Irish Cup Final: Ten-man Swifts seal historic victory on penalties

Dungannon produced a stunning display of grit, character and defiance to win their historic first ever Irish Cup on penalties.

Having led at the break through John McGovern’s header, Rodney McAree’s side saw Steven Scott harshly sent off in the second period before Shea Kearney levelled matters in stopping time with a stunning long-range effort.

The Swifts clung on and battled ferociously through extra-time to take the tie to penalties, where goalkeeper Declan Dunne – who had produced a number of super saves already – added two more to give his side their day in the Windsor Park sun.

It’s a day that will go down in Dungannon folklore – especially given that the only other time they have made the decider, in 2007, they lost on penalties to Linfield.

Holders Cliftonville started off the better of the two sides, but it took until 20 minutes for the first clear-cut chance of the match to arrive.

After Dean Curry’s close-range effort for the Swifts had been deflected harmlessly into the hands of David Odumosu, Cliftonville should have gone in front.

A cleverly worked free-kick in and around the Dungannon box saw Ryan Curran picked out, but he screwed his left-foot effort wide from 12 yards out.

After that, the Swifts settled into the tie, and with Gael Bigirimana controlling the tie from the middle of the park, they deservedly took the lead on 23 minutes.

For all their good football, it was a set-piece that the goal came from as James Knowles curled in a dangerous corner from the left. McGovern rose highest in a crowded six-yard box to nod home.

The Swifts pressed well and forced the issue when they needed to for the remainder of the half and almost doubled their lead four minutes before the break.

They won a free-kick just outside the box on the left and Knowles forced Odumosu into a smart save low to his right.

Dungannon went close again eight minutes into the second period, when Curry glanced his header just wide from another excellent Knowles corner.

However, it was the Reds who were the dominant force after the break, despite failing to trouble Declan Dunne on a regular basis.

They were given a helping hand on 69 minutes when Dungannon right-back Steven Scott fouled Rory Hale and Referee Ian McNabb adjudged it to be worthy of a second yellow card for the young defender.

The North Belfast men went as close as they had come all match to scoring 10 minutes from time when Luke Conlan's header smashed off the crossbar and out for a goal kick from six yards out.

Then just seconds after Dunne had made a stunning stop to deny Axel Piesold’s rasping effort from the edge of the box at the start of time added on, Kearney struck the leveller.

He rifled home an unstoppable effort from 25 yards out, through a crowd of player and into the bottom left-hand corner, giving Dunne no chance, to send the tie to extra-time.

Six minutes into the first period, Dunne had to be alert once more to deny Odhran Casey’s glancing header from finding the net after Rory Hale's corner on the right.

Then, with just two minutes of extra-time remaining, Bigirimina produced an unbelievable goal-line clearance to deny Cliftonville sub Eric McWoods from six yards.

Then came the shoot-out with Dunne saving the firsy spot-kik from Kearney and the last from Conlan.

The emotions were clear to see from all connected to the County Tyrone club, with Manager Rodney McAree falling to the floor in the technical area overcome with joy. This is his club and the pain of shoot-out defeat in the 2007 final – which he played and scored in 0 now firmly erased as new memories were made.

MATCH STATS

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Conlan, Casey (Pepper 106), Keaney, Kearney, Wilson (McWoods 79), Gordon (Piesold 56), Hale (C), Gormley (Corrigan 79), Curran (Parsons 56, Glynn 87))

Subs not used: Ridd

Dungannon Swifts: Dunne, Scott, Glenny, Curry (C), Wallace, Bigirimana, Dillon (Hutchinson 79, Bermingham 120)), Knowles (McGinty 71), Alves, Mitchell (Galvin 71), McGovern (Boyd 91)

Subs not used: Henderson, Maguire

Referee: Ian McNabb

Attendance: 12,766