Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree expressed that the European play-off final was “a step too far” for his team after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Linfield at Windsor Park.
Matthew Fitzpatrick’s hat-trick paved the way for Linfield’s progression into the first round of the UEFA Conference League. McAree acknowledged that playing three matches within just over a week took its toll on his squad.
Following their loss in the Irish Cup final to Coleraine, the Swifts had only four days to prepare for their quarter-final victory over Carrick Rangers, and then faced Cliftonville in the semi-final just three days later, leading up to Tuesday’s final.
In contrast, Linfield, having won the BetMcLean Cup in March, went directly to the final without any matches in the 17 days preceding the decisive game, prompting McAree to criticize the scheduling.
“To be honest, it was a step too far. Linfield deserved their win, they are a strong team that applied pressure from the outset,” he told BBC Sport NI. “We appeared fatigued in the first half, though we started the second half positively, the second goal was a real blow for us.”
McAree further added, “The scheduling needs to be examined. I’m not usually one to make excuses, but in this case, the league really needs to take a look at when finals are held to ensure they are favorable for all clubs involved, allowing for a bit more recovery time, which could have aided us.”
‘Competing with full-time teams is becoming increasingly difficult’
The defeat in the play-off final capped off a disappointing season for the Swifts, who finished sixth in the Irish Premiership.
They managed to rebound from their 3-2 loss in the Irish Cup final against Coleraine, defeating Carrick and Cliftonville, but ultimately fell short of securing a second consecutive European competition entry.
“We were like a wounded animal against Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville, but you could see our energy levels dropping at the end of the Cliftonville match,” McAree remarked. “There was very little rest after the Irish Cup final—straight into a quarter-final, then a semi-final, and now we’ve faced defeat in the final. It may sound like making excuses, but that’s the reality.”
“We’re proud to have reached the Irish Cup final and the European play-off final, but we wish we could have performed better,” he added.
Linfield’s victory ensured that all four full-time teams in the league’s top four qualified for European competitions. McAree pointed out that the gap between full-time teams and part-time clubs is “growing larger,” and even among full-time teams, some possess significantly more resources than others.
“When you consider the resources available to some full-time teams—not naming anyone specifically—they are distancing themselves from the rest,” he stated. “It’s increasingly tough for part-time teams to keep pace, especially when clubs are reportedly paying high salaries. This creates added pressure for both part-time and full-time teams.” He concluded, “It’s getting harder to compete, but that’s the challenge we face, and we must find ways to stay competitive.”