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DUNGANNON Swifts boss Rodney McAree said it would be a “dream” if the unfashionable Co Tyrone side could win back-to-back Clearer Water Irish Cups – but admitted Cliftonville pose a tough hurdle in the semi-finals.
In what is a repeat of last year’s final – which the Swifts won on penalties to deny the Reds successive triumphs – the pair will clash on the weekend of April 3/4 after Dungannon beat H&W Welders 3-0 at Stangmore Park and Cliftonville defeated another Championship side, Loughgall, 3-0 at Lakeview Park.
Steven Scott, Shane McGinty and Kobei Moore were on target for the Swifts, while the Reds scorers were Keevan Hawthorne, Shaun Leppard and Liam McStravick.
Coleraine and Larne will meet in a battle of the full-time clubs in the other semi-final after the Bannsiders eased past Limavady United 2-0 at Coleraine Showgrounds, while – on Friday night – the east Antrim outfit knocked Glentoran out on penalties at the Oval after a 1-1 draw.
The two ties will be at neutral venues with Swifts chief McAree suggesting Glenavon’s Mourneview Park for their clash with the Reds.
McAree said: “We were maybe the team everyone was hoping to get. Cliftonville are finding form so it’s a difficult draw but we are looking forward to it.
“Cliftonville will bring big numbers but plenty will follow us too so Mourneview Park might be suitable.”
As for the victory over Paul Kee’s Welders, McAree added: “We did enough to win the game but I was a bit disappointed in our performance levels. We wanted to be in the hat for the semi-finals and we achieved that.”
McAree said back-to-back Irish Cup triumphs – allied with successive Sports Direct Premiership top-six finishes – would be a “dream”.
“We are treating every game as a cup final and they are nice cup finals as we are not looking over our shoulder and worrying about being near the bottom of the league,” he said.
Cliftonville assistant manager Gerard Lyttle admitted it will be a tough semi-final.
“Dungannon are flying at the minute. It will be difficult but we are relishing it,” he said.
“We allowed Loughgall to create chances in the first half but we addressed that at half-time. The players dealt with the conditions well at a difficult place to come to against a Loughgall side who are going well.”
Coleraine boss Ruaidhrí Higgins watched as second-half goals from Joel Cooper and substitute Matthew Shevlin booked a spot against Larne – with the Limavady native admitting he didn’t realise the semi-finals were at neutral venues.
“As long as there’s a decent pitch we don’t really care where it is,” he said.
“It’s going to be very, very tough. Larne have had an amazing season so far but we know that to win the cup we have to beat good teams.
“After losing at Larne in January we went on a brilliant run so lots of water under bridge since then. The object is getting to the final.”
The Championship high-flying Roesiders – conquerors of Linfield in the last 16 – proved stubborn opponents at a ground they currently call home due to a new pitch being laid in Limavady and former Derry City manager Higgins admitted he has a lot of affection for his hometown club.
“Limavady came with a game plan and were really well set up from defensive point of view so we had to be patient. Joel Cooper put in an outstanding ind performance. His hunger was special,” he said.
“As a Limavady man I am delighted the way things are going there. The new pitch will take them to another level. I know the people there and have a lot of time for them. I would love to see Limavady getting promoted.”
Clearer Water Irish Cup semi-final draw: Dungannon Swifts v Cliftonville; Larne v Coleraine. Ties to be played April 3/4.
