DNZY - Comments

I'll be perfectly honest, I was not up for this challenge. Should be around for stop #5 though.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

FIRST QUALIFYING PHASE SECOND LEG (AWAY)



Sadly, the return leg ended in failure as the Armenians asserted their dominance to run away with the tie. Stepanov scored twice which was the caveat to fight for the away goal and even with Dempsey spearheading the attack, the supply to him was scarce. Went more direct in the closing stages with young Sean Clarke coming on to switch it up to a 4-2-4. Best chance fell to the teen, though Dempsey perhaps should have gone himself but instead pulled the ball into Clarke on two on two situation but cushioned it straight at the keeper. Peter Beggs also came close but headed over from just six yards out. Beaten, but not disgraced.



And there ends my reign in Northern Ireland, leaving behind irreplaceable memories that Dungannon fans will cherish for generations.



Fans said their final farewells.

Onto the next one.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

FIRST QUALIFYING PHASE FIRST LEG (HOME)



We did not look match fit at all, yet snatched the game right at the death to take a slender lead to Armenia. Two quickfire yellows landed Pyunik in hot water for almost an hour of the game left and it helped to slow the game to our advantage. Maintained control of the first half rather persuasively and to my surprise we nudged in front through Sean Dempsey (who else?), sliding one under the keeper. The midfield core were jaded by half time, meaning we switched to a five at the back and it unsettled the balance of the game with Pyunik coming right back into it and snatching an away goal to pressurise us. With the clock ticking, Stephen McSweeney got on the end of a lucky deflection to win the game deep into injury time to erupt Shamrock Park. Dungannon’s first European victory iirc and one to savour for the ages.



May not have been our ground, but we'll take it.



And that too.

@r96Skinner - Thank you my man!

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Well this was something! Sean Dempsey gained a call-up to the Ireland senior squad for the 2036 European Championships!

...sadly, didn't get that elusive first cap.



Despite securing a quadruple with Dungannon, it seems that the standard of Northern Irish football took a hit in reputation, causing to lose a Europa League place for the next season. Thankfully, we should be gone by then.



Speaking of reputations, ours skyrocketed over the last twelve months but still only make it as the 7th best club in Northern Ireland.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

FIRST QUALIFYING PHASE DRAW



Our maiden Champions League draw pits us against Armenian champions Pyunik. Just the 4,085 kilometres from Dungannon to Yerevan. Better stock up on the reading entertainment, boys.

Should just play the remainder of our games at Huish Park, decent win over Coventry and more surprisingly...A CLEAN SHEET.

@Dan @Shedender @b0nb0n - Thank you all! Pretty stunned myself!

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FINAL LEAGUE TABLE



Against all odds, we muscled off heavyweights Cliftonville by a singular point in a slugfest of a season. Glenavon ran out of steam to finish third while Glentoran squeezed into the Europa League with Linfield floundering. Institute's manager said we didn't have what it took to stay afloat only a few games into the season...well..he's now in the unemployment queue and the sky blues were condemned back to the Championship and also dragged Ballinamallard with them after an almighty collapse in the second leg of their relegation playoff with Distillery - leading 2-1 from the first leg and losing 6-2 in the second to bow out 7-4 on aggregate.



Sean Dempsey had to be player of the season on the account what he brought to the table this season, closely beating off Peter Beggs and David Donnelly to the top. He also scooped Dungannon goal of the season with a sublime thirty yard free-kick away at Ballymena before the New Year. On top of that, Sean blazed in as our young player of the season at the age of 20. He'll be tough to hang on to next season that's for sure. Reggie Morgan secured signing of the season, maybe a bit harsh on players like Watt or Kane who influenced the side a lot more.

https://streamable.com/1aarm



Stats don't lie. 35 goals, 7.43 average rating and 10 man of the match awards; Sean Dempsey is an Adonis amongst men. Wingers McSweeney and Kane shone like beacons accumulating 24 assists split down the middle. Peter Beggs played fifty times this season, more than any other player and his passing accuracy is reason why with 87%. Conor McParland always put his neck on the line for the team at the back, hence why he gained the most bookings while Tom Fitzgerald just lost his cool two many times (see what I did there?).



Clean sweep in an unbelievable season for the Swifts.




Joke! How is Woods more worthy of an award than Dempsey?



No complaints here though, scooped manager of the year with relative confidence.

IN OTHER NEWS...



Is Sean heading to London sooner than we thought? Chelsea are now entering the race for his signature! Could this be a bigger transfer saga than Neymar? Probably not, but we're about to find out!

Too late to stick a tenner on Huddersfield winning the Premier League?

Premier League is coming home. GGMU

Manchester United of old. Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Lukaku, Matic all sensational.

