Danske Bank Premiership: Newry City 0 Dungannon Swifts 2
THE relegation fight in the Danske Bank Premiership got all the more interesting as Dungannon Swifts moved level on points with 10th-placed Newry City, with a 2-0 win at The Showgrounds.
Newry still hold the advantage on goal difference, but having been 11 points clear earlier in the season, all the momentum is now with Dean Shiels’ side, who put in an outstanding away performance against an equally dismal Newry effort.
The first chance of the game came the way of Dungannon, when Gerardo Bruna’s whipped cross from deep was met by Michael O’Connor, but his header drifted harmlessly wide of the post.
As the half wore on, Newry controlled much of the ball, but were unable to work Swifts shot-stopper, and this was typified when John McGovern broke free inside the box and from right of the posts squared the ball across the face of goal, but nobody was there to tap home for the home side.
Newry created two further half-chances, with Donal Scullion firing a low free-kick wide, and James Teelan lifting a long-range effort over the bar, and the hosts were punished for their profligacy three minutes before half-time, as O’Connor supplied Marc Walsh, who blasted past Niall Brady in a one on one.
Ten minutes into the second half, McGovern stung the fingertips of Declan Dunne with an effort from the edge of the box, but things went from bad to worse for Newry when Dale Montgomery tripped Walsh inside the box and Dungannon were awarded a penalty on the hour mark.
James Knowles was the man tasked from 12 yards, and he stepped up to the spot and blasted home past Brady to put further daylight between the sides.
In the final 30 minutes Dungannon cruised to victory. Just as had happened last week against Carrick Rangers, Newry never looked like coming back into the game, and failed to test Dunne late-on, and Dungannon’s Joseph McCready almost put the icing on the cake in stoppage time but hit the foot of the post.
Also on Friday night, Glentoran continued their revival with a 3-1 win at Ballymena.
Rory Donnelly scored a quickfire double in the second half after his brother Jay Donnelly had cancelled out Sean Graham's opener.
Dungannon: Dunne, Knowles, O’Connor (McCready 81), Campbell (Coyle 81), McGinty, Walsh (Mayse 73), Ruddy (Curry 90+3), McGee, Jenkins (Scott 90+3), Animasahun, Bruna.
Newry: Brady, King, N Healy, McGivern, Hughes (Carville 63), Teelan (Adeymo 63), McGovern, Moan (Sloan 53), Donnelly, Scullion, Montgomery (B Healy 86).
Referee: K Kennedy.
