IRISH CUP: Portadown claim derby bragging rights over Loughgall
Tiarnan Mulvenna fired Portadown into the Irish Cup quarter-finals to cap a second-half fightback against derby rivals Loughgall.
A slick solo effort by Mulvenna on 61 minutes put the Ports on top after the January signing cut in from the left wing and produced a composed finish.
Shea McGerrigan, a former Loughgall player, had found the net with a close-range strike to level the sixth-round tie at Lakeview Park early in the second half.
On-song Championship side Loughgall grabbed an early lead on 11 minutes as debut goalkeeper Jack Duffin failed to hold John Uprichard’s initial drive from distance, with former Portadown youth product Peter Campbell racing in to convert.
Ken Oman steered one header over the bar off a corner-kick by Matt Hazley, the latter also making his Portadown debut.
Then Graham Taylor had to scramble clear a drilled cross by McGerrigan, with Mark McAllister firing the rebound just wide.
Teenage centre-back Ross Larkin enjoyed an assured senior debut for Portadown.
LOUGHGALL: Gareth Buchanan, Ruairi McDonald, Jamie Rea, Ricky Copeland, Graham Taylor, Marc McConnell, Steven Ferguson, Andrew Hoey, John Uprichard, Peter Campbell. Subs: Marcus Dallas (McMaster, 75), Jack Upritchard (Uprichard, 80), Mark Stewart, Paul Stretton, Chris Elliott.
PORTADOWN: Jack Duffin, Brendan Shannon, Ken Oman, Ross Larkin, Matthew Hazley, Robert Garrett, Niall Henderson, Shea McGerrigan, Adam Foley, Mark McAllister, Tiarnan Mulvenna. Subs: Conor Larkin, Tim Mouncey, Marcio Soares (Mulvenna, 86), Shane Dolan (McAllister, 80), Jaime Gardiner (Foley, 90).
Referee: Andrew Davey.