Swifts beat Reds on penalties to reach Irish Cup final

Swifts beat Reds on penalties to reach Irish Cup final Image source, InphoImage caption, Dungannon beat Cliftonville on penalties in last year's finalByStephen AlexanderBBC Sport NI contributorPublished2 minutes agoHolders Dungannon Swifts are heading back to the Irish Cup final after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Cliftonville in Friday night's semi-final at Windsor Park.In a repeat of last season's decider, Dungannon looked to have booked a return to the showpiece in May thanks to Kealan Dillon's extra-time strike after the sides had failed to fashion a goal in 90 minutes.However, a late equaliser with the last action of extra time from Cliftonville sent the tie to penalties.In the shootout, Dungannon – as in last year's final – successfully converted all four of their kicks – while Sheridan and Harry Wilson missed for the Reds, to keep Dungannon's dreams of back-to-back Irish Cup triumphs alive.The Swifts will now await the winners of Saturday's other semi-final between Coleraine and Larne.Swifts victorious in penalty shootout once againIn a busy opening period, neither side could really establish an early foothold on the game.Cliftonville went close midway through the half when Jonny Addis low free kick from just outside the penalty area brushed the outside of the side netting on its way past.As the Reds began to gain some form of dominance, Rory Hale's inch-perfect through ball sent Brian Healy clear of the Dungannon rearguard but Danny Wallace recovered superbly to poke the ball behind for a corner at full stretch.Dungannon posed little threat to the Cliftonville goal in the opening 45 minutes with Gael Bigirimana's long-range shot straight at Reds keeper PJ Morrison.Dungannon's first clear-cut opening of the game came just after the hour mark when Kealan Dillon's pinpoint ball from midfield sent full-back Shea Gordon clear behind the Cliftonville defence but his shot lacked conviction and Morrison w...