Conor Mullen’s first touch in league football was a decisive one, a winning one.
The teenager, a regular scorer at reserve and youth level this season, showed he can transfer that potential to the main stage by hitting a late winner at Coleraine.
Mullen was handed his debut six minutes from the end, at a time when a conservative change may have been a more persuasive option for Dungannon manager Darren Murphy.
Gary Browne had just levelled for Coleraine, finally applying a clinical edge to the Bannsiders’ promising but wasteful approach play.
But rather than settle for what would still have been a useful point, Murphy gambled, sending on Mullen in a move which was richly rewarded.
The win takes Dungannon to eighth in the table, although the relegation equation continues to change by the week.
Institute, their opponents tomorrow night, sit bottom, with Ballinamallard and Warrenpoint making up a four-way battle for survival.
The match itself was scrappy at times with conditions hardly favouring a free-flowing game.
Coleraine enjoyed spells of good possession but struggled to turn their dominance of the ball into clear-cut chances.
An example came inside the first minute when Ian Parkhill fed Shane McGinty, but the midfielder dragged his shot beyond the far post.
Dungannon’s opening effort came from a free-kick 30 yards from goal, but Ryan Harpur’s effort was safely gathered by Michael Doherty.
Some neat footwork from Andrew Mitchell saw him lift the ball over Stephen Douglas, but his finish did not match the impressive approach play and failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
McGinty went close again after cutting in from the right, only to drag his shot wide of the mark once more.
Coleraine hadn’t won any of their last five games and fell behind in the 27th minute.
Grant Hutchinson broke down the left and delivered a superb cross to pick out Mitchell, who headed home from close range.
The home side’s best chance of the half came seven minutes later.
Aaron Canning’s long ball found its way through to Matthew Snoddy. He tried to round Andy Coleman but the goalkeeper recovered to parry his effort away.
The game followed a similar pattern in the second half.
David Armstrong, celebrating his 28th birthday, marked the occasion with a great block tackle to thwart Mark Miskimmin.
Coleraine were proving wasteful in front of goal, and they spurned another glorious chance on 63 minutes.
Neil McCafferty’s pass reached Parkhill in the box, however, the striker could only deflect the ball wide of the target.
As the rain poured down, Coleraine’s frustration grew, and they struggled to break down a well organised Dungannon defence.
However, all that changed 10 minutes from the end.
A long goal kick from Doherty caught out the visitors’ back line, allowing Browne to race clear and coolly slot past Coleman.
So often this season late goals have been a feature of Dungannon games, and this one would be no different.
Unlike most other times, however, the Tyrone side were the beneficiaries as Mullen marked his debut by scoring the winner.
The home defence hesitated rather than dealing with a ball from the left, and Mullen poked home from close range with his first touch.
COLERAINE: Doherty, Hegarty, Douglas, Snoddy, McCafferty, McGinty, Canning, Mullan, Parkhill (Browne, 69), Miskimmin (Lyons, 82), Kane
Subs not used: Watt, Barton, Findlay
DGN SWIFTS: Coleman, Lowe, Wilson, Armstrong, Burns (Brennan, 25), McCullough, Hutchinson, Hazley, Harpur, Douglas (Mullen, 84), Mitchell (Liggett, 52)
Subs not used: O’Rourke, Fitzpatrick
Referee: Mervyn Smyth (Belfast)