Second-half goals inside six minutes from Dungannon Swifts’ Kealan Dillon and Sean McAllister wrapped up success on the road at Solitude over a 10-man Cliftonville side suffering from Harry Wilson’s red card on 40 minutes.

TOP RATED

CLIFTONVILLE: Brian Healy provided a focal point across the first half at 11 v 11 including one header from a promising position straight at Swifts goalkeeper Declan Dunne in the heart of the penalty area, plus putting the ball in the net only to see his goal ruled out for offside.

After the break – at 11 v 10 – he capped a driving run by finding the supporting Rory Hale, with the latter’s sidefoot shot wide of the upright.

placeholder image — Dungannon Swifts players heading off the field following victory over Cliftonville. (Photo by Iconic Media Group)

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Talk of Sean McAllister’s class comes as little surprise but he proved a first-half attacking bright spark for the visitors with his highlight a sweeping cross which Danny Wallace guided on to the post. He emphasised his influence in the second half with the Swifts’ second goal.

BIG MOMENT

Harry Wilson’s challenge on Gael Bigirimana resulted in a straight red card from referee Shane Andrews for the Cliftonville midfielder after 40 minutes.

MATCH STATS

F-T: Cliftonville 0 Dungannon Swifts 2

80: SUB (Dungannon Swifts) – Johnston for McAllister

74: YELLOW (Cliftonville) – McMaster

71: SUB (Cliftonville) – Gormley for Healy

70: SUBS (Dungannon Swifts) – Mitchell and McGinty for Gordon and Junior

65: SUBS (Cliftonville) – Hawthorne, Thompson and Sheridan on for Quinn, McStravick and Hale

65: GOAL – Cliftonville 0 Dungannon Swifts 2 (McAllister)

Sean McAllister’s low drive from inside the Cliftonville penalty area finds a path past teenage goalkeeper Matthew Belshaw

60: SUB (Dungannon Swifts) – Smith for Kelly

60: GOAL – Cliftonville 0 Dungannon Swifts 1 (Dillon)

Paul Doyle stops Liam McStravick’s encouraging progress towards goal then heads for the Reds net from deep inside his own half and caps the surge forward by finding Kealan Dillon wide on the right, with a composed finish breaking the deadlock

49: SUB (Cliftonville) – Belshaw for Morrison

46: SUB (Dungannon Swifts) – Alves for Bigirimana

H-T: Cliftonville 0 Dungannon Swifts 0

40: RED (Cliftonville) – Wilson

Harry Wilson sent off for a challenge on Gael Bigirimana

13: YELLOW (Dungannon Swifts) – Kelly

CLIFTONVILLE: Peter Morrison, Aaron Wightman, Oliver Samuels, Harry Wilson, Rory Hale, Brian Healy, Kyle McClelland, Dean McMaster, Ben Quinn, Alex Bannon, Liam McStravick.

Subs: Matthew Belshaw, Daniel O’Connor, Luke Conlan, Joel Thompson, Joe Gormley, Keevan Hawthorne, Joe Sheridan.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Declan Dunne, John Scott, Barney McKeown, Tiernan Kelly, Keelan Dillon, Shea Gordon, Paul Doyle, Danny Wallace, Junior, Sean McAllister.

Subs: Alex Henderson, Cahal McGinty, Corey Smith, Andrew Mitchell, Leo Alves, Jack Johnston, Sam Anderson.

TALKING POINTS

A perfectly-observed minute’s silence before kick-off at Solitude served as a fitting tribute to 27-year-old Aoife Doyle – and a poignant reminder of the crucial role played across Irish League football by our club volunteers.

That first-half header on to the post by Danny Wallace ended in a clash with Cliftonville goalkeeper Peter Morrison, with the home shot-stopper taken off in the second half as 16-year-old Matthew Belshaw made his senior debut.

SPECIAL MENTION

Paul Doyle offered early composure in the Swifts midfield, then – after Cliftonville’s red card – a crucial attacking run from deep to create the decisive first goal.

Liam McStravick’s ambition and energy resulted in a number of positive runs forward in and out of possession for Cliftonville.