Fitzpatrick hat-trick helps Blues win European play-off

Irish Premiership Linfield 3 - 1 Dungannon Swifts FT Matthew Fitzpatrick scored a hat-trick as Linfield cruised to a 3-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts in the Irish Premiership's European play-off final. The talismanic striker took his tally for the season to 24 goals as the Blues secured a place in the first qualifying round of next season's Uefa Conference League. Linfield were worthy winners against beaten Irish Cup finalists Dungannon, for whom a third play-off game in the space of seven days proved too big a hurdle to overcome.

Victory saw Linfield add the revamped Ulster Cup trophy - introduced this season for the play-off winners - to the League Cup they won during the regular campaign. Hat-trick hero Fitzpatrick stars for Blues In a quiet opening, the first chance fell to Linfield as Adam Frizzell's cross from the left found Kirk Millar at the back post but the winger was too far from goal to get enough power in his header to trouble Declan Dunne. Dungannon hit the woodwork with their first attack when Corey Smith cut in from the left flank and his shot bounced once and clipped the outside of the post with goalkeeper Chris Johns appearing to have the danger covered.

Linfield took the lead in the 14th minute when Kyle McClean's pass sent Frizzell clear in the left-hand channel and his low cross was converted from close range by the in-rushing Fitzpatrick. The home side almost doubled their advantage inside the opening 20 minutes when Isaac Baird dispossessed Gael Bigirimana in midfield before playing in Fitzpatrick, but Swifts goalkeeper Dunne dived to his right to push the striker's effort away. Linfield had the ball in the net again before the half hour mark but Darragh Leahy's strike was ruled out for a foul by Baird on Paul Doyle earlier in the move.

Dunne then produced a vital double save just before the interval, first denying Millar's shot and then getting up quickly to thwart Fitzpatrick's follow-up effort. Dungannon had an early opening in the second period as Bigirimana set up Leo Alves, but he could only poke a left-footed effort wide of the post. It was Linfield's turn to hit the framework of the goal eight minutes into the second period as Millar's cross from the right found McClean but he could only force his shot against the inside of the near post.