Carrick Rangers fell to Dungannon Swifts, with manager Stephen Baxter discussing the impact of referee decisions on the game. The match saw Dungannon lead 1-0 after Leo Alves' stunning free-kick, before Carrick's Nathan Gartside was sent off for handling the ball outside his box.

What happened?

Carrick bounced back to head into half-time level thanks to Luke McCullough's equaliser, but the Swifts struck twice through Caolan Marron and Kealan Dillon to set up a weekend semi-final showdown with Cliftonville.

Why it matters for Carrick Rangers

Baxter reflected on the club's media channel, stating the game swings on two referee decisions, including a penalty that should have been awarded to Carrick and the sending off of Gartside.

What comes next?

The team will look to bounce back from the defeat, with Baxter praising the squad's work ethic and desire. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 7th in Northern Ireland Premiership, 43 pts, 12W-7D-14L from 33 games | | Recent form | LWWLD | | Last result | Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Carrick Rangers (2026-05-06) | Carrick Rangers will now focus on their next match, looking to improve their position in the league.