders await in the coming weeks, highlighting the importance Dixie Robinson had placed on this fixture.
His side did not deserve to lose, on the basis that neither of the teams merited all three points from a dismal match which was sorely lacking in quality.
Typically, it was a scrappy goal which broke the deadlock, coming via a free-kick.
Conor Hagan rolled the ball to Magee whose powerful shot took a heavy deflection off Ryan McCluskey, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance.
Otherwise it was a grim spectacle, predictably low on entertainment value.
There was controversy when Stefan Lavery was sent flying by Kyle Neill, but the offence went unpunished – one of several questionable decisions by the referee.
Dungannon, playing against a strong wind, also showed signs of nerves at the back.
A misplaced pass resulted in Diarmuid O’Carroll forcing a good block from Niall Morgan. Another giveaway allowed Niall Henderson to find Conor Hagan, but his shot went blazing over.
Dungannon’s main threat came at either end of the half.
Early on PJ Lavery forced the ‘keeper into action while in the closing minutes Johnny Topley’s corner flashed dangerously across goal and Michael Ward’s back-post effort was blocked.
Yet they continued to look vulnerable in defence and almost conceded again five minutes into the second half.
Another misplaced pass presented the ball to Mark Miskimmin in the box and he set up Henderson, whose thundering strike smashed off the underside of the crossbar.
Later Andy Graham weaved his way into the box but couldn’t get his shot away. The ball reached Henderson who miscued, with Ciaran Doherty finally forcing the ‘keeper into action.
Glenavon – with just two league wins and one clean sheet all season – predictably grew nervous and began backing off, with Dungannon enjoying more and more possession.
O’Carroll could have sealed the points on the counter-attack, but sent his effort inches wide after taking control of a long kick-out from David O’Hare.
But, just as it looked like they would hold on, Dungannon struck the equaliser – shattering Glenavon and signalling the end of the road for Quinn.
On Friday 2nd December 2011 the Southern Area Hospice held a fundraising variety concert in the Cohannon Inn. Three players from Dungannon Swifts and Dungannon United Youth were asked to go along and entertain the crowd with their silky football skills by doing different tricks and keepy-ups on stage. The boys showed off their skills while the song “I’m Sexy and I know it” was playing in the background.