Newry City sink to new low to close out 2023 with 5-0 trouncing at Dungannon Swifts

Newry City’s 2023 came to an end with a result indicative of the dire situation they currently find themselves in, as they lost 5-0 away to Dungannon Swifts on Saturday.

​The last 12 months have brought highs and lows for City, with two of the highest highs taking place at Stangmore Park: Winning the Mid Ulster Cup in February and Darren Mullen’s last hurrah after 10 years as manager in April.

However, they sank to their lowest low at the same venue to close out the calendar year, as they were trounced by Rodney McAree’s men in another listless display.

Newry head into the last 14 games of the season six points adrift of eleventh-placed Ballymena United, with whoever succeeds Gary Boyle as manager in January facing a mammoth task to keep the club in the top flight.

Boyle called time on his stint as manager following his side’s 4-0 defeat to Glenavon on Boxing Day, and he explained the reasoning behind his decision, stating that the actions from sections of the team’s support led to a ‘negative undercurrent’ in recent weeks.

In stepped one of his coaches Damien Hillen on short notice to guide the team through Saturday’s clash against Dungannon, but he couldn’t steady the ship, or get a team extremely low on confidence to start functioning again.

One way traffic

After a fairly uneventful start to the game, Dungannon Swifts were gifted a penalty by Steven Maguire, who rushed out of goal and fouled Cathal McGinty, who was chasing after a loose pass and didn’t seem to be threatening a chance.

From the spot, hat trick hero Ben Gallagher netted his first of the game, as he buried his shot low and hard.

Tomas Galvin then fired a half volley shot wide of the far post, whilst Adam Salley had Newry’s only chance of the first period, bringing Declan Dunne into action with a high shot, after he had dribbled past two defenders.

On 35 minutes it was 2-0 when Adam Glenny’s initial shot was blocked by Darren King but the rebound was fired into the far top corner via an excellent strike by Gallagher.

In the moments leading up to half-time Newry were under serious pressure, and Dungannon’s number 15 had a chance to make it three when Stephen Moan fouled Leonel Alves in the box. However, Gallagher’s spot kick was saved by Maguire.

Gallagher then hit the post with a header, but he wouldn’t have to wait much longer for his hat trick goal, as on 42 minutes from just inside the box, he beat Maguire with a low drive into the bottom corner, after the Newry defence gave him an abundance of room.

Newry had the first opportunity of the second half when a half volley effort from Adam Carroll forced a good save out of Dunne, but normal service resumed on 49 minutes, when Kealan Dillon split the Newry defence with an incisive through ball and Alves found the far corner with a first-time left footed finish.

Dungannon were enjoying themselves and four minutes later it was 5-0 when Dillon curled a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The remainder of the game was a dull affair as, with it over as a contest, Dungannon took their foot off the accelerator and there were few chances for either side.