'Honesty's the biggest virtue you can have' - Niall Currie reflects on Portadown exit pain

Shay McCartan handed the Ports early success with a stunning strike before Sean McAllister made it 1-1 off a goal of equal skill.

Andrew Mitchell’s close-range flick after climbing off the substitutes’ bench ultimately proved decisive in Dungannon Swifts’ 2-1 win.

Here’s the verdict of Portadown boss Niall Currie:

OVERALL PERFORMANCE...

“Massive credit to the players today….we’re hugely disappointed.

"Last week in defeat (home league loss to Carrick Rangers) we were booed off the pitch - quite rightly so – this week we were clapped off the pitch by the majority of the supporters.

"I've said many, many times, I think it's really important that the supporters see that you give everything and our supporters know that our players gave everything today.

"We've given away a really poor second goal...I actually thought that Dungannon were much more of a threat in the first half.

"I don't think they carried any threat in the second half at all.

"I think their goal's really, really bad (for 2-1)...the guy’s actually miskicked the free-kick, it went into the box at that (low) height and that can't happen.

"It went through two red shirts.”

LATE PRESSURE...

"You've got two wonderful chances at the end...they're poor misses, let's just be honest about it.

"I don't think we're getting much luck at the minute but that's on ourselves.

"The bottom line for me always has been very, very simple...it's the manner of things.

"The players gave every single drop that they could have today...we tried everything.

"We went into two up top, we went into a diamond, we threw Baris (Altintop) up top and, ultimately, we should have got a couple of goals.

"We should have got at least one goal to take it into extra-time.”

FRUSTRATION AT CUP EXIT...

"I'm extremely proud of the players.

"For a manager, the main thing for me is that the players still give you everything.

"And I think that answered quite a few questions today.

"Hopefully, it'll give us a platform even for confidence because the Irish Cup holders were glad to get out of Shamrock Park.

"In 23 years in management I've always been able to get players to play for me.

“The boys gave everything for me today, they gave everything for the club and they gave everything for the supporters.

"I thought we were the better team in the second half, I thought we carried more of a threat and you're dealing with a good Dungannon side...a good, stable side.

"I thought we could go on further in the competition.

"And that's the disappointing thing for me...a wee opportunity missed.

"Honesty’s the biggest virtue you can have in football and the biggest virtue you can have in life.

"So...be honest in anything you do, give all you have and see where it takes you.

"I think we had an honest team today that gave us everything and I don't think we got the rewards we deserved.”