TENNENT'S IRISH CUP

FINAL



Will Dungannon undo the hurt of the 2007 cup final against Linfield? A potential quadruple is on the cards here.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 38 - CHAMPIONSHIP SPLIT



Ended the fairytale league season by experimenting with youth members in an eight goal thriller with Glentoran. Sean Dempsey (24) was two goals short of Alan Maguire (26) for the golden boot and it’s fair to say Maguire wanted it more. Four goals scored against our juvenile squad while Dempsey only managed two to finish on 26 league goals, but it wasn’t really the plot of the game. Lifting the trophy in front of a bumper crowd at Stangmore Park as Dungannon Swifts win the Danske Bank Premiership for the first ever time! All that's left is the Irish Cup...



(just ignore the glaring error in this photo..we definitely won it..honest..).



Dempsey had a hand in at least 30 of them.



Also a special day for diamond in the rough Conor Walker, becoming the youngest ever player to play for Dungannon.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 37 - CHAMPIONSHIP SPLIT





CHAMPIONES! CHAMPIONES! OLE OLE! What a team to take the bullet too as beating Portadown confirmed our maiden league title. McSweeney was full throttle to the end of the season and marked himself on the momentous day to open the scoring while Aaron Kane delivered a free-kick in the second half to all but nullify the disbelievers’ theories *cough* @Shedender . Perhaps the late Portadown goal rattled us a little bit in the closing stages but learning from our mistakes at Solitude, we saw the result pan out. An unbelievable moment in Dungannon’s 87 year history.



Will Dungannon ever win another treble? Not unless I'm in charge.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Six wins from seven, this is why we are champions of Northern Ireland. Sean Dempsey completely shone with 10 goals in 7.

LEAGUE TABLE



Try as they might, Cliftonville couldn't catch us with a game in hand to spare. ..and breathe.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 36 - CHAMPIONSHIP SPLIT



Devastated. A point would have been enough to seal the league but Neil Nellins got caught in the way of a hoofball by Cliftonville to shaft us with just 10 seconds of injury time remaining. They played hardball by taking the lead thrice but Dempsey refused to give in, pouring heart and soul to collect a hat-trick to equalise with six minutes to go. That was the cue to bring Nellins on for him to strengthen the defensive walls, but instead the walls caved in with us inside and allowed Cliftonville a token to gatecrash with just two games to go. Oh me nerves!



McParland still ended up with a new contract.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 35 - CHAMPIONSHIP SPLIT



Dempsey takes us one step closer to history! We strategically set up to avoid defeat and our defensive stance helped us to get the break we needed. Frankly, the game was drole and headed in the direction of a stalemate regardless but Dempsey gave us this nugget of belief that we’ll finish top come the end of the season. Puts Glenavon completely out of the running to ensure a top two finish! Next up is a real test with second placed Cliftonville.



Poch still taking notes on our boy.

@b0nb0n - Here's hoping!

@Dan - Well I'll try not to keep you waiting much longer!

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DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 34 - CHAMPIONSHIP SPLIT



Huffed, puffed and blew Linfield down with a late twist at Windsor Park. Despite no David Donnelly, the creative ingredients still spewed from the wings to aid Sean Dempsey’s red hot goalscoring threat. Somehow Linfield ploughed in front due to a defensive mix up to allow Ronnie O’Neill a clear sight to prod home on the half hour. Two minutes later, Linfield had their own defensive howler as a missed header gave Dempsey the red carpet to easily pound in the equaliser. With one eye on how Cliftonville were doing at home to Glenavon, news circulated that Cliftonville fell behind and egged us on to surge forward and Dempsey applied the clinical touch for the late winner. Glenavon held on to win at Solitude to open a four point gap with a game in hand for us. This could be pivotal!



Where would we be without Dempsey?

TENNENT'S IRISH CUP

SEMI FINAL



An expected result and a good platform for mass rotation, although there were huge repercussions tied in with it. Newington weren’t as resilient from the League Cup quarter final earlier in the season and ended up folding to invite us to an Irish Cup final. Watt, Donnelly, McFarland and McSweeney all on hand to guide us safely without complications. Dungannon on for a quadruple?



Things just got a whole lot tougher as Donnelly is out for the season and a part of next season too.

FINAL DRAW



Nearly a year to the day where we lost to these clowns 6-1 in the pursuit for European football. Now the chips are down.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 33



Sean f*cking Dempsey! Another trailblazing display by the Tottenham target to bundle Glentoran over in a heap. Aaron Kane had a free kick deflected to get us off the mark and after that it became very comfortable. Dempsey's goals were standard poacher instincts via crosses by McSweeney and Kane, but overruled penalty honours ahead of Donnelly to complete his hat-trick and taking his goal tally up to 26 for the season. Alan Maguire's goal back was a cameo cheer from the Oval faithful and didn't steal our thunder.





