by DSFC Media | Mar 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
We are delighted to announce that five of our current players have signed new deals at the Swifts. These five players are Cameron Grieve, Grant Hutchinson, Matt Hazley, Michael McKerr and Fra Brennan. It is exceptionally encouraging news for the Club that these players have agreed to remain at the Swifts for the next two years despite interest from other clubs in the Irish Premiership.
After working to secure the signatures of these accomplished Swifts players, Swifts manager Darren Murphy said;
“It is great to see these five young players have committed their immediate futures to the club. It comes as a great boost for our club as a whole. It’s a step forward in the right direction and hopefully we can retain the signatures of a few more of our players in the coming days and weeks.This is also a massive boost ahead of our remaining fixtures in the league as we push on to secure our premiership survival.”
by DSFC Media | Feb 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
MID ULSTER CUP ROUND TWO RESULT.
Dungannon Swifts 5-2 Tandragee Rovers
Goals scored by: Stefan Lavery x2, James Costello, Matt Hazley & Marc McConnell.
Swifts team:T Murphy, McKerr, McMinn, Brennan, Magee, PJ Lavery, Fitzpatrick, Hazley, Glackin, Costello & S Lavery
Used Subs: M McConnell, J O’Rourke & R Devlin.
Unused Subs: G Hutchinson & C Grieve.
by DSFC Media | Feb 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
It was a significant day at both ends of the league as Dungannon Swifts edged closer to safety while all but finishing the Crues’ fading title dreams.
A somewhat fortunate goal from Neal Gawley saw the Tyrone side claim a credible point in North Belfast to halt a run of four straight defeats on the road.
But for a late equaliser from Jordan Owens and a crucial goal-line clearance, the outcome could have been even better for Dungannon.
Regardless, manager Darren Murphy will reflect on another encouraging performance at a ground which has become notoriously difficult for visiting teams.
Crusaders have lost just one league game at Seaview since the start of 2012, and are unbeaten here in the Premiership this season.
Yet they needed that 80th minute Owens’ header to snatch a barely deserved point.
James Costello also saw a late effort cleared off the line, yet the Crues’ relief will be tempered by the realisation that their championship hopes are over.
They now trail cross-city rivals Cliftonville by 14 points with just 30 left to play for.
Indeed Stephen Baxter’s main focus is now on ensuring second place doesn’t slip from their grasp, with Linfield drawing level with them at the weekend.
Meanwhile Swifts stay 10 points ahead of the relegation places and, with games running out, they are well placed to secure their senior status.
Seaview has never been a welcoming place for Dungannon, who had won just once in their last 10 visits to the stadium.
However, they seemed on course to improve that record after taking a 40th minute lead.
It followed a terrific cross from Matt Hazley to Gawley who forced the ball home after his initial header had been blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs.
The goal came at some cost to the winger, however. He sustained a head injury in the process and had to be substituted.
Otherwise this was a game which took time to come to life, with the opening half hour producing few chances.
Early on David Rainey chased a ball into the box and got a shot on target while Chris Morrow also went close with a couple of efforts.
At the other end James Costello fired into the side-netting after combining well with Gawley.
Hazley then tried his luck with a powerful drive which Yohann Lacroix gathered at the second attempt.
Crusaders, despite boasting an impressive home record, were second best across the park with too many passes going astray.
Swifts could have made it 2-0 early in the second half when a turn of pace from Stefan Lavery took him past Colin Coates, however, his drive from a difficult angle was well stopped.
They did enjoy some good fortune at times, though.
Timmy Adamson should have levelled against his former club, but failed to connect with a cross from David Magowan.
Later David McMaster and then Adamson saw efforts come back off the same post – both times the ‘keeper was rooted to the spot.
The Crues were starting to ask more questions, and they levelled with 10 minutes remaining.
A long ball from Jamie Mitchell was cleared only as far as James Knowles, and Owens got ahead of Cameron Grieve to head home the return cross.
