Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree admits securing a second consecutive top-half Premiership finish is “very satisfying” – even if he’s slightly surprised his side have ended up in this position after statistical anomalies.

Before last season, the Co Tyrone club hadn’t finished inside the Irish League’s top-six in 15 years, but under McAree’s leadership they’re now celebrating back-to-back positive results.

Remarkably, Dungannon kicked off the current campaign by losing five consecutive league matches and have lost seven of their last nine, but superb form in between ultimately ensured they’d done enough to take a spot in Section A post-split.

They’ve suffered 17 defeats this term – at least five more than any other top-six finisher and the same number as 10th-placed Ballymena United – and conceded 58 goals, a tally which is only better than bottom duo Glenavon (63) and Crusaders (72).

placeholder image — Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

Dungannon’s goal difference of -18 is 16 worse off than Carrick Rangers, who currently sit in seventh, and is the only negative differential inside the Premiership’s top-half.

However, McAree’s men are preparing for another go against Northern Ireland’s elite, starting with a home clash against Coleraine on Saturday – they defeated the Bannsiders 3-1 at Stangmore Park last month.

"It’s brilliant (to be in the top-six again),” said McAree. “I'm delighted for people around the club.

"I'm delighted for the chairman. I'm delighted for the vice-chairman and his board – they put so much time and effort into it.

"People around the ground work tirelessly, doing voluntary work, so to be able to give that back to them and have that wee bit of success and do it two years in a row certainly gives you a hunger that you want to keep doing it.

"It's getting harder and harder, it's getting more difficult.

"We finished fourth last year, we finished sixth this year...if we finish sixth again next season, we end up in the top-six next season by hook or by crook, I'll be happy as well.

"It's very, very satisfying. These are good games to look forward to and we have to prepare and get ourselves ready for them.

"When you lose your first five matches and your last two...to still find yourself in the top-six and we've conceded 58 goals, I don't know how it happens, but it has happened and we'll take it.

"We're a good side, we've got good players...we have to make sure we're hitting those levels.”

McAree’s squad has been impacted by injuries with the likes of Shea Gordon, Sean McAllister and Leo Alves missing a recent defeat to Bangor.

The Swifts chief hopes to have key players back in the near future with an Irish Cup semi-final against Cliftonville on the horizon.

"We are without Shea, Sean, Leo, Corey Smith, Darragh McBrien, Sam Anderson….we're missing a lot of forwards when you list them,” he added. “But that's giving players an excuse, that's giving us an excuse.

"You do miss them and you would love to have the option of as many of them as possible. I don't think any of them are too far away and we're hopeful that we'll have them back pretty soon.”