Image source, InphoImage caption, Dillon's goal secured a play-off final place for the Swifts against Linfield on Tuesday
- Published27 minutes ago
Kealan Dillon hailed Dungannon Swifts' progress over the past two seasons as the midfielder fired the club to the brink of another European adventure.
The Swifts secured a European campaign last summer following their historic Irish Cup victory over Cliftonville in the 2025 Irish Cup final.
Nearly 12 months on and after narrowly missing out on a second successive cup win, Dillon bagged the crucial goal to see off the Reds in the play-off semi-final to set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Linfield at Windsor Park on Tuesday night with a place in the Uefa Conference League qualifiers up for grabs.
"We were in a relegation play-off a couple of years ago and now we're competing for Irish Cups and European play-offs, so, can't be too disheartened even though losing an Irish Cup was a tough one to take," said Dillon, who scored the Swifts' winner at Solitude.
"After the disappointment last week, it's obviously great having another chance of getting into Europe. We've won our two games now, we'll go to Linfield on Tuesday night and see where it takes us."
Dillon is now relishing the meeting with Linfield, even if it means another game in what has already been a long season for the Swifts.
"It's going to be nearly bang on a full year since we came back on the 10th of June last year," added the 32-year-old.
"If we want to compete at this end of the table for these types of honours, you have to have the long season and you have to just keep going.
"If you can't get up for games away in Windsor Park for a final, for a chance to play in Europe, then you don't belong playing the sport, to be honest.
"We'll give it everything. We fancy ourselves against anyone on our day. We'll see where it takes us."
'We have to go again' - McAree
Image source, InphoImage caption, McAree is aiming to lead the Swifts into a second successive European campaign
Swifts boss Rodney McAree has challenged his squad to "go again" against Linfield after successive wins over Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville in the space of a week.
"We just have to find a way and we have to go again," said McAree.
"We came here tonight wanting to be in the final and we knew it was going to be a tough schedule for us in terms of getting over the line.
"We've won two big games, Carrick at home and we've come to Cliftonville, which is a very, very tough place to come to.
"We have to challenge ourselves, I think we can go all in against a team that we haven't beat all year and try and turn them over in a one-off occasion."
