Kealan Dillon hailed Dungannon Swifts’ progress over the previous two seasons because the midfielder fired the membership to the brink of one other European journey.
The Swifts secured a European marketing campaign final summer time following their historic Irish Cup victory over Cliftonville within the 2025 Irish Cup ultimate.
Practically 12 months on and after narrowly lacking out on a second successive cup win, Dillon bagged the essential purpose to see off the Reds within the play-off semi-final to arrange a winner-takes-all showdown with Linfield at Windsor Park on Tuesday night time with a spot within the Uefa Convention League qualifiers up for grabs.
“We had been in a relegation play-off a few years in the past and now we’re competing for Irish Cups and European play-offs, so, cannot be too disheartened although shedding an Irish Cup was a troublesome one to take,” stated Dillon, who scored the Swifts’ winner at Solitude.
“After the frustration final week, it is clearly nice having one other probability of stepping into Europe. We have gained our two video games now, we’ll go to Linfield on Tuesday night time and see the place it takes us.”
Dillon is now relishing the assembly with Linfield, even when it means one other recreation in what has already been a protracted season for the Swifts.
“It’ll be practically bang on a full yr since we got here again on the tenth of June final yr,” added the 32-year-old.
“If we wish to compete at this finish of the desk for most of these honours, you must have the lengthy season and you must simply hold going.
“If you cannot stand up for video games away in Windsor Park for a ultimate, for an opportunity to play in Europe, then you do not belong taking part in the game, to be trustworthy.
“We’ll give it all the pieces. We fancy ourselves towards anybody on our day. We’ll see the place it takes us.”