Indispensable to us.

LEAGUE TABLE



The split takes effect, playing one final game against Cliftonville, Glenavon, Linfield, Glentoran and Portadown. Practically five cup finals of importance in the race for the crown.



Already a curveball, two vital defenders miss our next game. Thankfully it can apply for the Irish Cup semi.

@Shedender - Always a good motivational speaker! It'll definitely be tough, that's for sure when the split takes effect.

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Manager of the month for the third time, the 6-1 win surely a factor.

MID-ULSTER CUP

FINAL



Which team in blue will take the meaningless cup?

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 32



I’m not suggesting that the referee had a hand in this game but when you make three cynical fouls in the eighteen yard box, you’re bound to get stung as Ballinamallard found out. David Donnelly had shaky penalty conversion ratio at the start of the season but since September he’s converted 10 from 10 in total bravado, including a hat-trick of them in the rout. Gary Turner had a head in the game with McSweeney also firing. As for the own goal...well..I've never seen anything as comical as the one you're about to witness. I'd have just left in embarrassment if I were a Mallards fan.

https://streamable.com/p97i8



Might as well call this team of the week Glengannon Swifts. Seven players including Donnelly making the cut.



Swifts linchpin. Three year contract is a massive commitment to us. Quite a week for the lad.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



The Glenavon defeat at the end of February seems to have given us a new lease of life, commanding things right now with another supreme month of results. David Donnelly absolutely key to the success as well as McSweeney and Dempsey showcasing skills too.

LEAGUE TABLE



Six games left and one more before the league split, I ask you - is this our year? Because it's looking pretty damn good right about now!

YOUTH INTAKE



Two out of the pack look decent.



Conor Walker - D(L) - youth intake

Very physical at this level at such a young age and his mentals are a sight for sore eyes too. Almost good enough to steal a place in the first team already. Was there any need to buy Reggie Morgan in January?

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 31



The midweek cup replay was bound to catch up with us as we failed to pick up maximum points at home to Coleraine. Can’t say we were more dominant than the visitors, lacking in ideas to correct our early mistakes. In fairness there was no stopping the Coleraine opener as Mark Byrne hit a jaw-dropping screamer from 25 yards that rooted McDermott to the spot. All we had to go on was a stonewall penalty when McParland was bundled over and Donnelly held his nerve to restore parity. Byrne nearly had us undone once more but for the fingertips of McDermott and consolidate with a draw. Didn't help with Cliftonville winning and we could feel their breath on our shoulders.

TENNENT'S IRISH CUP

QUARTER FINAL REPLAY



Didn’t eff up the replay thankfully, sending brave Dergview packing out of the Irish Cup to reach the semis. Sean Clarke scored the pick of the three with a wonderfully weighted looper over the keeper and drifted into the top corner of the net. Donnelly and McFarland added gloss to an already safe advantage. Is it too early to speculate a potential quadruple?

SEMI FINAL DRAW



Getting a sense of déjà vu. Cliftonville, Dergview and Newington were teams we faced on the build up to the League Cup. Is it a sign?

19 years on, 600th game on this journey.

TENNENT'S IRISH CUP

QUARTER FINAL



The Irish Cup semis were on the line and we failed to deliver at our feeder club. Quite the game for Dergview left back David McDermott scoring at both ends, one that he had no right scoring against us. What makes it worse is that the constitutes (yes, that’s actually their nickname) were reduced to ten men and literally packed the penalty area to keep us out to take the tie to an unfavourable replay.

MID-ULSTER CUP

SEMI FINAL



More a personal victory for me than entry into another cup final, what an impression by our third choice left winger Philip Dardis to finally take down Portadown. Embedded in on the count of Brady and Kane hampering injuries, the lad didn’t take long to sparkle, tapping home in the early stages following Sean Clarke’s effort saved by the keeper. His second developed from a set piece, taking free kick honours to plant one right into the top corner to confirm our place. McParland scored too, but the headlines belong to the new man on the block. Earns himself the nickname of ‘The Tardis’ after that.

FINAL DRAW



Glenavon put five past Armagh in the semis to set us up for a tricky final.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 30



Brushed the dirt off our shoulders to bounce back with a rather fortunate win against Crusaders. Very physical game, losing three players to injuries in the melee but early goals from Dempsey and a stunner from McSweeney had us on the right track. Wilkinson kept us on our toes as Crues fought back but shunted them out through pretty questionable goalkeeping from Hamilton who somehow let McSweeney’s shot trickle past him. Three points, but it gets even better – Cliftonville and Glenavon dropped points!




Two key losses but thankfully not out for too long.



Considering Montgomery only played one half due to McDermott's injury, he did well to get into team of the week alongside McSweeney.