It should have been the signal for a dramatic finish, but the feared Crues’ onslaught never came.
Indeed it was Dungannon who could have snatched a late winner when Costello’s effort was cleared off the line by Morrow eight minutes from the end.
CRUSADERS: Lacroix, Gibson (Mitchell, 46), Magowan, Coates, McBride (McCready, 80), Robinson, Morrow, McMaster, Snoddy, Rainey (Owens, 46), Adamson
Subs not used: McClean, Leeman
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, McKerr, Grieve, Brennan, Montgomery, O’Neill, Hutchinson, Harpur, Hazley, Costello, Gawley (S Lavery, 41)
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, PL Lavery, McMinn, T Murphy
Referee: Alan Black (Antrim)
by DSFC Media | Feb 22, 2013 | Uncategorized
For anyone that would like to view the Swifts boys doing their version of the famous ‘Harlem Shake’. Follow the link below, sit back, relax and prepare to see the Swifts players and manager like never before.
Dungannnon Swifts Harlem Shake
by DSFC Media | Feb 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
They have not had much to cheer about this season, but Dungannon Swifts fans were celebrating after a fully deserved victory over Portadown.
A vastly improved team display secured three crucial points and, of equal significance for supporters, the bragging rights in Mid-Ulster.
This fixture has normally been dominated by the Ports but a Johnny Topley header and an own-goal from Chris Ramsey turned the recent form book on its head.
After two straight defeats, compounded by dismal performances, Darren Murphy had demanded a big response – and he got it.
Ryan Harpur was the driving force in a dominant display which saw Dungannon control the match from first whistle to last.
Portadown had lost just once in their previous 14 visits to Stangmore Park but were shut out time and again by Dungannon’s defence, with Adam McMinn particularly impressive.
For Dungannon, the slow march to survival continues.
This was three points they would have hoped for rather than expected.
But with Lisburn Distillery and Donegal Celtic both winning on Saturday, the result was critical, especially with a tough run of matches on the road before their next home fixture on March 16.
Just like the last two games Dungannon made a bright start and took a first half lead, however, this time they managed to stay in front.
Indeed they should have gone ahead inside the first 60 seconds.
Cameron Grieve’s strike was blocked on the line, Matt Hazley was similarly thwarted before the ball fell to Harpur, but his back-heel was saved.
Murphy stood shaking his head on the touchline, unable to fathom how Swifts hadn’t scored.
Later in the half James Costello went close with a thumping 25-yard effort but it failed to catch out David Miskelly, who parried the ball away from danger.
However, he was helpless to stop Dungannon taking a 28th minute lead via Topley, who had been paired alongside Costello in attack.
It began when Andrew Burns lost possession just outside the box. The danger was cleared but Michael McKerr, operating at right-back, pumped the ball back in for the midfielder to head home.
Portadown were without several key players, including star striker Gary Twigg, and their absence was sorely felt as they struggled to create chances.
Their main threat came from set-pieces. Kevin Braniff got two free-kicks on target but both were saved by goalkeeper Jonny Curran.
The Ports’ best chance came late in the half. Darren Murray timed his run perfectly to meet an Aaron Burns pass but sent his header just over.
Portadown went close again after the restart as Braniff put an effort wide following a cross from Neil McCafferty.
Yet they continued to labour and, with 58 minutes played, McFall brought on Joe McNeill in a bid to inject more attacking dynamism into his side.
However, his plans were in tatters just seconds later as Ramsey gifted Dungannon a second. 
Good play between Ryan O’Neill and McKerr down the right flank ended in a probing cross which the hapless defender turned into his own net.
The Ports’ best chance of a goal came in added time. Richard Lecky’s effort crashed off the crossbar with Curran thwarting Braniff on the follow-up.
