Press Eye – Belfast – Northern Ireland – 23rd July 2021
Picture: Philip Magowan / Press Eye
Calling all Dungannon Swifts fans! Sign up now for the NI Football League’s first official online Fantasy Football game ahead of the 2021/22 Danske Bank Premiership season. This exciting new development gives the fans the chance to test their football knowledge and see if they can replicate the success of the Swifts’ boss Dean Shiels in selecting the ultimate Irish League team against other fans. The bespoke application has been developed by Comber-based software developer Nathan McConnell, who is no stranger to the NI Football League as a current player at Lough 41 Premier Intermediate League club Dollingstown and previously played in the top-flight with Portadown. Neil Coleman, NIFL Marketing & Communications said, “This is a really exciting development for the league, and we felt the time was right to bring a high quality Fantasy Football offering to fans this season.” “We’re delighted to be partnering with Nathan on this new venture and we are sure that fans of all clubs embrace the game as a new and fun way to enjoy Irish League football.” Players will select their online panel of 15 players from across all the Premiership clubs and gain points based on the real-life performances of the players on the pitch. Fans can battle out against other players from all clubs but also mini-leagues can be created for friends, family and work colleagues! There is also the opportunity to be Dungannon Swifts’ ultimate Fantasy Football manager with the supporters’ club leader-board. The game is now live and available at www.niflfantasyfootball.com and fans are encouraged to get their teams in now ahead of the first game of the new season on Friday 27 August.
The NI Football League can reveal that all member clubs including Dungannon Swifts will be provided with life-saving defibrillators ahead of the new season.
Following the distressing events at Euro 2020 in Denmark, a risk assessment by the NIFL Board outlined a desire to protect all our clubs to potentially help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.
As a result, new defibrillators will be provided to 41 clubs within the NI Football League membership, including all teams in the Premiership, Championship, Premier Intermediate League and Women’s Premiership.
NIFL Chairman Gerard Lawlor said;
“The role of the NI Football League is not just to govern but to serve and protect our membership, and this is an important service that we can offer to our clubs to protect players, supporters and staff.”
“Everyone in football got a real shock at the events in Denmark a few weeks ago, so if this project saves one life over a period of time, we simply can’t put a value on that.”
“The health and welfare of the people connected with our clubs is paramount and sincere thanks to my colleagues on the NIFL Board for their support in delivering this vital support.”
Dean Shiels has moved quickly to secure the services of Joe McCready, ten years after he left Dungannon Swifts to join Coleraine FC.
“I’m thrilled to be signing again for Dungannon! It was a fast process – Dean (Shiels) only contacted me a couple of days ago but I’m happy it was sorted out without any hassle. I had a frustrating time at Ballymena with the lack of game time and that was my main priority – to get more game time and start enjoying my football again. Dean’s vision for Dungannon appealed to me and hopefully I can help in anyway I can to achieve that.
“Last season was unacceptable for a club like Dungannon who should be pushing for mid table finishes at least, and Dean won’t accept anything less than that. Dean has recruited well and looks to play football the right way and that, I think, is what sold it to me in the end. I just can’t wait to get started!”
Joe McCready
Previously of Coleraine, Institute and most recently Ballymena United, Joe is the seventh new signing for The Swifts as Dean Shiels looks to rebuild his squad.
McCready, 30, previously played for Dungannon Swifts when Head of Youth Development Dixie Robinson was at the helm.
Joe McCready previously in action for Dungannon Swifts
Manager, Dean Shiels, is excited to start working alongside Joe.
“Joe is a brilliant signing for us, he will give us that extra bit of quality up top that we were lacking last season. He is a player that I have admired for a long time, technically very good and he will suit the way we want to play. He has the hunger and the desire to play and score goals and I feel his ability is right up there with some of the top attackers in the league.”
Dean Shiels
Welcome back to Dungannon, Joe!
All at Dungannon Swifts wish you well in your return to Stangmore!
Dean Shiels has further bolstered his squad for the 2021/22 season by bringing in forward Sean McCarron.
Dungannon Swifts FC New Signing – Sean McCarron
Sean, 29, most recently played for Dergview and featured in the Championship side’s Irish Cup run last season.
Previously of Derry City, Finn Harps, Cliftonville and Institute, McCarron will certainly add much needed firepower to the Swifts attacking line.
