POST-MATCH VERDICT: Dungannon to face Welders as Irish Cup reward thanks to 'wee stroke of fortune' against Portadown

Shay McCartan’s superb strike handed the Ports control early on before Sean McAllister left it level with a goal similar in quality and technique.

But the tie was settled off Mitchell’s flick finish.

Dungannon Swifts will now meet H&W Welders in the next round (ties March 6/7) – with the remaining quarter-final draw as follows: Glentoran/Drumaness Mills v Larne, Limavady United v Coleraine, Loughgall v Cliftonville.

Here’s the verdict of Dungannon Swifts assistant boss Dixie Robinson:

OVERALL PERFORMANCE...

“All grass pitches are struggling now with the weather we've had...we knew it wasn't going to be pretty and we’re probably spoiled a wee bit with what we have at Dungannon as a state-of-the-art 4G.

"It was an end-to-end scrap today and I didn't think there was very much between the two teams, in all honesty.

"I felt whoever got the first goal would be in the ascendancy but, to be fair, but we got back into the game and I thought the second half was just going from one end to the other…very little football played.

"It was just who's going to get that wee chance and I don't know what ‘Mitch’ (Andrew Mitchell) has done, I think he's flicked it off his heel and it's just looped over Alex (Moore) and into the net.

"And that was the break we got and delighted, to be honest.

“It's a fantastic strike by Shay...I thought actually both the goals were quite similar in a way because Sean's on the right-hand side of the box too, and he fires his in.

“They're both hit with a lot of pace and the brightest spark of the game.”

ANDREW MITCHELL’S WINNER...

“I suppose ‘Mitch’ will tell you that he meant that…I don't want to do him an injustice.

"I think Corey (Smith) actually maybe mishits his free-kick, I don't think the delivery is where he wants to put it but ‘Mitch’ is helping it on to a dangerous area and it has just gone over Alex's head and into the net.

"Maybe a wee stroke of fortune but you need that in the cup.”

LATE PORTADOWN PRESSURE…

"Listen, whoever's going to be one behind with five or 10 minutes to go, it's just going to be route one.

"They're just going to fire it into the box and hope for the best and, to be fair, we stood up to that challenge.

"I thought we won our fair share of headers.

"The one at the end when it comes back across again it was that much of a scramble, I don't know who got their foot to it or whatever.

"Portadown certainly put us under a lot of pressure during the last 10 minutes.”

IRISH CUP RUN...

“We’ve lost our last two league games so coming into this today, it's probably a break from the league.

"The trophy's sitting up there in Stangmore Park, which we're very proud of and we don't want to let it go just yet.

"That was the incentive to try and get in the hat for the draw today and, ultimately, that's all cup football's about.”