Dungannon Swifts faced a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Coleraine in the Irish Cup final, as manager Rodney McAree praised his team's exceptional performance despite the loss. The Swifts were determined to defend their title but fell short, with goals from Paul Doyle and Andy Mitchell not enough to secure victory. McAree expressed his devastation over the result but highlighted the team's strong showing, especially in the first half, where they created numerous opportunities. He emphasized the need for his players to be more clinical in front of goal and to avoid conceding preventable goals. Looking ahead, Dungannon Swifts will shift their focus to the European play-off, where they aim to secure a spot in European football for the second consecutive season. They will face Carrick Rangers in the quarter-final on May 6, with hopes of progressing further in the tournament. McAree remains confident in his squad's ability to respond positively to this setback, reinforcing the strong bond within the team as they prepare for the challenges ahead.