Dungannon Swifts have progressed to the Irish Premiership European play-off semi-final, with manager Rodney McAree pointing to the character and professionalism of his squad as the driving force behind their advance.
The result, reported by BBC Sport, arrives in the wake of a difficult period for the club in cup competition, making the manner of their progress as significant to McAree as the outcome itself. That a side carrying recent disappointment could respond in this fashion was, in his view, a mark of the group's resolve.
Dungannon are one of the more established clubs in the Irish Premiership, and a place in the European play-off semi-final represents a meaningful opportunity to extend their season into continental qualification contention. The play-off route exists precisely to give sides outside the automatic European places a second chance, and Swifts have now taken full advantage of that opening.
McAree has been a consistent presence in the dugout at Stangmore Park, and his emphasis on collective mentality over individual performance reflects an approach that appears to have steadied the squad through a turbulent run of results in knockout football. The ability to compartmentalise those setbacks and redirect focus to the league's play-off structure speaks to a degree of organisational discipline that will be needed as the semi-final approaches.
The identity of their semi-final opponents has not been confirmed in the available reports, and the scheduling of that fixture is likewise unclear. What is established is that Swifts have earned their place in the last four, and McAree will expect the same standards of professionalism when that tie comes around.