Stephen Baxter celebrated his 898th game in charge of Crusaders with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts in Saturday’s Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup Quarter-Final at Mourneview Park. Substitute Declan Caddell scored the only goal of the game in injury time to send the Crusaders fans into rapturous cheers and his side into a cup final on May 7 with Ballymena United in a repeat of last year’s showpiece.
Travelling fans from both sides were treated to a cagey first-half affair, highlighting the stakes involved. Crusaders looked the more likely to score and had the chance of the half in the 22nd minute. Ross Clarke delivered a trademark free-kick from the right, which was met by the head of a rising Philip Lowry eight yards out. Somehow, Swifts goalkeeper Declan Dunne kept the ball out at full stretch much to the relief of boss Dean Shiels. Matters didn’t improve in the opening half with Dungannon losing chief goal-threat Rhyss Camplbell to injury after a collision with Clarke. As expected, The Co.Tyrone side were happy to allow Crusaders plenty of possession and kept to a game plan of limiting service to Adam Lecky up front, a job they did relatively well.
The reigning champions started the second-half with noticeably more urgency, Paul Heatley going close twice in the opening five minutes. Firstly, failing to get enough on a low fizzing Rory McKeown cross and secondly with a fantastic hooked effort which went just wide of the far post after a knock-on from substitute veteran Jordan Owens. On 55 minutes, Jordan Forsythe was inches away from having a contender for goal of the season. The midfielder struck a sweet volley from all of 25 yards which smashed off the right hand Dungannon upright and was cleared to safety. The Swifts had their first clear effort two minutes later. The ball falling to Joe Moore 12 yards out after a scramble in the box, but the young winger blazed over the top when the goal beckoned. Joe McCready could have won it for Dungannon after racing clear towards the Crusaders goal but captain Billy Joe Burns raced back to make a fantastic tackle.
As time ran out, both sides seemed to have settled for extra-time. However a looped clearance from Lowry found its way to Paul Heatley, who in turn sent the ball through to Caddell who lobbed the advancing Dunne to win it for Crusaders in the 92nd minute and turn Mourneview Park into a sea of red and black