by DSFC Media | Jan 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
It was another afternoon of capital punishment for Dungannon Swifts as an Aaron Burns hat-trick saw Linfield cruise to a comfortable victory.
The Blues maintained their stranglehold at the top of the league with a 20th win of the campaign – but Rodney McAree will be sorely disappointed at his side’s lacklustre performance.
Windsor Park is not an easy venue and this was hardly a fixture McAree would have expected to profit from, with Linfield dropping just four points in 11 home matches this season.
Yet he would have hoped for more fight and effort from his side, who never looked like coming back once Burns broke the deadlock after 32 minutes.
It was a goal which summed up Swifts’ careless performance, with the midfielder allowed to drift unchallenged past three players before coolly finding the net.
Burns then added another two in the second half – a close-range finish followed by a classy third – to keep the Blues well on track for another title.
Meanwhile, Dungannon’s priority is simply to stay in the division.
Two of their three main relegation rivals lost at the weekend – only Carrick Rangers secured a point – so this defeat was not as costly as it could have been.
But all three are in action before Swifts’ next game against Crusaders tomorrow week, and by that stage they could conceivably be bottom of the table.
The turning point in this game perhaps came not when Linfield scored, but the injury to Stefan Lavery which forced the teenager off late in the first half.
Lavery’s pace had been a real threat, an example coming inside five minutes when he seared past veteran Linfield defender William Murphy.
But the 18-year-old, one of two additions to the side which faced Larne in the cup, exited Windsor Park on crutches after being on the wrong end of a crunching tackle.
Without him Swifts’ attack just didn’t carry the same pace or threat.
By contrast Linfield looked dangerous when they found a way through the visitors’ packed midfield.
Burns drew the first save from Niall Morgan after 10 minutes via a superb free-kick, with the goalkeeper pushing the ball away from the top corner.
Soon afterwards Albert Watson played a back pass straight to Dungannon midfielder Michael McKerr. Unfortunately the angle was tight and he couldn’t manage a shot on target.
Linfield again threatened midway through the half after Robert Garrett slipped a great ball through to Burns, and he drew another fine stop from Morgan.
A free-kick from Sean Friars sailed over the home crossbar, before Johnny Topley came to Swifts’ rescue when he deflected Murphy’s header clear of danger.
However, the pressure was growing and on 32 minutes the Blues broke through.
A dashing run from Burns saw him cut through midfield, beating a series of Dungannon players before planting a right-foot strike past the ‘keeper.
And it almost got worse minutes later. A free-kick found Philip Lowry and his shot was blocked by Morgan, with Michael Carvill’s follow-up hitting the upright.
The Linfield pressure continued in the second half, and Burns made it 2-0 after 54 minutes.
Unlike his first, it was a simple finish, with the teenager perfectly placed in the box to sweep Carvill’s square pass beyond a helpless Morgan.
The game was slipping from Dungannon, and Burns could have sealed his treble two minutes later.
A mix-up in the visitors’ back line allowed Garrett through. After being forced wide he set up Burns, but his shot was deflected over by Ryan O’Neill.
Dungannon’s only attempt on goal came via Topley, whose 25-yard effort was easily saved.
And the Blues ensured there would be no comeback with a third goal in the 69th minute.
Jamie Mulgrew played the ball through for Burns, who beat the offside trap and broke clear before steering a low strike just inside the far post.
LINFIELD: Blayney, Douglas, Murphy, Lowry, Thompson (Fordyce, 80), Carvill (Browne, 82), BJ Burns, A Burns, Garrett, Mulgrew (Casement, 75), Watson
Subs not used: Armstrong, Addis
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery (L Donnelly, 80), Gallagher, McClean, Harpur, S Friars, S Lavery (Campbell, 38), Fitzpatrick, Topley, McKerr (Funston, 64)
Subs not used: Murphy, McMinn
Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast)
by DSFC Media | Jan 22, 2012 | Uncategorized
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt4ckdPS0F0?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375]
Linfield 3-0 Dungannon Swifts
Aaron Burns with a hat trick sealed the win for Linfield.
Full report to follow soon. Check our gallery for all the match photos.
by DSFC Media | Jan 17, 2012 | Uncategorized
Rodney McAree has added his sixth new face to the squad at Stangmore Park. Defender Thomas Heffernan, who has previously played for the Swifts, is McAree’s latest recruit.
Thomas signed for the Swifts from Dublin side Donagh Celtic who play in the amateur League. Twenty Seven year old Heffernan is a good attacking full back who will add strength to the squad. Most of the older Swifts fans will remember Thomas from his previous spell at Stangmore Park.
