Intermediate Cup Semi Final
Dungannon Swifts are playing host to the Semi Final of the Coca-cola Intermediate Cup Final between Institute FC and Dergview FC tonight at Stangmore Park.
Kick off is 7.45pm and everyone is most welcome.
Crusaders 1 Dungannon Swifts 0
The dream of Irish Cup glory is over for Dungannon Swifts, but there is little time for anyone to reflect on this depressing semi-final defeat.
It was a Rainey day at Mourneview Park as a second half goal from the veteran striker ended Swifts’ adventure and sent Crusaders into local football’s showpiece finale.
But while Dungannon may have missed out on another cup final, their season is far from finished.
No sooner had the final whistle blown on Saturday evening than attention shifted to their five remaining make-or-break league fixtures.
And while they may not have the charm and prestige of a glamour final at Windsor Park, most will agree that they hold even more significance.
Forget Crusaders, it is Carrick Rangers on Saturday which could define Swifts’ campaign.
Because as disappointing as this loss is, it was always going to be secondary to the main objective of avoiding relegation from the top division.
And if Dungannon can go on and complete the great escape over the coming weeks, this heartbreaking loss will be quickly forgotten.
In truth, few are likely to remember this lacklustre 90 minutes for long.
Typical of so many semi-finals, it was short on excitement, quality and goals – ultimately settled by one flash of quality from David Rainey.
It came in the 72ndminute following a corner from Stuart Dallas. The ball was knocked down to Rainey, and he volleyed home from close range.
While he was the hero, defender Colin Coates proved the villain – sent off four minutes from the end for a dangerous tackle on Stefan Lavery.
Unfortunately, it came too late for Dungannon.
One goal was always likely to be enough for a Crues side who hadn’t conceded in their last eight cup ties, especially against a team desperately short of firepower.
Much of the pre-game focus had centred on Swifts’ goalkeeping position, with Jonny Curran standing in for the suspended Niall Morgan.
However, the 25-year-old had little to do, protected by a resolute defensive performance which was led by the outstanding Emmet Friars.
Instead, Swifts’ problems lay at the other end of the pitch, where they carried little threat and failed to land a single shot on the Crues’ goal over the 90 minutes.
While Stephen Baxter can start preparing for a third Irish Cup final in four years, against Linfield or Newry City, Dungannon’s focus must revert to the league.
Survival is still in their own hands, and the closing five games must be approached with the same effort, intensity and commitment as this semi-final.
Because securing a 10thseason in the top division would compensate for missing out on silverware, given the club’s precarious position in the table.
Crusaders always looked the more dangerous, albeit they rarely troubled Curran.
An example came inside 15 minutes when Jordan Owens sent a free header crashing over, while soon afterwards a 30-yard Stephen McBride drive flashed wide.
When they did find a way through the Dungannon defence, Crusaders were frustrated by the linesman with Declan Caddell’s header rightly ruled out for offside.
The best chance of a poor first half came in the 36th minute. Michael Funston’s attempted clearance fell perfectly for Caddell, but his attempted volley sailed over.
Later a throw from Gareth McKeown was allowed to bounce in the box, eventually dropping for Chris Morrow whose angled strike fizzed across the face of goal.
While Dungannon raised the tempo in the second period, their opponents’ goal was rarely troubled.
Indeed Crusaders could have snatched the lead when Dallas’s pass evaded Johnny Montgomery, but Curran was sharply off his line to deny Owens.
They also had a strong penalty appeal when a push on Timmy Adamson went unnoticed, with Morrow’s follow-up strike cleared off the line by Friars.
But the relief was short-lived for Dungannon as the resulting corner located Rainey, a half-time substitute, and he fired the Crues in front and ultimately into another cup final.
CRUSADERS: O’Neill, McKeown, Magowan, Coates, McBride, Morrow, Watson (Rainey, 46), Caddell, Dallas, McMaster (Gibson, 88), Owens (Adamson, 66)
Subs not used: Snoddy, Gargan
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, O’Neill, Montgomery, E Friars, Gallagher, Funston (McMinn, 87), Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Topley, Ward (S Friars, 58), Brolly (S Lavery, 73)
Subs not used: McClean, Murphy
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
Carling Premiership – Dungannon Swifts -v- Ballymena United – 10.04.12
The Kick Off time of our game v Ballymena on Easter Tuesday 10th April 2012 is now 3.00pm.
Semi Final Information.
