History making Tigers

DUNGANNON Tigers may not have been in action at the weekend but it still proved to be an historic occasion for the club as they will play in the top flight of Mid Ulster football for the first time next season after gaining promotion from Intermediate B.

It’s a journey that has taken 19 years from the founding of the club in 2003/2004 , winning the Lonsdale league before being accepted into the Mid Ulster football league where 3 promotions from Div 4 to Div 1 followed. Then in 2013 the club became an intermediate club and has played in the Intermediate B division ever since, although the team were leading the division last year when the pandemic brought a cancellation of the season much to The Tigers dismay.

The Tigers were inconsistent in the early part of this season but finished with an unbelievable run of results – winning 12 and drawing 2 of their final 14 league games , conceding only 7 goals in that run. The average age of the Tigers squad is just 23 and this bodes well for the future although no doubt the management will be scouring the county and beyond to add new talent and experience for the challenge ahead.

While it has taken 8 seasons to finally make it to the top table it must be stressed that reaching Intermediate A is not journeys end but the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for The Tigers .

The Dungannon side are 1 of only 2 clubs in the entire county in Intermediate football and we now join Fivemiletown United in the premier division of the Mid Ulster league. Our thanks to the players who showed great commitment and resilience throughout the season, to the management team of Jason Toner and Terry McCrory for their diligence and attention to detail, and to fitness coach Johnny Smyth.

The club also wishes to thank DUY and in particular Joe & Rodney McAree and Davy Magee for their help and work. Many thanks also to our sponsors, especially Shield Accident management, Philips Logistics & McAleers Bar as well as our Club lotto participants. Finally thanks to our hard working committee who overseen the inner workings of the club and provided all the tools necessary for the First team to perform and be successful.