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.
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)
Dungannon Swifts v Crusaders on Saturday 31st March 2012
Dungannon Swifts are just 90 minutes from another appearance in the Irish Cup final after edging past Donegal Celtic at the second attempt.
A stunning goal from teenager Stefan Lavery was the difference in a tight quarter-final replay at Stangmore Park on Monday night.
It took Dungannon into the semi-finals for only the second time, and a step nearer to exorcising the ghost of their 2007 cup final defeat to Linfield.
They will now play Crusaders on March 31 for a place in the final.
Head coach Darren Murphy believed Dungannon’s second half performance merited the win.
“In the first half it was a tight game but we asked the players to do a few things differently at half-time and they did that,” he said.
“Once we got ahead DC had to change their game plan. They came forward and we created a few more chances and could have had a few more goals.
“But overall in cup football the most important thing is the result and for us to be in the semi-finals is absolutely fantastic for the club.”
The winning goal was scored in the 59th minute by Lavery, who signed a new two-year contract with Dungannon last Thursday.
He was released by a long goal kick and, showing pace and skill, eased past Kevin Keegan before squeezing the ball home from an almost impossible angle.
“Stefan might be small in stature but he is brave and doesn’t shirk a challenge,” added Murphy.
“The ball was knocked up and Stefan managed to get between their defender and the goalkeeper, and it was a fantastic finish from a really tight angle.
“It’s capped off a really good week for Stefan, who has just signed a new deal at the club.”
A late goal from Conor Forker had taken this tie to a replay after a thrilling first game in West Belfast, but the striker found himself on the bench on Monday night.
He watched on as both teams made a positive start, with Robert Robinson producing a fine save to turn JP Gallagher’s early strike around the post.
Ryan Henderson then tested Niall Morgan with an effort from the edge of the box.
A superb move involving Darren Murray and Henderson then set up Kieran O’Connor, but the DC midfielder steered his strike wide of goal.
Unfortunately the game didn’t live up to its early promise, degenerating into a midfield scrap.
A curling strike from Stephen McAlorum was pushed away by the ‘keeper in the 34th minute, before Ryan Harpur’s long-range effort forced Robert Robinson into action moments later.
The early stages of the second half brought little improvement – until Lavery’s stunning strike.
Dungannon were now controlling the game, albeit they struggled to land chances on the visitors’ goal.
The visitors almost snatched an equaliser through Paul McVeigh, but Morgan stretched out a hand to tip his strike around the post.
Michael Ward had two late chances to seal Swifts’ progress.
First he was played through by Marc Brolly but the goalkeeper made a vital interception, then in the final minute he shot straight at Robinson rather than squaring to Harpur.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery, E Friars, Gallagher, Ward (C Forker, 90), Harpur, Fitzpatrick, Brolly, S Lavery (Funston, 70), Topley
Subs not used: L Donnelly, Murphy, McClean
DONEGAL CELTIC: Robinson, Keegan (McAllister, 63), Harkness, Bradley, McNamee, Burns, O’Connor (Bradley, 56), McAlorum, Henderson (C Murray, 77), P McVeigh, D Murray
Subs not used: G McVeigh, O’Hara
Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast)
Donegal Celtic v Dungannon Swifts fixture which was postponed today has been rearranged for Tuesday 20th March.
kick off 7.45pm