Rodney McAree trusting his gut instinct as Dungannon Swifts keep European play-off hopes alive with Newry City win

​The 22-year-old opened Dungannon’s account in the 23rd minute with his third Premiership strike of the season before Rhyss Campbell came off the bench to score a first goal since March 2023 following a lengthy period on the sideline through injury.

McAree’s men are now unbeaten in their last three and made a perfect start to the split having also beaten Carrick Rangers 3-2 last weekend where teenager Tomas Galvin netted – another instinctive selection from the Swifts chief.

"Joe is a great lad and he's a livewire,” he told BBC Radio Ulster. “He has scored big goals for us and I just felt today was a good time to put him in.

"Sometimes you get a gut feeling and I've had a feeling over the past couple of weeks with Tomas Galvin last weekend and Joe this weekend, so thankfully it's paying off.”

The result means Dungannon trail seventh-placed Loughgall, who they face at Stangmore Park on Tuesday night, by only four points in the race for a European play-off spot.

"It's nice because in seasons gone before you've been maybe looking over your shoulder or worrying where the next win is coming from, so it's nice to challenge yourself and see if you can keep in touch,” he added. “I think it's going to be a tall order for us to finish seventh, but it's something we can go into the next game with and see where it takes us."