Dungannon Swifts secured a place in the Irish Cup final on Friday night, edging Cliftonville 4‑2 in a tense penalty shootout after a 1‑1 draw in extra‑time at Windsor Park. Kealan Dillon’s extra‑time strike gave the Swifts the lead, but Cliftonville equalised in stoppage time, forcing penalties where Dungannon converted all four attempts.
How did the match unfold?
Both sides started cautiously, with Cliftonville’s Jonny Addis testing the Swifts keeper early on. Dungannon’s first real chance came after the hour mark when Dillon’s midfield pass found Shea Gordon, whose shot was saved by PJ Morrison. In the second half, Dungannon’s Gael Bigirimana tried a long‑range effort that flew straight at the Reds keeper.
Who made the difference?
The decisive moment arrived in the 98th minute of extra‑time when Andrew Mitchell delivered a low cross to Kealan Dillon, who smashed the ball past Morrison for a 1‑0 lead. Cliftonville responded quickly; a corner from Keevan Hawthorne was flicked home by Joe Sheridan and defender Danny Wallace in the final seconds, sending the game to penalties.
What happened in the shootout?
Dungannon showed composure, slotting all four of their spot‑kicks. Cliftonville missed twice – Joe Sheridan’s effort was saved and Harry Wilson’s shot drifted wide – handing the Swifts a clean shootout victory and a ticket to the final.
What’s next for the Swifts?
The Swifts now await the winner of the other semi‑final between Coleraine and Larne. Their next fixture is away at Carrick Rangers on 2026‑12‑12, where they sit 12th in the league table. With momentum on their side, Dungannon Swifts are poised to chase a historic back‑to‑back Irish Cup triumph.
