Newry City lose out to Dungannon Swifts in entertaining Bet McLean League Cup Quarter-final

Newry City’s run in the Bet McLean League Cup came to an end at the last eight stage, as they were ousted 4-2 by Dungannon Swifts after extra-time on Tuesday evening.

Dungannon had most of the ball in the first half and plenty of chances, but they couldn’t find the net.

Just minutes into the game, a Leonel Alves free kick bobbled around the edge of the box and was directed towards goal on the half volley by Cahal McGinty but Steven Maguire pushed his shot onto the post.

Maguire was again called into action from a set piece, when an Alves corner was connected with by John Scott and on this occasion, he saved and held. McGinty then played on an over the top through ball for Adam Glenny. Glenny was bearing down on goal and probably should have tried the shot himself, but he was too selfless in trying to set up Matthew Lusty and Barney McKeown intercepted.

Lusty would get his opportunity on 17 minutes when he beat Newry’s offside trap and found himself in one on one, but he dragged his golden opportunity wide of the far post.

Lusty then almost turned provider when Dungannon hit Newry on a counter attack, as his whipped ball from the right found Ben Gallagher open at the back post, but Gallagher couldn’t make the required contact and sent his shot wide.

Dungannon’s wastefulness continued into the second half, as Alves played Lusty in on goal, but he was denied by Maguire at the near post, before Newry created their first clear cut opportunity. A long ball from Maguire was flicked on by John McGovern into the path of Adam Carroll in on goal, but his low shot was kept out by Declan Dunne.

Alves had the next chance, as he broke clear of Georgie Poynton and McGovern and unleashed a piledriver at goal, but it went just over. Then, the hosts had yet another huge opportunity, when McGinty crossed for a wide-open Glenny six yards out, but he headed straight at Maguire.

Despite Lusty’s misses, he remained a danger man and on 72 minutes he played his part in Dungannon getting the breakthrough, as he drove to the by-line and cut the ball back and beyond Maguire for Gallagher to finish into an empty net.

Three minutes later however, Newry were back on level terms. Thomas Lockhart curled in a corner from the right wing and substitute Adam Salley headed the ball into the net to level matters immediately.

The drama was far from over, as with just under five minutes to go Newry thought they had won it when Lockhart played a Crossfield ball to 15-year-old Paul McGovern, who controlled the ball expertly and finished beyond Dunne to make it 2-1 to the visitors, with a goal worthy of winning any game.

But the lead didn’t last long. Two minutes later, a Lusty cross was turned home by Tomas Galvin to tie the game up at the death.

Dungannon had one last chance to win it in normal time when Ethan McGee shot on the half volley, but his goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Stephen Moan.

Into extra-time the game went and there was only one chance for either side in the first half. It went the way of Newry, but Andrew Martin’s header hit the post after he connected with a Poynton corner.

However, 30 seconds after the restart, Dungannon were back ahead again as Galvin – who netted twice when the two teams met in the league in November – headed home Joe Moore’s cross to make it 3-2.

The home side thought they were two ahead moments later when McGee’s header was bound for the top corner but Maguire pulled off an outstanding finger tip save to keep his side in the game.

But it didn’t matter, because two minutes into stoppage time Dungannon hit Newry on the break, Moore crossed for ex-Warrenpoint man Kealan Dillon, and he put the game to bed.

MATCH STATS

Dungannon Swifts: Declan Dunne, Ethan McGee, John Scott, Caolan Marron, Steven Scott, Adam Glenny (Dean Curry, 100), Ben Gallagher (Tomas Galvin, 79), Cahal McGinty, Matthew Lusty (Aidan Hegarty, 105), Grant Hutchinson (Kealan Dillon, 73), Leonel Alves (Joe Moore, 84).

Unused subs: Conor Mitchell, Andrew Whiteside.

Newry City: Steven Maguire, Darren King (Brain Healy, ET), Barney McKeown, Ciaran O’Connor (Adam Salley, 63), Adam Carroll, Thomas Lockhart, John McGovern (Lee Newell, 100), Liam Bagnall, Stephen Moan (Andrew Martin, ET), Lorcan Forde (Paul McGovern, 63), Georgie Poynton (Jordan Mooney, 112).

Unused subs: Daragh Owens.

Referee: Lee Tavinder.