Clearer Water Irish Cup semi-final
Bangor 0-2 Dungannon Swifts
Seaview, 29th March 2025
Attendance: 2,798
Tears in the dug-out, tears in the stands, tears on the pitch…
And 24 hours later, a few sore heads too after an unforgettable night for all associated with the mighty Dungannon Swifts Football Club.
Only once before have fans, coaches and players woken to the realisation that they will be taking their place in the showpiece event in the domestic sporting calendar, the Irish Cup final.
That was 18 years ago, and ended in the agony of defeat on a penalty shoot-out.
Among the scorers against Linfield that day was Rodney McAree, head coach and lifelong fan, and as the minutes ticked down in yesterday’s tense 2-0 victory over Bangor at Seaview, he admitted the emotions were getting the better of himself, Dixie Robinson and all the coaching staff as they waited for the final whistle.
”It’s something I have dreamt of all my life. Obviously I’m a Dungannon Swifts lad, I used to go from the age of probably three and stand on a chair and play pool when my dad was cleaning the clubhouse,” he said.
”It’s been my club. I always had an ambition that I wanted to play in an Irish Cup final with Dungannon Swifts and as soon as I started doing my coaching badges, I knew that I wanted to be a manager or head coach in an Irish Cup final.
”To be head coach of Dungannon Swifts and go to an Irish Cup final on 3rd May is something special and it’s something that I’ll take great pride in.
”There was actually a few tears in the dugout with three or four minutes to go.”
With the final whistle, all that emotion, pent up from years and years of trying to reach this point, spilled out on the pitch and in the stands as players and fans embraced, sang, cheered, clapped and just drank in the sheer unadulterated joy of the occasion.
The game itself? It hardly seems to matter now, but it had been another highly professional performance from a supremely talented, well-drilled and committed group of Dungannon players.In difficult conditions in north Belfast, with a strong, swirling wind making defending particularly tricky, the Swifts dominated the first half against Championship leaders Bangor, stroking the ball around from the whistle in search of openings.
The first goal came early, on 16 minutes, when a deft through ball by Leo Alves put Andrew Mitchell clear and he lobbed over advancing keeper James Taylor.
Bangor defender Kyle Owens’ attempt to divert the goalbound shot only succeeded in heading it into the net and Dungannon had a deserved lead.
In the second half, with the wind at Bangor’s back this time, the Swifts also managed to carve out good chances for Andrew Mitchell and John McGovern, but weren’t able to extend their lead.
Inevitably, the Seasiders began to test the Dungannon backline, with a series of crosses, corners, free kicks and long throws sending the ball in the danger area.
On each occasion captain Dean Curry and his defensive unit of Wallace, Glenny and Scott repelled the threat, with keeper Dunne not called into any significant saves.
And with the game still in the balance, Dungannon won a corner of their own on 82 minutes and the delivery by Kealan Dillon was met with a thumping header by Curry to make it 2-0 and effectively settle the game.
Cue delirious scenes among the Swifts support and the realisation that a trip to Windsor Park for the Irish Cup final was just minutes away.
Man of the match Curry, described as a ”warrior” by his manager, said he ”knew once the ball left Kealo’s foot that I was going to be on the end of it”.
”I go to the Irish Cup every year with my family, go for a big day out, and now I’ve given them a big day out. I feel emotional talking about it,” he said afterwards.
And for the huge and equally emotional Swifts support, that big day out against holders Cliftonville will be on 3rd May, a chance to make history with a first ever Irish Cup triumph.
Last one out of Dungannon turn the lights off!
Bangor: Taylor, Neale, Owens, Harrison (c), Arthurs, Cushnie (Morgan 70), McArthur (Hughes 76), O’Mahony (McDonagh 84), Hassin, McGuinness, Byers. Unused subs: Fry, Reid, Mathieson, Halliday.
Dungannon Swifts; Dunne, Scott, Curry (c), Knowles (McGinty 72), McGovern, Dillon, Alves, Glenny, Wallace, Mitchell (Galvin 86), Bigirimana. Unused subs: Henderson, Marron, Maguire, Hutchinson, Bermingham.
Referee: Tony Clarke
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