APART from avoiding champions and early leaders Linfield, Dungannon Swifts could hardly have been handed a tougher first few matches in the new Danske Bank Premiership campaign.
The Tyrone team will face the other five clubs that made up last season’s top six in their opening six games, with their visitors at the weekend, Ballymena United, the only exception.
Dean Shiels’s side opened away to Crusaders, losing 5-1, and were beaten 2-0 at by the Braidmen Stangmore Park on Saturday afternoon.
Tonight (7.45pm) they host Glentoran, who inflicted a 3-1 loss on the Crues at the Oval on Friday night, before travelling to Cliftonville, welcoming high-flying Coleraine, and then going to Larne.
The Swifts had the leakiest defence in the league last season, shipping more than two goals per games on average, a total of 86 – seven more than relegated Warrenpoint Town.
Shiels knew he had to address that, and among his seven summer signings were defenders Dean Curry, Michael Ruddy, Mayowa Animasahun, and Darren Cole. The boss played with the versatile Cole at both Rangers and Derry City, and he can operate anywhere on the left side, including in midfield.
Curry, Ruddy, and Cole are aged 27, 29, and 30, bringing much-needed experience to a young squad, although Cole is on loan from Glentoran so is not expected to face his parent club tonight. Former Institute captain Curry, signed from Ballinamallard United, came in for Garry Breen to face Ballymena, so the 33-year-old is an option to return to the centre of defence.
The Swifts have also signed attacker Michael O’Connor, so Shiels will be expected to move them away from the bottom end of the table, even though the fixture schedule has made that a difficult task. The 24-year-old agreed a two-year deal to move from Glentoran, having previously been with Dundalk, Ross County, Linfield, and Shamrock Rovers, so brings big club experience in an Irish context.
So far the Swifts’ new-look defence has not gelled and the lively Glens will look forward to playing on the newly-laid surface at Stangmore, confident after their win over the Crues and an opening draw at Larne.
There are three other matches tonight, also 7.45pm kick-offs, with Coleraine aiming to maintain their 100 per cent start away to Carrick Rangers, having opened up with victory over Cliftonville then won 2-0 at Portadown.
Ballymena host last season’s runners-up Cliftonville while Portadown, who – like the Swifts and Newry City – have yet to pick up a point, go to Seaview.
