Dungannon Swifts v Glentoran
Dungannon Swifts 1 Portadown 1
It was another late, late show from Dungannon Swifts as their unbeaten start to the league season survived a major test against Portadown.
An injury-time goal from summer signing Joshua Cahoon salvaged a draw for the Tyrone side after a disappointing Mid-Ulster derby on Friday night.
The young defender started out his career as a striker, and showed his ability in the final third with a quality finish to shatter the Ports’ hopes of victory.
They had led through Darren Murray’s 81st minute strike, and may feel aggrieved not to have left Stangmore Park with all three points.
Those final dramatic minutes somewhat compensated for what was otherwise a poor affair.
This fixture has served up some classic games in recent seasons, but this was not one of them with little goalmouth action during a dire 90 minutes.
Portadown had the best of the few chances that were fashioned, albeit without causing Swifts’ goalkeeper Jonny Curran many problems.
Indeed, their goal owed more to poor defending and a lack of concentration than good play.
A set-piece from Kevin Braniff struck the Dungannon wall but no-one reacted as Braniff fed the ball back in, and Murray converted with a rasping strike.
However, just as against Cliftonville in their last home league match, the blow sparked Swifts into life, culminating in that dramatic equaliser.
A final, frantic surge forward ended with a long ball finding Cahoon in the box, and he took control before slotting home with a low effort.
Undoubtedly Swifts will be the happier team, albeit neither side really did enough to merit victory.
After shuffling their side – and then losing – against Coagh United on Monday, it was all change once more for Dungannon.
They made eight changes, including recalls for Grant Hutchinson, Michael McKerr and Stephen O’Neill.
And it was O’Neill who had their first chance. A slip by Keith O’Hara allowed him through on goal, but the striker lifted his effort over the crossbar. With a bit more composure – he had time and space – he could have done better.
Earlier, Portadown threatened when Chris Casement made a run from deep, but Braniff’s low strike was easily blocked by the goalkeeper.
Adam McMinn headed well wide from a corner for Swifts while at the other end a long-range Sean Mackle strike flashed over the crossbar.
The only other chance of note in a poor half came when Ross Redman fed the ball wide to Braniff, whose angled strike was blocked by the ‘keeper.
Portadown took charge in the second period and created several decent openings, albeit they often lacked an end product.
An example came when Joe McNeill eased through the home defence, only to plant his final shot well wide of the back post.
Then towards the end a corner from McNeill was directed back across goal but Brian Gartland, a few yards out, somehow headed over.
The one moment of danger for the Ports came when Redman appeared to handle a cross from McKerr in the box, however, nothing was given.
It seemed the game was destined to finish in a stalemate – until the late drama.
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, R O’Neill (Brennan, 53), McMinn, E Friars, Grieve (Cahoon, 68), Gawley (S Friars, 84), Fitzpatrick, Hutchinson, Hazley, S O’Neill, McKerr
Subs not used: S Lavery, Topley
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Mackle, Redman, Breen, Murray, Braniff, McNeill, Casement (Lecky, 61), Gartland, O’Hara, McCafferty
Subs not used: McArdle, Burns, Adams, McLellan
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
Full set of Match photos in the Gallery section of our website.
‘Flash Harry’ comes to Dungannon Swifts
Reserve Team v Glenavon Reserves
The Swifts reserve team fixture v Glenavon reserves is postponed tonight (Wednesday 29th August) due to a waterlogged pitch.
Sorry for any convenience caused.
Glenavon 0 Dungannon Swifts 1 – Full Report
It was third time lucky for Dungannon Swifts as they collected their first victory of the new season against 10-man Glenavon on Friday night.
After opening the campaign with two draws, a Sean Friars header secured three points following a keenly-contested Mid-Ulster derby at Mourneview Park.
The game itself was a forgettable affair with plenty of effort but little goalmouth action.
Having battled for over an hour with 10 men following Kyle Neill’s harsh dismissal, Glenavon will feel aggrieved not to have taken something from the game.
Rather than sit back, the Lurgan club seized the initiative and hit the post twice, with Dungannon benefitting from some long overdue good fortune.
Glenavon will, however, be disappointed that it took Neill’s sending-off and Friars’ opener to jolt them into action after a poor opening half hour.
For Dungannon, the main positives were a first win and clean sheet of the campaign.
Jonny Curran, preferred to Niall Morgan in goals, made one smart stop to deny Mark Haughey in the first half but otherwise was rarely tested.
In midfield, Matt Hazley and Michael McKerr offered an attacking threat, with the latter underlining his value to the team if he can stay injury free.
A shower before kick-off led to problems for players with several slip-ups in the early minutes – one of them leading to the opening chance.
Sean McCashin failed to cut out McKerr’s pass and Stephen O’Neill ran through, however his near-post strike was parried wide by the goalkeeper.
The same two players combined soon afterwards as McKerr crossed for O’Neill but the striker, on the stretch, was unable to get enough contact on the ball.
Glenavon’s hopes then suffered a double blow with two setbacks in as many minutes.
First a flash of skill and pace from McKerr beat Neill for pace, allowing him to cross to the back post where an unmarked Friars headed home.
Neill almost responded immediately, heading Gary Hamilton’s corner just over.
But the full-back’s night took another turn for the worse when he was sent off. Already booked for a foul on Hazley, he was dismissed for impeding McKerr.
It took 36 minutes for Swifts’ goal to come under pressure. A corner from Hamilton evaded the ‘keeper but Ciaran Doherty headed wide.
O’Neill then had the ball in the Glenavon net, but the assistant referee correctly judged that the striker had moved too early and ruled the effort out for offside.
Just before the interval, a Hamilton header set up Haughey on the edge of the visitors’ box, but his powerful strike was well blocked by Curran.
Glenavon’s best spell came early in the second half.
After Guy Bates had powered a free-kick over, Eddie McCallion took a pass from Brendan Shannon and rattled the crossbar with a stinging drive.
And Dungannon were reliant on the woodwork saving them again soon afterwards.
A Hamilton free-kick was met by Doherty whose half-volley struck the post. The rebound dropped for Andy McGrory before bouncing to safety.
Perhaps Glenavon sensed it wasn’t their night, and maybe Dungannon realised that they needed to be more aware at the back.
Whatever the reason, the final half hour failed to produce any clear-cut chances.
The home threat faded while Swifts were unable to add to their lead, with O’Neill and then Emmet Friars forcing efforts on target without success.
Late on Hamilton drew a save from Curran with a neat turn and shot, but Dungannon easily held on.
MATCH PHOTOS : https://dungannonswiftsfc.comgallery/2012-2013/
GLENAVON: Coleman, Neill, McCashin, Haughey (White, 90), McCallion, Hamilton, Doherty, Kilmartin, McGrory (Hynes, 82), Burrows (Shannon, 35), Bates
Subs not used: Singleton, Brown
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, Brennan (R O’Neill, 57), E Friars, McMinn, Grieve, McKerr, Fitzpatrick, Hazley (C Lavery, 75), Hutchinson, S O’Neill, S Friars (Gawley, 69)
Subs not used: Topley, S Lavery
Referee: Andrew Davey
Dungannon Swifts v Portadown