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, McMinn, Hazley, McKerr, Hutchinson, Grieve, Topley (Cahoon, 50), Harpur, Friars, O’Neill, Costello
Subs not used: Montgomery, PJ Lavery, C Lavery, Gawley
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Mackle, Redman, Ramsey, Breen (Patton, 77), Aaron Burns, Murray, Braniff, Mouncey (McNeill, 58), Andrew Burns (Lecky, 64), McCafferty
Subs not used: McArdle, Rooney
Referee: Colin Burns (Newtownabbey)
by DSFC Media | Feb 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
There was a time this season when Dungannon Swifts would finish games strongly, but suddenly they seem to have become a 45-minute team.
For the second weekend running, they allowed an early lead to slip as Linfield claimed what ultimately proved a comfortable victory.
The damage was done in the second half as goals from Gary Browne, Philip Lowry and Mark McAllister secured the points.
But it was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Darren Murphy.
He could only watch as a promising performance from his side, marked by Ryan Harpur’s 20th minute opener, rapidly unravelled in the second half.
It contrasts with the early stages of the campaign when Dungannon secured some vital results by scoring late goals, including a stoppage-time equaliser in this fixture in October.
Instead, Saturday was a similar story to events at Glenavon seven days earlier.
Afterwards, Murphy accused some players of not giving 100%, particularly his attacking unit who he felt did not give enough support to the defence.
That was particularly evident in the second period when the central pairing of Harpur and Grant Hutchinson became overrun at times.
This was the only Premiership game of the day and an opportunity for both sides to make progress in their respective quests at the top and bottom of the league.
Ultimately it was Linfield who took that chance, cutting the gap on leaders Cliftonville to 15 points.
And while the title is realistically beyond the Blues’ grasp now, this was a reminder that they will be back stronger than ever next term.
A strong start from Linfield almost brought a goal after 15 minutes.
McAllister, operating in a deeper attacking role, supplied a cross which was touched into the path of Michael Carvill, but his low drive struck the base of the post.
The Blues have shown a weakness at the back this season, conceding 35 times before Saturday, and sloppy defending almost gifted Dungannon the lead.
A back-pass from David Armstrong caught his own ‘keeper out but Ross Glendinning reacted sharply to tip the ball away from danger.
The Blues failed to heed the warning, however, and were behind moments later.
Matt Hazley stole possession and cut in from the left. Although his powerful shot was blocked, Harpur was on hand to fire home the rebound.
But for the second weekend in succession, the lead lasted barely five minutes.
Carvill’s cross caught the home defence asleep and Brian McCaul was left free at the back post to equalise with a downward header.
The Blues could have gone ahead two minutes later through Matthew Tipton.
He beat the offside trap to collect Lowry’s clever pass, but Jonny Curran stretched out an arm to divert the ball away.
Dungannon suffered a setback just before the break when Hazley, again a driving force in midfield, was forced off through injury.
His departure was perhaps a factor in a poorer second half performance, however, those still on the pitch must take their share of the blame too.
Linfield seized control and deservedly edged ahead in the 68th minute via Browne.
Billy-Joe Burns eased past PJ Lavery and set up Browne, who swept home with a right-foot finish from just inside the box.
And the points were secured four minutes later. This time Browne was the provider, supplying a cross to Lowry, and he had time and room to control before slotting home.
McAllister proved a real handful on his return to Stangmore Park and made it 4-1 late on, converting after a cross from Ross Clarke.
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, O’Neill, Montgomery, McMinn, Grieve, Harpur, Hutchinson, Hazley (Cahoon, 46), C Lavery (Gawley, 64), PJ Lavery (McKerr, 75), Costello
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, Topley
LINFIELD: Glendinning, Armstrong, Gault (Mulgrew, 68), Murphy, Lowry, Carvill, Burns, Tipton (Browne, 41), McCaul (Clarke, 84), McAllister, Quinn
Subs not used: Hanley, Ervin
Referee: Andrew Davey (Belfast)
