A second-half hat-trick from Scottish forward Kieran Offord ensured Linfield kicked off the defence of their Premiership crown in a positive manner this afternoon with a 3-0 win over Dungannon Swifts at Windsor Park.
The match was initially scheduled for Saturday 9 August, but was put back 24 hours to Sunday due to the Blues’ ongoing European commitments. 2,010 spectators were in attendance; 1,837 Linfield supporters and 173 for Dungannon Swifts.
Sandwiched in between an important UEFA Conference League Q3 tie against Faroese champions Vikingur, the Blues remained focused on the task at hand. David Healy made two changes from the team which narrowly lost 2-1 in Torshavn on Thursday. Club captain Jamie Mulgrew was unable to shake off an injury picked up in that match – which was his 800th appearance for the Blues – and was replaced in the starting eleven by Kyle McClean, whilst Charlie Allen replaced Ethan McGee who dropped to the bench. David Healy was absent from the touchline due to suspension, whilst Scot Whiteside was missing from the squad for the same reason, having been sent off against Coleraine on the final day of last season.
Whilst it was a quick turnaround for the Blues, Dungannon Swifts were fresh having been knocked out of the second round of UEFA Conference League qualifying ten days prior despite a gallant effort and an historic away win over Vaduz of Lichtenstein in the first leg.
Perhaps that freshness was a factor in the opening stages of the match as Dungannon looked the more likely to score early on, particularly when they counter-attacked. The Swifts had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down inside three minutes as Thomas Maguire and Chris Shields collided and both ended up on the ground inside the Linfield box.
A few minutes later Rodney McAree’s team had a good chance as James Knowles’ corner from the left was put into a dangerous area at pace and it was met by defender Danny Wallace whose glancing header flashed just wide of the far post.
Andrew Mitchell also led a dangerous Dungannon breakaway down the left early on, flashing a low cross across the box, with Thomas Maguire a whisker away from getting on the end of it from a central area.
The Blues showed more as the half went on. Good defending from Wallace crucially prevented Fitzpatrick from receiving Millar’s low cross at close range, then a few minutes later Millar delivered a free-kick from the left to the back post area where it was met by Ben Hall whose header was saved.
The closest Linfield came to taking the lead in the first half was in the 28th minute when the lively Kieran Offord cut inside from the left and fired a cross-come-shot agonisingly wide of the far corner. Matthew Fitzpatrick went in to meet it with his head, and it only needed a touch, but the striker was unable to apply it.
The Blues ended the half strongly with Offord going close again as his low goalward shot was blocked in front of goal following Kirk Millar’s pull-back.
David Healy’s men did put the ball in the back of the net two minutes before the break, but it was disallowed for offside against Matthew Fitzpatrick who’d headed in Kirk Millar’s free-kick delivery from the right.
Dungannon Swifts then had a big opportunity on the stroke of half-time against the run of play as Sean McAllister’s cross from the right found Andrew Mitchell at the back post for a free header, but he put it wide.
HT: LINFIELD 0-0 DUNGANNON SWIFTS
Linfield made a change at the break as Kirk Millar was replaced by 20-year-old Sean Brown who was making his League debut for the Club, and the youngster impressed with a great show of energy up and down the right flank.
A strong start to the second half set the champions on their way as they were awarded a penalty three minutes after the break. The visitors were unable to clear a Linfield corner before pinball ensued. The Blues won the aerial duels as Hall headed the ball on before Fitzpatrick nipped in ahead of Dungannon defender Wallace who kicked the ball of the striker’s foot in an attempt to clear. Kieran Offord stepped up to send the ‘keeper the opposite direction as he tucked the ball into the bottom right corner.
The Blues probed for a second goal thereafter, with a dangerous cross from Sean Brown well defended again by Wallace to prevent Fitzpatrick receiving it and likely scoring at close range. The ball went for a corner which was swung in by McClean, met cleanly by Roscoe and cleared off the line by James Knowles.
Fitzpatrick also went close after being slipped in by McClean who’d been gifted the ball by Caolan Marron in a dangerous area, but the striker’s driven shot was well saved by Declan Dunne who parried it away.
Then, with 20 minutes remaining, the Blues got the second goal that their play had deserved. It had been coming, and again it was Kieran Offord who scored it. McClean’s corner was well met by Fitzpatrick whose powerful header was blocked on the line by Swifts captain Bigirimana. The Swifts were unable to clear and Ben Hall put in a crunching tackle which set up Kieran Offord to squeeze a low shot only through Bigirimana’s legs and also through the legs of the goalkeeper. A double nutmeg finish!
The flying Scotsman then struck again a minute later to clinch his hat-trick. McClean intercepted from deep, Fitzpatrick received it and slipped Offord away down the inside right channel. Full of confidence, the 21-year-old took on Wallace, got a driven shot off which was parried by the goalkeeper, and then followed in to produce a brilliant looping header over the goalkeeper.
With Thursday’s European tie possibly in mind, the former St. Mirren striker earned a well deserved rest after 73 minutes as he was replaced by Chris McKee, with the South Stand rising to their feet to applaud Offord off the pitch, accompanied with chants of ‘There’s only one Kieran Offord!’
The match fizzled out with Linfield in a commanding 3-0 lead, with one rare chance towards the end for the visitors as McGinty had a free header from McAleese’s cross from the right, but it was comfortable enough for Chris Johns to save.
Dungannon Swifts’ goalkeeper Declan Dunne was sent off after the final whistle for dissent.
A positive start for the Blues who now turn their attention to a massive European tie this Thursday as they aim to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Faroe Islands’ champions, Vikingur, at Windsor Park.
FT: LINFIELD 3-0 DUNGANNON SWIFTS
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Matthew Orr, Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, Kirk Millar (Sean Brown 45’), Josh Archer, Chris Shields ©, Kyle McClean (Ethan McGee 73’), Charlie Allen (Ryan McKay 83’), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Rhys Annett 83’), Kieran Offord (Chris McKee 73’)
Subs: David Walsh (GK), Callumn Morrison
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Declan Dunne (GK), Malachy Smith (Kealan Dillon 65’), Caolan Marron, Danny Wallace, Cahal McGinty, Adam Glenny, James Knowles (Booby-Jack McAleese 65’), Gael Bigirimana ©, Sean McAllister (Brandon Bermingham 65’), Thomas Maguire (John Scott 72’), Andrew Mitchell (Tomas Galvin 65’)
Subs: Alex Henderson (GK), Peter Maguire
Referee: Tony Clarke
Yellow cards: Chris Shields (Linfield), Rodney McAree, Declan Dunne*, Adam Glenny, Thomas Maguire, Mal Smith, Sean McAllister, Tomas Galvin
*Sent off after final whistle.