David Jeffrey shows his typical passion in Saturday's decider

Jeffrey acknowledged that Dungannon seemed set for glory after Dwayne Nelson had saved Linfield's opening two spot-kicks in the penalty shoot-out.

"I turned to Terry Hayes and said it wasn't going to be our day," said the Blues boss.

"I'm very thankful that it turned out very different."

Jeffrey said that his team's victory was "fully deserved" after Dungannon keeper Nelson had denied his team on numerous occasions during the 120 minutes of action.

"In the second half, Dwayne Nelson kept them in the game and I'm not being ungracious. Our own players pushed and pushed and pushed.

"Great credit must go to Dungannon. They fought their eyestrings out but we knew it was going to be difficult.

"Alan Mannus made up for his (first-half) howler and to be back-to-back winners is just wonderful."

Linfield defender Pat McShane hit what proved to be ultimately the decisive penalty and spoke of his emotions as he stepped up to take the vital kick.

I found that the boys had nominated me for the fifth penalty. That's what friends are for, Linfield's Pat McShane

"I was probably the most nervous man in the stadium," said McShane.

"It was a matter of keeping the cool and getting my head down and picking my spot and not changing my mind. Luckily enough, the keeper went the wrong way.

"I volunteered to take one and I went away to get a drink and when I came back, I found that the boys had nominated me for the fifth penalty. That's what friends are for," laughed McShane.

The Linfield defender praised the beaten Dungannon players.

"They were magnificent today. They put us under pressure the whole game and we could not get the ball down and play our normal game.

"Fair play to them. There's no worse way to lose a game than a penalty shoot-out."

Dungannon captain Rodney McAree was hugely disappointed by his team's defeat but took some solace from their batting display.

I'm just gutted and I've got to go now to try and lift my players Dungannon Swifts manager Harry Fay

"We've got to take a bit of credit out of it. We took Linfield to 120 minutes and penalty kicks," said McAree.

"I thought we did very well in the first 45 minutes. We gave away two poor goals but they will say that they gave away two poor goals as well."

Despite his huge disappointment, McAree had few qualms with the shoot-out method being used to decide the outcome.

"I can't see any other way that you could decide it. Boys are over there out on the feet and it's been a long season for both sets of players."

The Swifts skipper praised the big turnout of Dungannon fans and said that he hopedthey would continue to support the club next season.

"They were absolutely magnificent today. I wish we would get them every week. You never know, we might attract a couple hundred more out of the people that came today."

Dungannon manager Harry Fay said that he was "inconsolable".

"I'm just gutted and I've got to go now to try and lift my players," said the Swifts boss.