'Great footballer' produces moment of magic in 'massively rewarding' Dungannon Swifts victory
As the ball dropped out of the evening sky, there was almost a sense of formality about what would happen next when Rodney McAree realised who it was falling to – and seconds later Adam Glenny proved just why he was “probably top of the list” for his manager.
It was the full-back’s sensational volley, a display of exquisite technique, which ultimately sealed maximum points for Dungannon Swifts in their 2-1 Premiership victory over Ballymena United and continued the club’s impressive league run.
Across the last 10 top-flight matches played by each team, only leaders Larne (23) have amassed more points than McAree’s Swifts (21), who moved into fifth, further underlining top-half credentials for a second consecutive campaign.
Glenny has starred during a historic period of success for the Co Tyrone club, named in NIFWA’s Team of the Season last term and has once again played virtually every minute this time around.
"It was (going to take something special), and it's great to find him in that position because it's a ball into the box and as the opposite full-back he's went and hung on the edge of the 18-yard box and thankfully it's come out to him,” said McAree. "If there's anybody really you want it to come out to, it’s probably Adam Glenny.
"He's one of the ones at the top of the list that you'd like to see it land on because technically he's a great footballer and it's a great strike.
"Cahal (McGinty) scores the first one, Adam scores the second one, we win 2-1 and none of our forwards weighed in with a goal...it's nice to see them coming from different areas.”
Dungannon took an early lead through Cahal McGinty, who then also converted Success Edogun’s cross past his own goalkeeper to hand the hosts an equaliser.
"I think Cahal just needs to take responsibility, he needs to make his own mind up,” added McAree. "He was disappointed down this touchline because Leo (Alves) is tracking Success and he decides to go and double up with Adam Glenny on the man on the touchline who wasn't any threat, and he left Success to get to the byline and flash the ball across.
"So that could have been prevented, and then Cahal has to take responsibility – I think Cahal was just looking a hat-trick to be honest!
"We went 1-0 up and had good control of the game, but whenever we conceded the goal that we did, we seemed to lose all control of it after that, for the remainder of the first half.
"We asked them to control it a little bit more, don't be as direct as what we were, because we're not a direct side, but sometimes the pitch lends itself to that.
"We went out at the start of the second half and we controlled it a little bit better, and we got a fantastic goal from Adam Glenny. We maybe don't deserve to win it, we maybe haven’t created an awful pile.
"I know the keeper made a great save from Adam Glenny's header as well, but outside of that we didn't really create an awful pile, so to get the three points off the strike that it was is massively rewarding.”