O'Connor goals seal victory

Portadown 0 St Patricks Athletic 3: Seán O'Connor produced two second-half strikes to send St Patrick's Athletic, who rested…

Portadown 0 St Patricks Athletic 3:Seán O'Connor produced two second-half strikes to send St Patrick's Athletic, who rested a number of senior players, into the knockout stages.

Portadown's Marc McCann's lob on 22 minutes evaded goalkeeper Brendan Clarke but John Frost cleared.

On 27 minutes the St Pat's striker Mark Quigley picked out Michael Foley but his cross was directed over the crossbar by O'Connor. O'Connor then delivered a cross into the penalty area which Darragh Maguire steered goalwards but Kevin Pressman smothered.

St Pat's produced the breakthrough with almost seven minutes gone after the interval as Eamon Lynch struck from distance.

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Lynch then turned provider 10 minutes later for O'Connor to guide the ball to the net.

Portadown's hopes improved when a foul on McCann resulted in a penalty kick but his spot kick effort was pushed onto the post by Clarke. O'Connor sealed victory on 72 minutes to complete the scoring for St Pat's.

PORTADOWN: Pressman, Coleman, O'Hara, Clarke, Collins, McCann, Teggart, Redman, Liggett, Branniff, McKeown. Subs: Marks for O'Hara (57 mins), Baker for Liggett (69 mins), Wright for Collins (77 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Clarke, S Quigley, Frost, Mulcahy, Maguire, C Foley, M Foley, M Quigley, Lynch, Rooney, O'Connor. Subs: Fitzpatrick for M Quigley (73 mins); O'Neill for Lynch (73 mins); Kirby for Mulcahy (83 mins).

Referee: A McCourt (Newry).