Dungannon Swifts’ pointless run to start out the season stretched to 6 video games, falling 1-0 to Newry Metropolis on the Showgrounds final night time following Lorcan Forde’s purpose simply after the hour.
Dungannon had the sport’s opening likelihood inside 5 minutes when Michael Ruddy despatched Ben Cushnie down the road, squaring for Joseph McCready in the course of the field who shot straight at goalkeeper Steven Maguire.
Metropolis’s two greatest probabilities of the half each fell to striker Daniel Hughes. The primary was a pot shot from the sting of the field pushed to the left by Declan Dunne, earlier than the goalkeeper denied him once more moments later when Forde pulled the ball again for Newry’s quantity 9 just for his weak effort to be saved.
The guests closed out the half the stronger and have been unfortunate to not go in entrance, forcing two saves out of Maguire within the lead-up to the interval. Ethan McGee performed the ball into the channel for James Convie who crossed to the again put up from the byline, the place Cushnie headed again throughout purpose to be denied by the left hand of the scrambling shot-stopper.
McCready then had an opportunity on the half-volley however was thwarted by Maguire at full-stretch, making certain the groups went in stage on the break.
If the Swifts have been the higher facet within the first interval, the second half belonged to Darren Mullen’s males. Simply earlier than the hour, they couldn’t imagine that they didn’t take the lead when a large free kick from Hughes was directed goalwards by a James Teelan volley from 4 yards out. It was pushed over the bar by a response save from Dunne.
Then on 61 minutes, the house facet went in entrance when 19-year-old Teelan obtained from Dale Montgomery, twisting and turning previous Ruddy and squaring the ball. Dunne obtained all the way down to parry the cross out, however solely served to put it on a plate for Forde who transformed right into a just about empty web.
Forde ought to have had his second of the sport and put the outcome past all doubt on 80 minutes. Debutant Ciaran O’Connor’s nook was cleared however headed again in, Forde used his physique to get goal-side to shoot on the half-volley however he blazed his effort over the bar.
NEWRY CITY: Maguire, King, Healy, Hughes (C O’Connor 73), Lockhart (Scullion 82), Teelan (Healy 73), Martin, Moan, Donnelly (McGivern 87), Forde, Montgomery.
Unused subs: Brady, Omrore, Clarke.
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Dunne, Marron, Knowles, McCready (M O’Connor 45), Campbell (Gallagher 71), Curry, Barr, Cushnie (Smith 67), Ruddy (Breen 87), McGee (Coyle 87), Convie.
Unused subs: Nelson, McGinty.
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)
Man of the match: Lorcan Forde
Match ranking: 6/10