Portadown welcome in 2023 by taking on Dungannon Swifts at Shamrock Park this Monday (2 January 2023), kick off 3pm.

Dungannon Swifts come into the game off the back of a 2-0 win over Newry City AFC on Boxing Day thanks to goals from Ethan McGee & James Knowles and are in good form with 3 Premiership victories in their last five.  Portadown come into the game following a 2-1 defeat in the Boxing Day Mid-Ulster derby to Glenavon.

Portadown have already met Dungannon Swifts three times this season, all at Stangmore Park, with the Swifts able to boast three wins out of three. The Swifts were 2-0 winners on 23 September 2022 in the Premiership thanks to goals from Rhyss Campbell and Ryan Mayse, they would go on then to knock the Ports out of the League Cup on 4 October 2022 by winning 2-1 thanks to a brace from Rhyss Campbell with Jonah Mitchell on target for the Ports and then finally knock the Ports out of the Mid Ulster Cup in November 2022 with goals from Padraig Lynch, Michael O’Connor & Ben Cushnie (2) securing a 4-2 win – Jordan Jenkins grabbed a brace for Niall Currie’s men.

The last time the two sides met at Shamrock Park was in April 2022 in a 0-0 stalemate.

Portadown are without a win against Dungannon Swifts in their last seven games, conceding nineteen goals during that period.

Portadown manager Niall Currie gave the following preview ahead of the game

We all know how important the game is but they’re all really cup finals now and we hope to have a few new faces in the squad to strengthen us a bit.

We understand the situation and we also understand that Dungannon Swifts have a very good squad, when you look at their squad on paper it’s a fantastic squad with a blend of youth and experience and they are going well now. It’s a dangerous game for us, we understand that, but we’re not playing too bad ourselves with effort levels faultless but we have to make sure we take our chances.

Paddy McNally will be unavailable through suspension while Luke Wilson is doubtful but, as I’ve said, we’ll hopefully have a few new faces in and available for the game.

We have to continue the path that we’re on, I think we deserved something out of a fair few games – obviously the points issue around the Newry City AFC game is currently ongoing but we’d good performances off the back of that win against Glentoran and Ballymena Utd and were decent against Cliftonville and I thought the second half against Glenavon was good, so we’ve got to keep building on that.

We know the importance of the game but we’re very very young and we’ve got to play it like any other game so fingers crossed the lads can have a good New Years Eve but we’re looking forward to getting stuck in on Monday.

We know how good Dungannon Swifts can be on their day and how difficult they are to play against but we think we’ve plenty of tools to hurt them as well.

The squad is in good spirits and the atmosphere is good around the place, the supporters were magnificent on Boxing Day and we want them to come out again in force on Monday.

 

Match officials are: Referee is Ben McMaster | Assistant Referees are Ryan Kelsey & Paul Robinson | Fourth official is Raymond Crangle

 

MATCH SPONSOR – Palyn Transport Management

MATCH BALL SPONSOR – Richhill Reds

PSS MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSOR – Jamie Kinnin

MASCOT – Jack Lyness

 

COMMUNITY GUESTS – TBC

 

Form (Premiership Only)

  • Portadown – L-W-W-L-L
  • Dungannon Swifts – W-L-W-L-W

 

Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)

  • Tuesday 22 November 2022 – Dungannon Swifts 4 (Lynch, O’Connor, Cushnie (2)) Portadown 2 (Jenkins 2)
  • Tuesday 4 October 2022 – Dungannon Swifts 2 (Campbell 2) Portadown 1 (Mitchell)
  • Friday 23 September 2022 – Dungannon Swifts 2 (Campbell, Mayse) Portadown 0
  • Tuesday 19 April 2022 – Portadown 0 Dungannon Swifts 0
  • Saturday 22 January 2022 – Dungannon Swifts 3 (McGinty, McBrien, Gallagher) Portadown 1 (Conaty)

 

Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (All competitions)

  • Tuesday 19 April 2022 – Portadown 0 Dungannon Swifts 0
  • Saturday 25 September 2021 – Portadown 1 (McLeod) Dungannon Swifts 4 (Mayse, McCready, McGinty, Campbell)
  • Tuesday 25 May 2021 – Portadown 4 (Salley x2, Bonis, McCallum) Dungannon Swifts 2 (Convie, Campbell)
  • Tuesday 13 April 2021 – Portadown 1 (Salley) Dungannon Swifts 0
  • Saturday 25 March 2017 – Portadown 0 Dungannon Swifts 1 (McMahon)

 

We Are Ports TV LIVE will have live coverage of the game against Dungannon Swifts, the live stream is available at a cost of £10 and can be purchased via https://portstv.com/

 

Online tickets for the game are available via https://tickets.portadownfc.co.uk/fixtures

While online tickets for matches still remain, a cash gate is now also available at each game at Shamrock Park (except in the event where a game has sold out online in advance of the game). We would add however that purchasing your ticket online remains the best way to guarantee your seat for games and would still actively encourage supporters to avail of the facility.

 

A reminder about the Ports Hub facility at games at Shamrock Park which give you match info, player stats and exclusive interviews. To access the Ports Hub simply scan the QR code placed on every other seat’s backrest at Shamrock Park (as well as in the clubrooms) and you will give brought to a host of great content, think of it as your digital matchday programme!

 

With more families and community / youth groups visiting Shamrock Park on match days, the club has decided to re-launch our FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AREA.

BLOCK B in the home stand has been designated as this area, a traditionally slightly quieter block and further away from opposition supporters.

We recognise that football matches are noisy and passionate experiences for players and fans alike but we would also like children, families and community visitors of mixed abilities and needs to feel comfortable when they visit a match, for some, their very first football match.

Guidelines for supporters sitting in Block B will be clearly displayed at the front of that area and we encourage all patrons in the block to follow them:

  • PLEASE BE AWARE OF THOSE AROUND YOU.
  • PLEASE USE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE.
  • BE POSITIVE TOWARDS PEOPLE ON THE PITCH.