Few Linfield fans were smiling after a late equaliser denied them victory at Stangmore Park – but for Joshua Cahoon there was cause to celebrate.
The Dungannon Swifts striker grew up supporting the Blues, but showed no mercy when presented with the chance to score deep into stoppage time on Saturday.
It ensured Linfield’s sluggish start to the new campaign continued.
They already sit eight points adrift of surprise pacesetters Ballinamallard United.
Both Linfield and Dungannon could be in hot water with the Irish FA after ugly scenes marred the end of Saturday’s clash.
It followed some crowd disturbances following Cahoon’s dramatic equaliser which involved players, officials, fans and stewards.
As far as events on the field were concerned, Cahoon was revelling in his timely intervention that helped claim a point.
Cahoon has a remarkable record of coming off the bench to rescue Dungannon with a late goal, but none will have been as special as this.
“It was good to score,” he said. “I’m a Linfield supporter, I’ve followed them all my life, and it was nice to score a goal against them to get a point for us.
“It’s all the more special to score against them, it feels good and I think we deserved it.”
This is a point which will be much more valued by Dungannon than Linfield.
Leading through David Armstrong’s stunning strike, the Blues dominated the match and were seconds from claiming their fifth league win.
But they paid a high price for missed chances with Cahoon’s equaliser.
It was only part of the story of a dramatic finish, however, with the game exploding into controversy in the final seconds.
First Billy-Joe Burns was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident then, on the final whistle, both teams became embroiled in an on-pitch fracas.
Later Terry Fitzpatrick and Armstrong were sent off for their part in the ugly scenes.
Both managers had other concerns on their mind and were keen to play down the controversy.
Darren Murphy preferred to focus on a rousing response from Dungannon at the end of a week which saw him threaten to step aside as head coach.
“I think the argument or disagreement came from Linfield players being hugely disappointed at conceding a late goal and our players being hugely excited at scoring late on,” he said.
“There’s tension, it happens in football, but for me it’s handbags.
“The referee brought us in afterwards and he’s informed us that he will be sending two players off – one from each team that started the melee.
“There is no problem with the two being sent off.”
Linfield boss David Jeffrey described it as “a storm in a tea-cup”.
“The referee had words and we discussed the situation,” he said. “He will take appropriate action.
“I think people can get carried away and blow the thing totally out of proportion, but the response from the referee was measured.”
For Jeffrey it was another frustrating afternoon, and he was left shaking his head on the sidelines after Cahoon’s equaliser.
“If we had won the game 5-0 or 6-0 it wouldn’t have been an injustice,” he added.
“Particularly first half where we played some great football and totally dominated.
“But no matter how much a team is out of a game, when it’s only 1-0 there is still that opportunity.
“And Dungannon got their chance and took it and it has cost us two points.”
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