John Bailie admits Ards were 'beaten by the better team' after losing out to Irish Cup holders Dungannon Swifts

Three unanswered first half goals decided the fifth round tie at Stangmore Park as Sean McAllister, Junior and Tiernan Kelly all struck.

Here’s what Bailie had to say after the match:

THOUGHTS ON THE MATCH?

"We've been beaten by a very good side.

"We played them earlier in the season in the League Cup and we gave them a scare that night...to be fair to Rodney (McAree), I think he's kind of showing us the utmost respect by going as strong as he can.

"I know they're the holders but they're playing a team in the league below and he's went extremely strong, their bench was extremely strong. You could see that they had a real intensity about their play.

"We knew they were going to move us about, they're a quality side, and when we strip it all back, our goalkeeper only made one save.

"They've been clinical and that's the levels. We had a lot of the ball, we had probably more ball than we expected to have first half, but we didn't have the same quality on the ball as Dungannon had.

"We've no complaints, we've been beaten by the better team.”

SEE A DIFFERENCE IN DUNGANNON BETWEEN TWO MATCHES?

"Absolutely, yeah – a lot more intensity about their play.

"They'd obviously rested a few boys that night and they brought them back in today, which probably told us everything we needed to know and as holders we knew that they will have a real desire to try and hold on to this.

"So we knew it was going to be a difficult game, we knew they were going to be really technically good on the ball and they were going to move us about.

"But as I say, they were clinical today as well, and when you come to games like this you know you're going to give up a few chances.

"You're just hoping you get that bit of luck where they might be misfiring a wee bit and you get one at the other end. We had five or six really good opportunities but no real clear-cut chances as such.”

AGAINST HOLDERS YOU WANT TO KEEP IT TIGHT, BUT EARLY GOAL HELPS THEM SETTLE?

"That gives them the confidence to go and play their football and it was a pity because you're trying to get into the game.

"If you can get to half an hour, maybe they start to grumble a wee bit and they start to make mistakes, but we didn't get that opportunity today.

"As I say, second half, people may argue they took the foot off the pedal a wee bit...at half-time, we would certainly have been pleased to get away with 3-0.”

STILL POSITIVES TO TAKE?

"Absolutely. There's no disgrace coming here and losing 3-0. We've lost a game of football against a quality team.

"We talk about levels and we're not on the same level as Dungannon, on or off the pitch.

"It showed today but I'm proud of the boys because they've put in an honest shift. Whilst maybe the quality was lacking at times, we gave everything we had and just got beat by the better side.”