'We're like family': Rodney McAree clear 'there's no other way' for Dungannon Swifts in European mission
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has backed his players to recover quickly from Irish Cup final heartbreak as they chase a European return – declaring “there's no other way”.
After falling narrowly short of defending their crown following a 3-2 weekend defeat to Coleraine, McAree’s men are back in action on Wednesday night as they host Carrick Rangers in an opening play-off fixture.
Dungannon played in Europe for only the third time in club history last summer, securing a famous away win in Liechtenstein against Vaduz and banked €525,000 for their exploits.
The Co Tyrone outfit face a gruelling play-off path as they look to replicate last season’s feat – if they’re successful against in-form Carrick, the Swifts will face Cliftonville on Saturday before a potential trip to Linfield on May 12.
Dungannon will be looking to Cliftonville, the team they defeated in the 2025 Irish Cup decider, for inspiration – Jim Magilton’s side recovered from penalty shoot-out agony to beat Glentoran and Coleraine to clinch a European spot through the play-offs.
It’s undoubtedly a tough task to rebound quickly from such bitter disappointment, but McAree is clear there’s no other option.
“You just have to do it, there's no other way,” he said. “You can respond in one of two ways – you either pick yourself up or you don't.
"I have complete faith in the changing room. Dungannon Swifts changing rooms over the years have been extremely tight.
"We have a tight set of players within the dressing room, and I'll back them to go and respond.
"We spoke about it before the game, we're like family, we want to fight for each other, and we have to do that. We've no alternative.
"We can either turn up or throw the towel in, but we have an opportunity to get European football, and that starts on Wednesday night.”
Dungannon lost their final seven league matches of the season, including four after they’d booked their spot in the Irish Cup final with McAree looking to guide his squad through to the biggest one-off day in Irish League football
"We went into last year's split and Linfield had already won the league,” he added. “We were coming up against teams that had really nothing to play for.
"We went into the split this season not having anything to play for, and we were coming up against three teams who were fighting for their lives.
"We probably got Linfield at a bad time for us. The other three clubs, Larne, Coleraine and Glentoran, were all fighting for the league.
"They're difficult games for us, especially when we have a group of players who subconsciously are probably thinking of a bigger game coming up down the line.
"I look at the Larne game, we actually played alright at times and got beat 8-0, but the goals we conceded for me was boys maybe protecting themselves a little bit.
"I always knew that we had a performance in us, that we could turn up (in the final) and perform.
"I trust the players that much, and I understand it, I've been a player before myself, you don't automatically do it, but you might take your eye off the ball a little.”