'As a kid, it was all I wanted': Rodney McAree hoping for repeat of 'best day' as Dungannon Swifts seal Irish Cup progress
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree insists his side have belief that they can defend their Irish Cup crown after marching into the semi-finals with a 3-0 win over H&W Welders.
The Co Tyrone club enjoyed the most special day in their history last May when McAree’s men defeated Cliftonville on penalties to lift an Irish Cup crown for the first time.
It sparked scenes of jubilation around the town with Dungannon’s players and staff enjoying an open-top bus parade, creating memories which will undoubtedly last a lifetime.
Growing up around Stangmore Park, McAree had dreamt of that moment for most of his life, and having experienced it once, the Swifts chief is hungry for more.
Getting over the line last season has also helped build belief inside Dungannon’s changing room and they’ll once again meet Cliftonville in a last-four showdown – the winner will take on either Larne or Coleraine at Windsor Park in May.
"It was a massive part of my team talks for years before we even got there because it was always about winning five games – if you do that, you win the Irish Cup,” said McAree. "It's the best day in local football.
"As a kid, being a Dungannon fan, all you wanted was to play in an Irish Cup final, you wanted to win the Irish Cup.
"You'd love to win the league but that's not going to happen for us. We have an opportunity of winning Cups and why not go and win this one again?
"It's going to be a massive ask but who knows, we've beat all the teams that are left in it. We have a bit of a chance.
"I think (there is belief we can do it again). I think whenever we go back over the big performances that we've had against Larne, Coleraine here, Cliftonville in the final last year.
"There's been big performances against the teams that's there, but we always know that whenever we come up against the big teams that we're going to have to be at our very best.
"We have to find a performance, we have to be as competitive as we can be if we're going to have any chance.”
Dungannon went ahead after 22 minutes when Steven Scott showed composure to slot home before Cahal McGinty and Kobei Moore ensured there would be no upset.
While delighted to seal progression, McAree felt there was more left in the tank.
"I wasn't happy with the performance, wasn't happy with the performance levels, we can do so much better,” he added. "It was as if we'd just done enough to win the game of football.
"There was always so much more in us.
"Having said that, we could have probably been a little bit better in the final third and scored more too.
"The Welders started well, caused a couple of problems early on and did ok at the start of the second half too.
"But overall, it just felt as if we could do a hell of a lot better.
"But it's cup football, it's about winning the game of football that’s in front of you and progressing to the next round. We said before the game, by hook or by crook, we'd be in the semi-final and that's how it panned out.”