Can we remind everyone that the Irish Cup Semi Final on Saturday is ALL TICKET if you do not have a ticket you will not be permitted to the ground!
Tickets available in the clubhouse and from CR PRINT for the Irish Cup Semi Final v Crusaders. Come out and support the Swifts in what is only our second ever Irish Cup Semi final!
Tickets £12 Adults and £6 concessions. Supporters club are running bus for £5, Bus tickets can be obtained along with your match ticket.
Dungannon Swifts v Crusaders – Saturday 31st March at Mourenview Park Lurgan. Kick off 3pm.
Dungannon Swifts fans will be situated in the Geddis Stand at Mourenview park, which is the Glenavon home stand.
Dungannon Swifts Head Coach, Darren Murphy, First Team Coach, Rodney McAree and Club Chairman, Mr.Joe McAree are pictured with Niall Morgan and Stefan Lavery who signed new deals which see them both contracted to the Swifts until the end of the 2013/14 season.
Full story can be found in past news articles.
Ballymena United 1-1 Dungannon Swifts
The slow crawl towards Premiership safety continues for Dungannon Swifts after they secured another vital point at Ballymena United. A rare goal from Michael Funston and a less surprising strike from Sky Blues top-scorer Gary McCutcheon saw this fixture end in a 1-1 draw for the third time this season. It was a credible result for Dungannon, who have now lost just one of their last six matches. However, its value was somewhat lessened by surprise victories for two of their main relegation rivals, Lisburn Distillery and Carrick Rangers. And it means that with just six weeks of the season remaining, it is still far from clear which team is facing the drop following another dramatic weekend. As head coach Darren Murphy later pointed out, what other teams do is out of Swifts’ control. Instead their priority is to secure as many points as possible from the final seven games – starting tomorrow night at Donegal Celtic. This was a game Murphy will feel they should have won. After weathering some first half pressure, Dungannon snatched the lead through Funston – only to concede a dreadful equaliser on the stroke of half-time. With 14 minutes remaining Ballymena fullback Tony Kane was sent off for a senseless clash of heads, handing the initiative back to their opponents. And they had a strong case for a late penalty when Ryan Harpur was taken down in the box, only to see it rejected by visiting Welsh referee Richard Harrington. So the weekend ends with Swifts now just four points ahead of basement side Carrick, although that gap will be stretched if they win their game in hand against DC. Despite not bagging three points, Murphy can still take positives from Saturday’s match. His side started brightly and had an early chance as Ryan O’Neill crossed to Johnny Topley, whose wayward header should have at least hit the target. Moments later O’Neill directed a free-kick from JP Gallagher wide of goal.. Ballymena’s first chance came in the 18th minute following a foul on Alan Jenkins, however the goalkeeper got down to block Alan Davidson’s free-kick. Niall Morgan followed that up with an impressive double-save soon afterwards, beating away rasping efforts from Davidson and Alan Teggart. But it was Dungannon who edged ahead in the 30th minute after some less impressive goalkeeping by their former number one, Dwayne Nelson. He failed to collect a deep cross under pressure from Marc Brolly, dropping the ball at the feet of Funston who fired home into the empty net. Harpur then tested Nelson’s confidence with a neat turn and shot, but the ‘keeper kept his concentration and made a textbook save. However, Swifts’ hopes suffered a setback when Ballymena equalised with the final kick of the half. It was a comedy of errors as a needless corner was not collected by Morgan. McCutcheon headed against the post and was then left free to fire home the rebound. That briefly brought Ballymena to life in the early stages of the second half. Jenkins had two chances, heading wide from a James Costello cross before miscuing from a glorious position following another Costello delivery. However, the initiative swung back Swifts’ way, and Funston lost his footing at the vital time as he tried to take Brolly’s through ball around the ‘keeper. The dismissal of Kane, stupidly sent off for clashing with Gallagher, was a further boost to Dungannon. Brolly tested Nelson with a 30-yard effort while Harpur was denied a penalty after being fouled by Chris Rodgers as the game ended in controversy and stalemate.
BALLYMENA UTD: Nelson, Kane, Black, A Davidson (Taggart, 68), McCutcheon, Jenkins, Carson (Costello, 46), Teggart (J Davidson, 83), Munster, Taylor, Rodgers Subs not used: Stewart, Lowry
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery, E Friars, Gallagher, Funston (S Lavery, 87), Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Topley, Ward (S Friars, 64), Brolly Subs not used: McMinn, Murphy, C Forker
Referee: Richard Harrington (Wales)