IRISH LEAGUE: Owens off bench to give Mallards draw at Dungannon

Danske Bank Premiership
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jan 2017, 22:33 BST
Updated 9th Jan 2017, 13:01 BST
Ballinamallard substitute Niall Owens was the late hero against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park. (Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.)Ballinamallard substitute Niall Owens was the late hero against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park. (Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.)
Ballinamallard substitute Niall Owens was the late hero against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park. (Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.)

Dungannon 2 Ballinamallard 2

Ballinamallard hit back to secure a point in a dramatic game at Stangmore Park when Niall Owens came off the bench to score in stoppage time.

A flying start from Dungannon brought a goal after 90 seconds. Jamie Glackin met a cross from Jarlath O’Rourke, guiding a looping header over the goalkeeper to give the home side the early advantage.

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Paul McElroy had a chance to double the Swifts’ lead, winning possession and hitting a dipping shot which landed on the roof of the net.

At the other end Johnny Lafferty’s attempt from 25 yards drew a decent stop from Andy Coleman.

Andrew Mitchell, the Swifts’ 18-goal top scorer, then won possession and drilled a shot over.

Next, Lafferty tried his luck with an ambitious effort with his back to goal but once more Coleman was alert to the danger.

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Towards the end of the half Adam Lecky headed wide after climbing to meet a corner from Jason McCartney.

Just before the break the Mallards suffered a blow when influential midfielder James McKenna limped off with an injury.

The second half was a story of two penalties. First Dungannon wasted a chance to double their lead after failing to convert a spot kick won by McElroy five minutes after the restart. Goalkeeper Cameron Crawford got both hands to Mitchell’s kick to keep it at 1-0.

The Mallards were then handed a chance to level in the 67th minute after Lecky was fouled by Chris Hegarty. Lecky stepped forward himself and made no mistake to bring the sides level.

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Douglas Wilson went close to firing the home side back in front. He got plenty of dip on his free-kick, lifting it up and over the wall, but the ball clipped the crossbar before bouncing to safety.

Dungannon went back in front when a corner was turned into the path of Wilson, who rattled home to make it 2-1.

Lecky was then shown a red card for a rash challenge.

Owens, though, had the final say, scoring with a crisp low finish in stoppage time after a pass from Ryan Mayse.

DGN SWIFTS: Coleman, Armstrong, Hegarty, Wilson, O’Rourke, Harpur, Glackin, Teggart (Lockhart, 83), McMahon (Burke, 71), McElroy (Lavery, 71), Mitchell

Subs not used: Addis, Lowe

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BALLINAMALLARD UTD: Crawford, McLaughlin, McGinty, McKenna (McMenamin, 42), McCartney, McCabe, McConnell, Lecky, Mayse, Lafferty, McIlwaine (Owens, 62)

Subs not used: McGrath, Frempong, Elliott

Referee: Keith Kennedy (Lisburn)

Related topics:Premiership