Outstanding Fixture Date Confirmed.
We can now confirm that our outstanding league fixture v Ballymena United, which was postponed on New Year’s Day, will now be played on Tuesday 29th January at Stangmore Park.
Kick off 7.45pm.
Mid Ulster Cup Draw
Dungannon Swifts have been drawn against Tandragee Rovers in our opening fixture of the Mid Ulster Cup. This fixture will be played on Tuesday 26th February at Stangmore Park.
The full draw is as follow:
Dungannon Swifts v Tandragee Rovers
Armagh City v Seagoe
Loughgall v Seapatrick
Glenavon v Richill
Annagh United v Camlough
Lurgan Celtic v Fivemiletown United
Warrenpoint Town have been drawn a bye though to the next round.
Murphy Signs for Swifts
Darren Murphy has moved swiftly to sign his second player in the January transfer window in the form of his namesake Tuda Murphy. Goalkeeper Murphy will help fill the void left by Niall Morgan after he quit the Swifts to take up GAA with Tyrone.
“Tuda brings experience having played in the Irish League for two good sides in Portadown and Glenavon. He already knows numerous players from the current Swifts squad and is a very welcome addition to us. I am looking forward to working with Tuda who will provide healthy competition for Jonny Curran,” said manager Darren Murphy.
At 6 foot 4 inches tall, thirty- two year old Murphy who originally hails from the Cayman Islands, joins the Swifts having most recently played for fellow Mid-Ulster team, Portadown F.C.. Murphy has won several caps for his country in previous years and we would like to wish him all the best at Dungannon Swifts and give him a very warm welcome to Stangmore Park.
Welcome on board Tuda.
Dungannon Swifts 1 Lisburn Distillery 0
The new year got off to a winning start for Dungannon Swifts as they claimed a priceless victory in the weekend’s big relegation battle at Stangmore Park.
A late but potentially critical goal from Emmet Friars settled an absorbing match as Lisburn Distillery were pushed deeper into the relegation mire.
The defender – linked with a move away from the club this month – scored with a back-post header to breathe new life into Dungannon’s quest for survival.
It may not have been a game laced with quality, but it was high on sheer effort and intensity, serving up plenty of goalmouth action over the 90 minutes.
And while 2013 is not yet a week old, this will surely go down as one of the most significant results Dungannon will claim this year.
They have opened up a 10-point gap on the bottom placed Whites – quite an advantage over a side who’ve amassed just 11 points all season.
While Dungannon will feel they just about deserved to win, defeat was cruel on their opponents.
Distillery created the game’s two best chances either side of half-time but, tellingly, failed to hit the target with either one.
The first came in the 32nd minute following good play from Jordan Hughes. He advanced down the left wing and delivered a searching cross but Gary Liggett, unmarked six yards from goal, planted his header wide.
Otherwise it was Dungannon who carried the greater attacking threat in the first half.
Ryan Harpur, one of three players recalled to the team, went close with an early free-kick which Lee Windrum did well to push over the crossbar.
New signing James Costello, pitched straight into the team, was also causing problems leading the forward line and forced two powerful efforts on target.
The chances continued. Matt Hazley saw a 25-yard strike pushed clear, Chris Lavery’s low shot was saved while PJ Lavery had a close-range effort blocked.
However, Distillery really should have scored against the run of play through that Liggett chance.
They could have paid for what was a shocking miss had Dungannon took either of the two chances they created towards the end of the half.
First Harpur’s vicious free-kick flashed an inch over the bar. Windrum certainly thought it was heading for the net, as did many of the home supporters.
Then a corner from Hazley caused problems, with the ‘keeper’s punch landing just wide of his goal.
Distillery boss Tim McCann was clearly unhappy on the sidelines, and whatever he said at half-time seemed to jolt his side into action for the second half.
David McCullough’s 25-yard drive was pushed over before Andy Hunter wasted another terrific chance, heading wide from Aaron Traynor’s cross.
Niall Morgan, in his final game for Dungannon, diverted Scott Davidson’s close-range strike wide before stretching out a glove to prevent Hunter’s free-kick finding the bottom corner.
With 20 minutes left Dungannon brought on Jamie Douglas in an effort to re-establish some attacking threat.
But the injury-plagued striker, making his first appearance of the season, pulled up with a hamstring problem and was taken off again within three minutes.
It seemed everything was going against Dungannon – but then their luck suddenly changed.
A corner from Harpur reached Friars at the back post, and he rose to power a header past Windrum and get the new year off to a winning start.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, Montgomery, C Lavery (Douglas, 70, Cahoon, 73), Hazley, Hutchinson, Grieve, S Lavery (PJ Lavery, 13), Brennan, Harpur, Friars, Costello
Subs not used: McMinn, Glackin
LISBURN DISTILLERY: Windrum, Smyth, Hunter, McCullough, Davidson, McCann (Melly, 59), Liggett (Beggs, 81), Traynor (Hall, 71), Ferguson, Hughes, Forsythe
Subs not used: Stinson, Halliday
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
O’Neill Placed on Transfer List
Manager Darren Murphy has made centre forward Stephen O’Neill available to other clubs on a free transfer.
Speaking about O’Neill Murphy said “First team opportunities were becoming very limited for Stephen due to other options already available at the club along with the recent signing of James Costello, Stephen has fell down the pecking order. I think it’s best for both Dungannon Swifts and Stephen that he gets the opportunity of playing first team football elsewhere and hopefully for him he can get something sorted as he has been a good pro.”
Murphy Strikes Early in Transfer Window
Darren Murphy is delighted to have made his first signing in the transfer window with the addition of former Ballymena United and Glenavon Striker James Costello to the Swifts squad.
“James is a big, strong, powerful centre forward who can hold the ball up well; he is a very welcome addition to the squad and will enhance what we already have at Stangmore Park. James who is very direct and has bags of pace, also has plenty of experience playing in the Irish Premier League. I am hopeful that he can be a target man and cause problems for other teams. If all goes to plan James should be available for the squad v Lisburn Distillery this Saturday at Stangmore Park.”
Twenty – six year old Costello who has signed an 18 month contract, can also play on the wing as well as up front which will be a great bonus.
We would like to take the opportunity to welcome James on Board at Dungannon Swifts and wish him all the best for the future in a Swifts Shirt.