Sweet-moving Glentoran were quickly into their rhythm and hindsight shows they actually won the points in the opening 15 minutes, Darryl Fordyce not on target but playing a huge part in the two goals that ultimately proved decisive.

His centre paved the way for Gary Hamilton’s opener and he was then on the receiving end of a sloppy Adam McMinn challenge that provided the chance for Colin Nixon to score from a spot-kick within 60 seconds. Timmy Adamson pulled a goal back for Swifts, but the points deservedly went back to Belfast.

“We are now second in the league, so the players are doing something right,” said a delighted Alan McDonald.

“You know what you will get at Dungannon. Scott Young told me that this is only the third time in six years that Glentoran have won down here and that is credit to Harry and his players.

“Having scored twice early in the tie we obviously started well but, when Dungannon pulled one back, I was concerned to be just one goal ahead. But, bar scoring, I thought we closed the game out in a very professional manner,” added the Glens boss.

His opposite number was understandably disappointed.

“The two goals we conceded were absolutely comical if you could afford a laugh,” groaned Harry Fay.

“The easy thing to do then would have been to roll over and die, but the guys should some great character to get back into the game.”

Glentoran had gone close to scoring in the opening minute when Michael Halliday supplied Kyle Neill, but the midfielder sliced his shot well over onrushing keeper and the bar.

Swifts recovered from that early scare and had more than their fair share of the play but without causing Glentoran keeper Elliot Morris any trouble.

On unlucky 13 minutes the home team conceded, Hamilton supplying a poacher’s finish to squeeze his shot between the keeper and the left post after Fordyce crossed from the left side; advantage Glentoran.

Then before the early celebrations had died down, the Glens were awarded a penalty after the Swifts centre back fouled the menacing Fordyce on the edge of the box, referee Brian Turkington well placed to make the call.

Nixon coolly stepped up and hit a weak, but accurately placed, shot into the bottom left corner as Dwayne Nelson stood fixed to his goal-line.

Swifts slowly gathered momentum again and, after Darren Murphy headed over and Fergal McAliskey had a low shot from Rodney McAree’s corner stopped by Morris, they pulled a goal back through Timmy Adamson.

It was a simple creation from a long throw-in by Darragh Peden. Adamson outjumped his marker, getting enough on the header to send the ball out of the keeper’s reach and in off the left post.

Five minutes later Hamilton was inches away from restoring the two-goal advantage when he controlled a Kyle Neill cross but rolled a shot just beyond the far left post.

Things got hot and heavy just before the break following a foul by Murphy on former Swifts man Shane McCabe. There was a tangle in the middle of the pitch with ten players involved, the referee singling out Hamilton and JP Gallagher, yellow cards for both.

After the interval, both teams had chances to add to their score substitute Michael Hegarty sent a low effort narrowly wide, while Fordyce and Nixon fired off target for Glentoran before the hour.

On 64 minutes Mark McAllister came close to levelling the game when he met a corner from McAree. A low downward header from the U21 international was on target but easy for Morris to make a save.

Then, after Fordyce shot wide again, Swifts had a couple of chances in a busy 77th minute.

Substitute Aaron Baker had the first opportunity but with his shot blocked he played wide to Marc McCann on the left side of the box. A rising effort from the winger was also stopped short but the danger remained for The Glens as Jason Hill’s attempted clearance was hit goalward, forcing keeper Morris to make a late snatch off the line.

Dungannon had the majority of the play in the final quarter but couldn’t create the scoring chance that their performance deserved yet, had Dwayne Nelson not been on top of his game, they could have lost by a wider margin.

Sub Andrew Waterworth broke out of the middle and raced in at goal with just two minutes remaining, but a great save by Nelson thwarted the former Hamilton Academical player.

DUNGANNON: Nelson 7, McAliskey 7, Montgomery 7, McMinn 6, Peden 6, Gallagher 6, McAree 6, Tomelty 6, Murphy 7, Adamson 7, McAllister 7. Subs – McCann 6 for Adamson 64, Baker 5 for Peden 72, Hegarty 6 for Murphy 46, Fitzpatrick, Regan

GLENTORAN: Morris 7, Nixon 7, Neill 7, Hill 6, Leeman 6, McCabe 6, Ward 7, Fordyce 8, Halliday 5, Hamilton 7, Scullion 6. Subs – Waterworth 5 for Halliday 81, Simpson, Taylor, Gardner, McGovern

REFEREE: Brian Turkington (Belfast) 7