Caledonia Dreaming or Ian38018 Sporting Travels

Thursday, 2 April 2026

Stangmore Park

Dungannon Swifts 1-2 Coleraine

28th March 2026

This was the first weekend of the (Northern) Irish Premiership post-split fixtures, wherein the top six sides in the league jettison the bottom six, and each play one another once more to decide the title winner.

Larne had topped the pile at the split, leading Glentoran by four points, with third-placed Coleraine already looking out of things four more points off the top.

The top six was completed by Linfield (having a relatively poor season), Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts. And it was the latter's ground I decided to visit this afternoon, to watch them take on visitors Coleraine.

And a very entertaining match it turned out to be: the home side went ahead after only 4 minutes when Kobei MOORE outstripped the Coleraine defence to impressively bash one past visiting 'keeper Ryan Schofield.

Coleraine's Joel COOPER levelled the scores around the half-hour mark, he whupping a left-foot volley from the edge of the box, after home 'keeper Alex Henderson was less than convincing when attempting to punch clear. And, I have to say, I don't think Swifts' defender Caolon Marron's bizarre attempt at a "draft excluder" block aided his side's cause any.

Dungannon Rugby Club play nearby

Stangmore Park

Dungannon Swifts v Coleraine (March 2026)

Half time

Coleraine's Mark COYLE scored what proved to be winner, in the 50th minute, in a manner remarkably similar to his teammate's strike earlier. As with Cooper's goal, the Swifts' defence failed to deal with a cross - and the ball fell to an opponent on the edge of the box, whose left foot did the needful.

Although the scoring ended there, the fun did not, as the match ebbed and flowed from end to end, as both sides simply set out to entertain.

And, I for one, would not have felt it a travesty had Dungannon snatched a late equaliser.

But 'twas not to be.

Mark Coyle's winner 1

Mark Coyle's winner 2

Mark Coyle's winner 3

Mark Coyle's winner 4

Time up

Dungannon Swifts' Stangmore Park is closer to the village of Moygashel, than it is to Dungannon town centre, so it was to the former I gravitated for lunch and a wander around.