Dungannon Swifts booked their place in this year’s Clearer Water Irish Cup final thanks to a penalty shootout win over Cliftonville tonight.
Cliftonville produced a dramatic last gasp equaliser in extra time to take the game to penalties.
But the Swifts held their nerve in the shootout at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park to reach the decider for the second year running. They scored four of their spot kicks, while the Reds scored three.
The game between the 2024 winners of the trophy and last year’s winners did not produce a goal until extra time. The Swifts, who defeated the Reds in the 2025 decider, scored first through Kealan Dillon before an own goal left it all square ahead of the penalties.
Cliftonville started brightly and strung some decent passes together without really threatening the Swifts’ goal, although Shea Gordon did well to block an effort from the Reds’ Micheal Glynn.
In the eighth minute Dungannon striker Kobei Moore cut inside his marker and let fly, however his powerful strike was off target.
On 19 minutes Swifts captain Gael Bigirimana produced a crisp low drive from distance. It was comfortably gathered in by Reds keeper PJ Morrison.
Two minutes later Cliftonville centre back Jonny Addis curled a free-kick around the Dungannon wall but it struck the side netting.
In the 26th minute Danny Wallace produced a superb tackle to stop Cliftonville striker Bernard Healy in his tracks as he raced towards goal. It was an excellent piece of defending.
Leo Alves had a go from a free-kick. His shot from 30 yards deflected off the Reds’ defensive wall.
Both teams stroked the ball around neatly, however the defences were on top in the closing stages of the first half.
It was a similar pattern at the start of the second half. Again both the red and blue defensive lines held firm. Cliftonville’s Shaun Leppard was particularly impressive.
Healy threatened from a flick-on, however Swifts keeper Declan Dunne raced off his line to clear the danger.
Reds captain Rory Hale found space inside the area but Bigirimana made a decisive interception.
Dungannon’s Kealan Dillon threaded a fine pass to Gordon as he darted in behind the Reds defence. He faced a one-on-one with Morrison and the Cliftonville keeper won the duel by keeping Gordon’s strike out with his foot.
Alves ran at pace towards the Reds’ goal before Josh Kelly managed to clear the ball.
The ever lively Hale slipped in McStravick whose shot was straight at Dunne. And then Addis also fired a shot straight at the Swifts keeper.
Cliftonville substitute Joe Sheridan played a lovely lofted pass into the path of Healy, however his shot was well off target.
On 85 minutes Gordon got in behind the Reds defence once again and Morrison thwarted him once more with another great save. Substitute Andrew Mitchell got his head to the loose ball and his effort landed on top of the net.
The game went into extra time. The first chance of the extra period fell to Sheridan who dragged his shot wide. Down the other end Dungannon substitute Sean McAllister blasted a shot over the top and Adam Glenny was off target with a low drive.
Eight minutes into added time Dungannon made the breakthrough. Mitchell held the ball up on the right hand side of the penalty area before finding the onrushing Dillon and he hammered the ball into the net from 12 yards. It was a lovely finish.
Joe Toole fired a shot over the bar as Cliftonville turned up the heat. Wallace, who was excellent at the back for the Swifts, headed a dangerous Hale cross clear.
McAllister went on a fine run down the right flank and found Mitchell at the back post, however his low shot hit the side netting.
In added time in extra time Cliftonville won a corner – and equalised from it. Substitute Keevan Hawthorne superbly whipped the ball into the area and it hit Dungannon pair Mitchell and Wallace before dropping into the net via the woodwork.
In the shootout substitutes Joe Gormley and Ryan Curran along with captain Hale scored for Cliftonville, while Dunne saved Sheridan’s spot kick and Harry Wilson missed.
Dillon, Glenny, Bigirimana and McAllister all scored for the Swifts to send them to the 2 May decider.
Cliftonville: Peter Morrison, Joseph Toole, Shaun Leppard, Jonny Addis, Luke Conlan, Micheal Glynn, Harry Wilson, Josh Kelly, Bernard Healy, Rory Hale (captain), Liam McStravick.
Substitutes: (used) Keevan Hawthorne, Joe Sheridan, Ryan Curran, Joe Gormley, Aidan Kelly, Conor Pepper; (unused) Lewis Ridd (GK).
Dungannon Swifts: Declan Dunne, Shea Gordon, Paul Doyle, Cahal McGinty, Danny Wallace, Gael Bigirimana (captain), Leo Alves, Tiernan Kelly, Kobei Moore, Adam Glenny, Kealan Dillon.
Substitutes: (used) Sean McAllister, Andrew Mitchell, Caolan Marron, James Knowles; (unused) Alex Henderson (GK), Peter Maguire, Malachy Smith.
Action from National Stadium
