Newry have shown we belong in the top flight, maintains Mullen

NEWRY boss Darren Mullen believes his players have shown they can compete at the top level. The Co Down side now have 15 points as the season reaches its midway stage, after this battling draw at Dungannon.

Mullen has been impressed with how Newry, promoted via the play-offs in May, have taken to Premiership life.

He said: “You would always like more points, and I think some of our performances have deserved more points, but we’re certainly enjoying it. Anybody who has watched us this season keeps saying it — we’re certainly not out of our depth. We are playing good football.”

Newry remain second bottom, a point behind Dungannon, after this draw. They took a 78th-minute lead when captain Declan Carville finished off a cross from Mark McCabe.

But the Swifts levelled three minutes from the end through Paul McElroy. Jarlath O’Rourke’s delivery was turned against the post by Kris Lowe, with McElroy scoring from the rebound.

Dungannon remain 10th after McElroy’s late, late equaliser.

The forward said: “Every goal I’ve scored this season seems to have been important, but this one was vitally important. We’ve kept ourselves above Newry, although we are disappointed not to get the three points.

“We want to try and keep the bit of momentum we have built up recently, and thankfully we have managed to get a point.” DGN SWIFTS: Moore, Lowe, Hegarty, Dykes (Armstrong, 52), O’Rourke, Wilson, Clucas, Patton, Teggart (Campbell, 46), McElroy, Lafferty (O’Carroll, 63). Subs not used: Harpur, Burke, Hutchinson, Smyth NEWRY CITY: Maguire, King, Noonan, Boyle, Montgomery, McCann (Walker, 90), Carville, McCabe, Hughes (Teggart, 77), Lavery (Rushe, 71), Healy. Subs not used: Hunter, Mooney, Johnston, Delaney Referee: Lee Tavinder (Cookstown) MOTM: Declan Carville Match rating:

4/10