01/05/2026
Good luck tomorrow to Dungannon Swifts FC tomorrow as they take on Coleraine for the Irish Cup Final!! 💙
𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘃 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 - 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹
The tension and excitement within the Swifts fan base, players, staff, and everyone involved with the club is building as the team prepares to face Coleraine in the final of the Irish Cup, in defence of the trophy won so memorably on that historic day 12 months ago.
Regardless of the result, more history has already been made this year. For the first time, the Swifts have reached two finals in a row, and only their third showpiece occasion ever. Putting this into perspective, the club hadn’t even reached the semi-final two years running up until this year.
To get to the final, the Swifts opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Ards, with the reward being a testing trip to Shamrock Park to face off against Mid-Ulster rivals Portadown. On a typical winter day on a heavy pitch, they overturned a 1-0 deficit early on to win 2-1.
In the quarter-final, they faced H&W Welders, and proved too strong with a 3-0 result. The semi-final obstacle was then a repeat of last year’s final, against runners-up Cliftonville. A nervy game ended without a goal in normal time before Kealan Dillon opened the scoring. However, an own goal with the last kick of the game sent the tie to penalties. The result was the same as last year, with the Swifts scoring all their spot-kicks, and the Reds missing two.
Coleraine began their cup campaign with a 4-0 win over Crusaders at home, before overcoming a scare from Carrick Rangers, defeating the ‘Gers 4-1 after extra time. Then they knocked out Limavady United 2-0 in an away game played at home to reach the semi-final and face league leaders Larne. Goals in either half sent the game to extra-time, where Matthew Shevlin put the Bannsiders through to their first Irish Cup final since 2018.
Rodney McAree had the following to say regarding the final on Saturday: “We have done ever so well. We've gone to Portadown and won within that run and we've beaten Cliftonville in the semi-final. So, we deserve where we are. We deserve the opportunity to really look forward to another final. As a community, as a club, as a changing room, everybody who works tirelessly around the club, we've given ourselves that opportunity to look forward to.”
The Swifts will be cheered on by thousands of fans again on Saturday in Windsor Park, who will be the team’s twelfth man as they hope to push them across the line once more.
Rodney said: “I think last year's final was so good and such a good experience for everybody, I anticipate that we'll maybe have more people turning out to watch us this year. I think the community came out and supported us and have appreciated what we have done in the Irish Cup. And I hope and I think that we'll have more people who come out and buy tickets and support us on the second of May.”
In recent weeks, the Swifts have had positive news with attackers Sean McAllister and Corey Smith returning from injury since their last visit to Windsor Park.
Both clubs ended their league seasons in the top half of the table.
The team in maroon red on Saturday, Coleraine, secured a second place finish and a return to European football last Saturday with a 6-2 win over Glentoran, with their last league defeat being a 3-1 loss at Stangmore Park against the Swifts in late February, only dropping two points with a draw in this run.
This was the Swifts’ last league win of the season as they achieved a top six finish for the second year running, a marvellous achievement for the club.
The sides have met on four occasions this season, all coming in the Sports Direct Premiership. Coleraine have won three of these, two at the Showgrounds, as well as the most recent meeting at Stangmore Park. The Swifts’ defeated Coleraine 3-1 on 28th February - a huge result in guaranteeing a European play-off space.
It goes without saying that this is a huge game for both sides. To even get another day out in May is an incredible achievement for the Swifts, so make sure to get your tickets and help push the team towards another Irish Cup victory, and a return to Europe!
Up the Swifts!
