The Dodgers Need To Start Hitting If They Want To 3-Peat
The Dodgers need to improve their hitting to secure a 3-peat.
Dungannon Swifts lost 3-1 to Linfield in the European play-off final, with coach Rodney McAree stating it was a 'step too far' for his team. The Swifts faced a grueling schedule, playing three matches in just over a week.
Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree said the European play-off final proved to be "a step too far" for his side as they were beaten 3-1 by Linfield at Windsor Park.
Matthew Fitzpatrick's hat-trick helped the Blues ease into the first round of the Uefa Conference League, with McAree admitting three games in the space of just over a week caught up with side.
After their Irish Cup final defeat against Coleraine, the Swifts had four days to prepare for their quarter-final win over Carrick Rangers and they then beat Cliftonville in the semi-final at Solitude three days after that before Tuesday's final.
Linfield, by virtue of winning the BetMcLean Cup in March, went straight through to the final and hadn't played in 17 days prior to the decider, with McAree critical of the schedule.
"A step too far to be honest. Linfield were deserved winners first and foremost. They are a good team and they put us under pressure from the start," he told BBC Sport NI.
"I thought we looked leggy in the first half especially. We started the second half quite well, but the second goal kills us.
"I think the schedule needs looked at. I'm not one for looking for excuses, but I might make a little one here in terms of the league can take it out of the hands of the clubs in terms of when the final can be played.
"It shouldn't be a vote the league should look at it and make it favourable for all clubs involved and we can get a little bit more rest which maybe helps us."
The play-off final defeat was a disappointing end to an inconsistent season for the Swifts, who finished sixth in the Irish Premiership table.
They bounced back well from their 3-2 Irish Cup final defeat against Coleraine to see off Carrick and Cliftonville, but fell short again against they missed out on a second successive season in Europe.
"We were a wounded animal against Carrick Rangers and Cliftonville but you could see at the end of the Cliftonville game energy levels was getting a bit much," McAree added.
The final score was 3-1 in favor of Linfield.
Matthew Fitzpatrick scored a hat-trick for Linfield.
Dungannon Swifts struggled due to a demanding schedule, playing three matches in just over a week.
Linfield had not played for 17 days prior to the final.
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"We had very little break after the Irish Cup final, straight into a quarter-final, that wasn't here last year, a semi-final then a final we got beat here tonight. It's maybe looking for excuses but it is what it is.
"We're proud that we're involved in an Irish Cup final and European play-off final, but we'd like to give a better account of ourselves if it was possible."
Linfield's victory ensured that all four full-time teams, who finished in the top four in the league, qualified for European competitions.
McAree believes that the gap in the league between the full-time teams and part-time clubs "is getting bigger" but that there is even a disparity between the resources certain full-time teams can call upon compared to others.
"You look at the resources some of the full-time teams have, and I'm not naming names, but they're pulling away from others.
"It's becoming more difficult to stay in touch with full-time teams from a part-time point of view and there's a knock on when clubs are reportedly paying the wages they're paying, an average player becomes a bit more expensive and that puts a lot of pressure on the part-time and full-time teams.
"It's getting harder to compete but that's the challenge and we have to find a way to stay as close to them as possible."