David Jeffrey rues missed chances as Portadown knocked out of BetMcLean Cup by Cliftonville
Portadown boss David Jeffrey was left to rue missed chances after Cliftonville dumped his side out of the BetMcLean Cup at Shamrock Park on Tuesday.
Jim Magilton’s visitors – the 2025 winners – sealed a 2-0 victory to progress to the second round after Alex Bannon opened the scoring four minutes before half-time, while Joseph Sheridan’s strike on 57 minutes settled the contest.
Portadown had beaten the Reds at Solitude 2-1 in an Irish Premiership clash on Saturday evening, but Jeffrey felt the Ports enjoyed more opportunities in front of goal in Tuesday’s encounter.
“I think the irony is that we created more chances than we did on Saturday,” he told Ports TV.
“Saturday was an excellent performance and I made the point that we did have a little bit of good fortune to get us the three points which ultimately, I don’t think anyone could say we didn’t deserve because of how we went about our business.
“The frustrating thing is we created chances tonight and didn’t take them, and if we took our chances tonight then we would have won the game. And it’s as simple as that.
“I said to Jim Magilton and Gerry Lyttle coming off, ‘tonight was your night, you had the chances that went your way’.
“But frustrating, because we really wanted to progress in this competition. Absolutely no way, shape or form are we making any excuses and I said from the start of the season we wouldn’t do so, but I will simply state the fact we played on a Saturday night at six o’clock and then obviously a game tonight, and then we’re at Linfield on Friday.
“So we had to do a little bit of making sure we looked after players and we actually picked up a couple of injuries on Saturday, Sean O’Mahoney being one with a bad shoulder injury,” Jeffrey added.
“With the amount of effort players put in on Saturday we had to make one or two changes but also as well we wanted to give other players in the squad an opportunity.
“I was pleased with the contribution. I said to the players it wasn’t about effort or work rate, it never is, but there were key moments when we could have done better.
“And tonight, if we had been more clinical in front of goal, then we would possibly be in the next round.”
Portadown will now host David Healy’s Linfield in the league at Shamrock Park tomorrow evening in what Jeffrey admits will be a “massive contest” under the lights.
“We’ll rest and recover, reflect on tonight and then come Thursday we’ll be back in again,” he said. “The players have their individual programmes which will help them recover over this next day or two, then we’ll prepare as best we can for what will be a tough game against Linfield, of that there is no doubt.
“They’re all tough games and as I said to the players tonight if we reflect back, if we’d had that little bit of better quality on specific occasions then we’re coming away [with a win] and that’s just the situation.
“So we dust ourselves down, we make sure we stick together as we’ve done right throughout; we know it’s going to be a massive contest against Linfield but we prepare to do our best.”
In Tuesday’s other all-Premiership tie, Dungannon Swifts edged Bangor 2-1 at Clandeboye Park.
Jamie Glackin and Kealan Dillon put the Swifts in early command, and although Ben Cushnie halved the deficit after 20 minutes, Bangor could not force an equaliser.
Carrick Rangers also progressed, seeing off Newry City 3-0 at home despite Nedas Maciulaitis being sent off after the break, while Ballymena United recovered from a goal down to beat Championship outfit Newington 3-1.
There was late drama at Annagh United, where John Butcher struck seven minutes from time to earn 10-man Limavady United a 4-3 victory.
Limavady had led by two when Adam Mullan was dismissed, allowing the hosts to battle back on level terms before Butcher settled the contest.
Elsewhere, Loughgall claimed a 3-0 win away to Institute. Harland & Wolff Welders won 3-1 at Armagh City, Moyola Park impressed with a 4-1 success at Dundela, and Glenavon cruised to a 5-0 victory over 10-man Strabane Athletic.
Two ties went the distance. Queen’s University prevailed 3-1 on penalties at Ballinamallard United following a 1-1 draw, while Rathfriland Rangers held their nerve to defeat Ards 6-5 in a shoot-out after a goalless stalemate.