Rodney McAree challenges Dungannon Swifts to finish the job and complete 'massive achievement'
Rodney McAree has challenged his Dungannon Swifts side to finish the job and secure their spot inside the Premiership’s top-half for a second consecutive season – an achievement he feels would be “massive” for the Co Tyrone club.
After recording their joint-best league finish of fourth last term – a season in which they also celebrated historic Irish Cup glory – Dungannon are on track to back up that success in fine fashion.
McAree’s men started the current campaign with five consecutive league losses but responded emphatically, winning 15 of their next 26 and now sit on the cusp of a top-six position.
Dungannon could seal their fate this weekend – a point against leaders Larne on Friday night would be enough to get over the line while Carrick Rangers failing to beat Ballymena United on Saturday is another scenario to secure a spot.
The Swifts are unbeaten across their last three matches at Inver Park, following up a dramatic 4-4 draw in 2023 by winning twice last term.
Dungannon hadn’t recorded a top-half Premiership finish since 2009/10 prior to last season, but now on the cusp of back-to-back results, McAree is determined to complete the job.
"We have to get over the line and get a top-six finish,” said McAree. “We need a point, or we need Carrick or Cliftonville to slip up.
"But we have to look after ourselves and we have to try and get that point.
"If we can get that point and get over the line and have a top-six finish to look forward to, we've got some great games to be involved in. It would be a massive achievement for us to get that as well.
"The Irish Cup takes a back seat now for three or four weeks and we will focus on getting over the line and doing what we have to do in the league...that's a great challenge to have at this stage of the season.”
Dungannon’s mission to defend their Irish Cup crown also remains alive following last weekend’s 3-0 quarter-final win over H&W Welders.
They have set up a repeat of last season’s showpiece decider against Cliftonville in a semi-final showdown which will be played at Windsor Park on Friday, April 3.
Their most recent victory came at a cost to McAree’s squad with both Shea Gordon and Sean McAllister limping off at Stangmore Park, and the Swifts chief fears he could be without the key duo for a number of weeks.
"Shea’s is a hamstring injury and Sean is a quad injury...it'll be a case of seeing how it settles down and we'll assess them,” he added. "I think they're pretty bad but not really bad, it looks probably three or four weeks anyway.”