It was third time lucky for Dungannon Swifts as they collected their first victory of the new season against 10-man Glenavon on Friday night.
After opening the campaign with two draws, a Sean Friars header secured three points following a keenly-contested Mid-Ulster derby at Mourneview Park.
The game itself was a forgettable affair with plenty of effort but little goalmouth action.
Having battled for over an hour with 10 men following Kyle Neill’s harsh dismissal, Glenavon will feel aggrieved not to have taken something from the game.
Rather than sit back, the Lurgan club seized the initiative and hit the post twice, with Dungannon benefitting from some long overdue good fortune.
Glenavon will, however, be disappointed that it took Neill’s sending-off and Friars’ opener to jolt them into action after a poor opening half hour.
For Dungannon, the main positives were a first win and clean sheet of the campaign.
Jonny Curran, preferred to Niall Morgan in goals, made one smart stop to deny Mark Haughey in the first half but otherwise was rarely tested.
In midfield, Matt Hazley and Michael McKerr offered an attacking threat, with the latter underlining his value to the team if he can stay injury free.
A shower before kick-off led to problems for players with several slip-ups in the early minutes – one of them leading to the opening chance.
Sean McCashin failed to cut out McKerr’s pass and Stephen O’Neill ran through, however his near-post strike was parried wide by the goalkeeper.
The same two players combined soon afterwards as McKerr crossed for O’Neill but the striker, on the stretch, was unable to get enough contact on the ball.
Glenavon’s hopes then suffered a double blow with two setbacks in as many minutes.
First a flash of skill and pace from McKerr beat Neill for pace, allowing him to cross to the back post where an unmarked Friars headed home.
Neill almost responded immediately, heading Gary Hamilton’s corner just over.
But the full-back’s night took another turn for the worse when he was sent off. Already booked for a foul on Hazley, he was dismissed for impeding McKerr.
It took 36 minutes for Swifts’ goal to come under pressure. A corner from Hamilton evaded the ‘keeper but Ciaran Doherty headed wide.
O’Neill then had the ball in the Glenavon net, but the assistant referee correctly judged that the striker had moved too early and ruled the effort out for offside.
Just before the interval, a Hamilton header set up Haughey on the edge of the visitors’ box, but his powerful strike was well blocked by Curran.
Glenavon’s best spell came early in the second half.
After Guy Bates had powered a free-kick over, Eddie McCallion took a pass from Brendan Shannon and rattled the crossbar with a stinging drive.
And Dungannon were reliant on the woodwork saving them again soon afterwards.
A Hamilton free-kick was met by Doherty whose half-volley struck the post. The rebound dropped for Andy McGrory before bouncing to safety.
Perhaps Glenavon sensed it wasn’t their night, and maybe Dungannon realised that they needed to be more aware at the back.
Whatever the reason, the final half hour failed to produce any clear-cut chances.
The home threat faded while Swifts were unable to add to their lead, with O’Neill and then Emmet Friars forcing efforts on target without success.
Late on Hamilton drew a save from Curran with a neat turn and shot, but Dungannon easily held on.
MATCH PHOTOS : https://dungannonswiftsfc.comgallery/2012-2013/
GLENAVON: Coleman, Neill, McCashin, Haughey (White, 90), McCallion, Hamilton, Doherty, Kilmartin, McGrory (Hynes, 82), Burrows (Shannon, 35), Bates
Subs not used: Singleton, Brown
DGN SWIFTS: Curran, Brennan (R O’Neill, 57), E Friars, McMinn, Grieve, McKerr, Fitzpatrick, Hazley (C Lavery, 75), Hutchinson, S O’Neill, S Friars (Gawley, 69)
Subs not used: Topley, S Lavery
Referee: Andrew Davey
