Dungannon Swifts’ hopes of League Cup glory are over after they were knocked out by Ballymena United in Tuesday night’s quarter-final.
Goals from ex-Swifts players Neal Gawley and Darren Boyce, plus a Tony Kane strike, left the Tyrone side frustrated.
Although another defeat, it was an encouraging performance which was much improved on the weekend showing against Linfield.
Dungannon will rue a poor start which saw Ballymena lead 2-0 after 35 minutes.
Ryan Harpur pulled a goal back from the penalty spot before being taken off with a nasty head injury.
They pushed hard for an equaliser, hitting the crossbar, before Boyce wrapped it up late on.
Ballymena now join Ballinamallard, Cliftonville and Championship One side Bangor in the semi-finals.
It is a missed opportunity for Dungannon but ultimately their main focus is on bigger things and ensuring their senior status.
Dungannon’s last win had come in this competition against Ards on October 7, and they fell behind in the 21st minute at the Showgrounds.
Matthew Tipton fed the ball into Kane and the defender broke the deadlock by drilling a first-time effort into the bottom corner.
David Cushley had a great chance to double that lead soon afterwards. He robbed Fra Brennan but saw his strike parried by the goalkeeper before Dougie Wilson cleared the ball off the line.
Coleman was forced into another fine diving save to palm Tipton’s glancing header away as Ballymena kept on the pressure.
Dungannon continued to look uncomfortable and conceded a second in the 35th minute.
Kane was given too much time to deliver a cross into the middle, where Gawley was left unmarked to finish off from eight yards.
It seemed the end of Swifts’ hopes, but they were back in the game in the 40th minute.
Davy Munster brought down Andrew Mitchell inside the area, resulting in a penalty which was converted by Harpur.
The second half saw Dungannon take the game to Ballymena as they pressed for an equaliser.
Mitchell, Harpur and Matt Hazley all went close before David Armstrong was denied when his header came back off the crossbar.
However, Ballymena wrapped up the win on the break eight minutes from the end when Boyce made it 3-1 with a clinical right-foot strike.
Mitchell squandered a chance for the visitors in injury time when he headed over from close range.
Dungannon are back in league action this weekend when they face Coleraine.
BALLYMENA: Nelson, T Kane, Munster, Jenkins, Stewart, Gawley, Thompson (E Kane, 76), Surgenor, McCaul, Cushley (Boyce, 50), Tipton
Subs not used: McCullagh, Graham, Ferguson
DGN SWIFTS: Coleman, Burns (Douglas, 84), Armstrong, Brennan, Wilson, Hazley, Harpur (McCullough, 69), Hutchinson, Mitchell, Glackin, Sanusi (Tomelty, 72)
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Lavery
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