Thomas who comes from Monaghan currently works for the FAI as a development coach. We would like to welcome him back to Stangmore Park and wish him every success at the club.
by DSFC Media | Jan 17, 2012 | Uncategorized
Swifts winger PJ Lavery would like to pass on his thanks to everyone who kindly contributed to the donation that was presented to him before Christmas.
After sustaining a double leg break in the Quarter Final of the Mid Ulster Cup v Annagh United in early December, PJ Lavery has since been in a full leg cast. Dungannon Swifts Supporters, Committee and players were all very generous to PJ with their kind donation and he can not express enough how much he appreciates their generosity!
Thank you to everyone who kindly donated.
by DSFC Media | Jan 17, 2012 | Uncategorized
A double from Sean Friars saw Dungannon Swifts advance to the last 16 of the Irish Cup and a meeting with giant-killers Newington YC.
The 2007 finalists kicked off their quest for glory with a relatively straightforward victory as Larne’s hopes of an upset were thwarted at Stangmore Park.
Although they took a shock first-half lead, the Championship side’s dreams were quickly crushed as Dungannon came storming back.
Friars equalised within nine minutes before 18-year-old substitute Stefan Lavery blasted them into a second half lead with a stunning individual strike.
And their passage was sealed when Friars added a third late on.
Next up is a home tie against Newington, who caused one of the biggest shocks in Irish Cup history by dumping out Glentoran at the weekend.
Any team which triumphs at the Oval deserves respect, but manager Rodney McAree will privately be content to have been drawn against the amateur side.
While the league remains his priority, this was another step in the right direction.
The victory will boost confidence ahead of a difficult trip to Linfield this weekend, while four of the club’s January signings produced encouraging displays.
Friars, however, stole the headlines with his double – taking his tally to three goals in two games.
His classy equaliser in the 39thminute helped calm Swifts’ nerves after Larne had taken a surprise lead.
Gary Workman lost possession in his own half and Johnny Topley slipped the ball through for Friars, who took a touch before converting with a left-foot strike.
Nine minutes earlier, Larne had silenced the home fans by stealing a shock lead.
Workman broke from midfield, feeding possession out to overlapping full-back Jamie Marsh, and he drove the ball across the box for Paul Maguire to slot home.
It came against the run of play, with Dungannon dominant up to that point.
They could have opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Ryan Harpur met a Craig McClean cross, but the midfielder directed his header just over.
Friars and Michael Ward then combined to find Michael McKerr on the right wing, with his low effort flashing dangerously across goal.
But Dungannon’s best chances came midway through the half.
First a poor clearance from Larne goalkeeper Brian Neeson dropped to Friars, and his attempt to find the unguarded net landed just wide.
Seconds later McKerr had an even better opportunity. It arrived via another threatening cross from McClean, but Neeson stretched out a hand to tip the midfielder’s effort wide.
It took Larne 27 minutes to force an effort on target. A foul on Niall McAllister drew a free-kick, with Mark Brown’s effort demanding a fine stop from the goalkeeper.
The goal from Maguire followed from the next attack, but it always seemed only a matter of time before Dungannon hit back.
Friars’ equaliser should have signalled a more comfortable second half – yet the visitors had two great chances to retake the lead after the restart.
A long goal-kick was flicked on by Sencer Yilmaz for Maguire, but his chip over Niall Morgan landed on the wrong side of the far post.
Another pass caught out the home defence minutes later. Again Yilmaz fed Maguire and his first strike was blocked by the ‘keeper before the second was cleared off the line.
Those chances jolted Dungannon into action, and another flash of quality produced the second goal.
A probing kick was flicked on for Lavery, and the teenager’s pace took him past Robbie White before he crashed a stunning strike high into the net.
Dungannon had a series of great chances to kill off the tie.
Friars dragged a shot just wide, Ward saw an effort deflected onto the roof of the net, Topley blazed high while Darren Murphy was denied by the ‘keeper.
Those missed opportunities mattered little, however, with Friars sealing Swifts’ passage when he made it 3-1 from Murphy’s cross.
DGN SWIFTS: Morgan, O’Neill, Montgomery, Gallagher, McClean, McKerr (S Lavery, 46), Harpur, Topley, Brolly (Murphy, 67), Ward (Funston, 85), S Friars
Subs not used: Fitzpatrick, P Donnelly
LARNE: Neeson, Marsh, Brown, White, Carland, McAllister, Workman (Steele, 66), Young, Maguire, Yilmaz, Lemon (Dick, 58)
Subs not used: Moore, McClean, Todd
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)
