Dungannon Swifts capture Irish Cup for first time

Dungannon Swifts 1

Cliftonville 1

(Dungannon won 4-3 on pens)

Dungannon Swifts exorcised the ghost of 2007 by capturing the Clearer Water Irish Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

This time it was penalty ecstacy instead of penalty agony as Swifts defeated Cliftonville 4-3 in the dreaded shootout after the showpiece decider finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Declan Dunne was the hero. The Swifts keeper pulled off a number of saves in extra-time before saving spot kicks by Shea Kearney and Luke Conlon.

Before today Swifts had appeared in just one final when they suffered penalty heartbreak against Linfield back in 2007.

But here the emotion was one of joy and jubilation as over 4000 Swifts supporters celebrated with their team at the final whistle.

In truth Dungannon had to do it the hard way. Right-back Stephen Scott was harshly sent off for a second yellow on 69 minutes and in the first minute of stoppage-time Kearney rifled home an equaliser from just outside the box to cancel out John McGovern’s first half opener.

The Reds had the better of the opening exchanges with Ryan Curran failing to hit the target when well placed.

Swifts though soon gained a foothold and on 23 minutes Rodney McAree’s team took the lead. James Knowles floated a corner kick into the middle of the six yard box and McGovern arrived right on cue to head home.

The Tyrone side should have doubled their advantage just eight minutes later. Kealan Dillon and Leo Alves combined on the left and the latter cut the ball back to Mitchell, who controlled and rifled inches over.

Curran had two attempts blocked late in the half and on the resumption of the second period Swifts defender Danny Wallace took the ball off Joe Gormley’s boot as he prepared to pull the trigger.

At the other end Dean Curry headed a Knowles corner the wrong side of a post before Kearney volleyed just over for the Reds.

Following Scott’s sending off Cliftonville piled on the pressure and in the first minute of stoppage-time Kearney did find the target by arrowing to Dunne’s bottom right corner.

In extra-time Dunne denied Casey and Hale before Gael Bigirimana cleared off the line to take the tie to penalties.

In the shootout Bigirimana, Alves, Glenny and Bermingham all scored and Dunne did the rest!

Teams

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne; Scott; Curry; Wallace; Glenny; Knowles (McGinty 72); Dillon (Hutchinson 79 (Bermingham 120); Alves; Bigirimana; Mitchell (Galvin 72); McGovern (Boyd 91).

Subs not used: Henderson; Maguire.

Cliftonville: Odumosu; Addis: Kearney: Conlon; Keaney; Wilson (Corrigan 79); Casey (Pepper 106); Gordon (Piesold 56); Hale; Curran (Parsons 56); Gormley (McWoods 79).

Subs not used: Ridd.

Referee: Ian McNabb