Dungannon Swifts will defend their Irish Cup title after beating Cliftonville 4-3 on penalties at Windsor Park on Friday night, with goalkeeper Declan Dunne the hero as the Tyrone side secured their place in a second consecutive final.
The semi-final ended 1-1 after extra time in a tense encounter at the National Football Stadium. Dungannon's Kealan Dillon broke the deadlock in the 98th minute of extra time, only for Cliftonville to equalise in added time through a goal bundled in via Joe Sheridan and an own goal from Danny Wallace, forcing a shootout.
In the penalty shootout, Dunne made a crucial save from Sheridan's spot-kick, and Harry Wilson also missed for Cliftonville, while Dillon, Adam Glenny, Gael Bigirimana, and Sean McAllister all converted for the Swifts to seal a dramatic victory.
"When it went to penalties I ran into the toilet to have a look through my sheet," Dunne admitted afterwards with a smile. "I had done my homework and it paid off. This club means everything to me and to be going back to the final is incredible."
The result means Dungannon will face Coleraine in the May 2 final — a repeat of the 2025 decider, which the Swifts won. Manager Kris Lindsay praised his side's resilience after what he described as one of the most nerve-shredding nights of his managerial career.
For Cliftonville, it was a second consecutive semi-final defeat to Dungannon on penalties — a bitter blow for a side that had been in excellent form throughout the competition. Manager Jim Magilton said his players were devastated but proud of their cup run.
The Irish Cup final at Windsor Park on May 2 promises to be a compelling contest between two sides who know each other well, with Dungannon seeking to become the first side in recent memory to retain the trophy.