‘I’m absolutely delighted to get the deal over the line and sign for Dungannon Swifts and I’m really looking forward to meeting the lads and to get going. I really enjoyed playing for Dergview under Ivan Sproule and he got my confidence back which I can’t thank him enough for so hopefully I can kick on from that here at Stangmore. I’m looking forward to working under Dean, I’m sure he will demand a lot of, not just me, but the squad as a whole so I’ll be trying my best to impress him and work my way into the team.”
Sean McCarron
Dean Shiels (Manager) & Sean McCarron
Manager, Dean Shiels, is happy that he has got the former Dergview player on board;
“Sean is a talented player, I’ve watched him on a few occasions and he is definitely going to add another dimension to our squad. He is a good finisher with both his left and right feet and he has a great opportunity to come to Dungannon. He wants to prove that he can score goals at the highest level and I have no doubt he will do that. When I spoke to him, he showed great desire and hunger to succeed here at Stangmore after turning down some other Irish League clubs. I’ve spoken to his previous managers and there is no denying his talent from any of them and hopefully we will give him the platform here to bring that talent out.”
Dean Shiels has been a busy man this week and has completed his fourth signing. We welcome, central defender, Keith Cowan, who joins us after most recently having been on the books of Glentoran FC.
Manager, Dean Shiels with new signing, Keith Cowan.
Cowan, a PE teacher from Donegal, signs on a one year deal after his contract expired with the East Belfast side.
The 6’2″ defender has also played for and Captained Finn Harps in the League of Ireland and joins us with plenty of experience under his belt. He obtained an Irish Cup Winners Medal in 2020 with Glentoran.
New signing, Defender, Keith Cowan.
“It feels great to have signed for the Swifts. I’m very excited. I’ve spoken to Dean (Shiels) quite a few times and I’m excited about what he’s trying to do here. I enjoyed my time at Glentoran but I got frustrated massively about lack of minutes and game time. I know they had a big squad and it was hard to break through, maybe not being full time was part of that. That’s all very much in the past now as I’m looking forward to getting started with Dungannon. Everything is about the collective really, understandably I want to get more game time and minutes and be in the managers thoughts for every game but it’s very much so about the collective. I want to try and push on up the table. I think last year was a bit false in terms of how Dungannon finished up the table. I think it’s trying to give something for the fans to smile about and make them proud of the Club. Being a threat to a couple of big teams in the league I think is a fair enough aim for the season!”
Keith Cowan
Manager Dean Shiels is very happy to get the signing of Keith over the line. He had this to say;
“Keith’s a leader, he’s going to bring leadership qualities that we have lacked. He’s a winner, he’s had a great career. He’s hungry to come here and do well. He will give us something that we lacked badly last year, he’s aggressive in both boxes, he wants to defend. I’m delighted to get him!”
Dean Shiels
Welcome to Stangmore Park, Keith. We wish you every success as a Dungannon Swifts player.
Goalkeeper Alex Moore, has re-joined the club on a season long loan from Linfield Football Club.
Moore, comes as no stranger to Stangmore as he previously spent the 2018/19 season also on loan from Linfield. He returned back to Linfield where he has spent the last couple of seasons.
Twenty two year old Alex, who was number two GK at double winners Linfield, will come to Dungannon Swifts with the hope of getting plenty more first team football under his belt again. The Lisburn native is eager to get started at Stangmore.
“It’s good to be back, I’ve had a year of not playing enough. I feel like coming here will coming here will give me an opportunity to get some more game time to show what I can do. I want to play as many games as I can this year and as well as I can and help the team finish as high up the table as possible. I loved it here the last time, we had plenty of good results, we got to the quarter final of the Irish Cup. It maybe ended up in disappointment as I felt like we should have went a bit further. I want to try and help the team do as best as possible this year again.”
Alex Moore
“Alex is a young keeper who has developed a lot since he was last at the Club. He comes highly recommenced by Roy Carroll, by David Healy and a lot of people in the game. I think he’s got the feet and distribution that is going to suit us playing out from the back. He’s going to be a big asset to us, I’m excited to see him play.”
Dean Shiels
Welcome back to Stangmore Park, Alex. Good luck! We look forward to seeing you playing again really soon.
