Setanta Cup/Dungannon Swifts 1 Portadown 1: Rodney McAree rescued Dungannon's diminishing Setanta Cup hopes from the penalty spot with six minutes left at Stangmore Park last night - cancelling John Convery's Portadown goal after 23 minutes.
However, a dreadful refereeing decision cost the visitors a potentially decisive penalty after just three minutes. Terry Fitzpatrick handled the ball, only for the referee to wave play on; the official was clearly the only person in the ground who didn't think it was a cast-iron spot-kick.
Dungannon's McAree then fed Dave Bulow on the right wing and menacingly ran goalwards. But the experienced David Miskelly timed his advance perfectly and smothered the ball at his feet.
Portadown's Gary Hamilton then played a neat pass to Marc McCann on the left wing and ran forward to superbly volley the return pass. However, Gavin Cushley made a magnificent save.
Richard Clarke fired a lovely low shot that brought another splendid save from Cushley, the goalkeeper reaching the ball with his fingertips. But his save was in vain as Kyle Neill swung over the corner and it was met by Convery, his header bouncing just in front of the line and hitting the roof of the net, the breakthrough goal on 23 minutes.
The first quarter was packed full of chances, but the remainder of the half provided no such entertainment with opportunities few and far between.
Then, on 64 minutes, Thomas Wray played a nice centre from the right for Ward to control nicely with his first touch. The striker swung his boot and sent a blistering shot crashing off the crossbar, much to the relief of Miskelly and the Portadown support.
With time running out the Swifts scored after McAree was brought down by Portadown captain Darren Kelly. The midfielder dusted himself down and drove the spot-kick to the bottom corner.
Swifts thought they had grabbed an injury-time winner when McCrystal met McAree's corner to prod home, but it was ruled out for a push on the goalkeeper.
DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Cushley, Wray, Gallagher, McCrystal, McMinn, T Fitzpatrick (Delgado, 64 mins), McAree, McCabe, Hamilton (Everaldo, 46 mins), Bulow, Ward.
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, McStay, Convery, Kelly, Boyle, Collins, McCann, Neill, Hamilton, Marks, Clarke.
Referee: H Whoriskey (Meath).