13 goals in the opening two PL games, my word.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 29



And there it goes, twenty games unbeaten is where the run ends and in sorry fashion to fellow title-fighting Glenavon. Rubbish performance on their obscenely long pitch to favour their direct style and exploited us all ends up. Direct football is something sides I’ve managed in the past don’t fare too well against and we were stung mightily fierce. Barry Caffrey pulled all the strings as left wing-back; scored an absolute worldie early on and ran half the length of the field to set up David Brown for number two. Shane Beggs (no relation to Peter) ensured defeat for us and there was no coming back. One measly goal from McFarland is all we could manage when the damage had already been done. Blows the title race wide open now.



And news didn't get any better. Liam Watt has been somewhat influential in midfield but now faces time out with injury.



At least Aaron Kane had a good enough game to make it into team of the week.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Solid month marred by the Glenavon defeat, can't complain really as we beat Cliftonville on the flipside.

LEAGUE TABLE



All to play for as Glenavon suck us back in with Cliftonville (who lost twice this month) in the race for the league, five points between the three.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 28



Foiled again! We just can’t beat these sectarians can we? Had a hunch we’d get one over them with a peach of a free kick by that man again Dempsey to see out the first half. Portadown weren't constructing anything worrying and with nine minutes left, their first shot on target no less, substitute McElhatton (incidently a former Dungannon trainee) snatched the glory away from us with a well taken goal. Complacency cost us this game, let's hope we don't regret it when we look at the final league table.

DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP

MATCHDAY 27



A huge, huge, HUGE result in the context of the title chase, fatigue I feared would be an issue but instead it was Cliftonville’s rustiness that led to their downfall. First half was filled with action, Brady latching onto a poor headed clearance from a corner to poke us in front. Dean McDermott brought a top drawer save to deny Denver McCabe just moments later, but defending the resulting corner was a travesty, allowing Woods to level up. Cometh the master Sean Dempsey to finish his 20th goal of the season to restore our advantage four minutes later. Thereafter, Cliftonville dominated but our centre back partnership continued to be strong as ever with 48 interceptions between them. Our hearts were in mouths in the last five minute when Woods tucked home a rebound to equalise...if the offside rule never existed, chalked off to maintain the 2-1 scoreline. The win widens the gap now to five points at the top. Dare we dream?



This is why Dempsey is on Spurs' radar.



Looking unbeatable at present.



Only Turner made it into team of the week, but his solid defending definitely earned it.

@b0nb0n - You start with the bottom three leagues (i.e. Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar) and work your way up by winning either the domestic league or domestic cup(s) to unlock the next step up and so on. I'm currently at #47, so I've a while to go!

@Shedender @GreenFront - Thank you guys for the support!

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This was interesting, never had a clean sweep in a goal of the month award. David Donnelly's long range effort on New Year's Day versus Linfield got the verdict.
https://streamable.com/56odi




Also awarded manager of the month for our 100% month.

TENNENT'S IRISH CUP

SIXTH ROUND



Gambled all in with our strongest selection despite knowing we had a top of the table clash with Cliftonville on the horizon just two days after. Even contest with Ballinamallard unlucky not to at least bring the game to a replay. Donnelly got fortunate with an abundance of deflections in the process to tap home past the flustered Duffin in goal. The Mallards justified the scoreline with a vicious counter to bring the game level at half time. We eventually punched their lights out with Aaron Kane heading in against his former club and a terrific solo run by Dempsey opened up space for Liam Watt to cushion home a third for good measure. Henry gave B'mallard a second wind to make it an intense final fifteen and Montgomery had to push away an injury time effort but on we march to the quarter finals!

QUARTER FINAL DRAW



Fate has been kind to us to set us up with our feeder club Dergview for another cup bout.

MID-ULSTER CUP

QUARTER FINAL



Back to reality with a total mismatch of quality, shoving Tandragee into the corner and having our way with them. Sean Dempsey recalled to the team due to streaky form and a hat-trick was just the boost he needed, claiming his first after 29 seconds. Centre back Gary Turner also found the net for a 3-0 half time lead but his partner in crime Conor McParland had communication errors to allow Tandragee a way back. Needless to say they were a long way from coming back. Domination.

SEMI FINAL DRAW



The scum in the semis.

RESULTS OVERVIEW



Now that's what I call a perfect month. Mostly cup games, but seven wins from seven is the lucky number. Superb month for Sean Dempsey and David Donnelly collectively scoring eleven goals this month. The future is looking very bright for Dungannon.

LEAGUE TABLE



Hotting up with ourselves leading with 53 points, Cliftonville fall to second just two points shy on 51 and Glenavon remain third with 48. Linfield, Glentoran and Portadown aren't out of it yet either but it seems very unlikely.