Portadown travel to Inver Park this evening (22nd August) to take on Larne in the Sports Direct Premiership, 7:45pm kick off.

The last time the two sides met was in February 2025 at Shamrock Park, with the Ports running out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Josh Ukek and Ahu Obhakhan.

In total Portadown and Larne met on three occasions in the Sports Direct Premiership last season with Portadown remaining undefeated in the meetings, picking up two wins at Shamrock Park and a draw at Inver Park. Portadown beat Larne 2-1 at Shamrock Park in October 2024 with goals from Eamon Fyfe and Shay McCartan, Steven McCullough’s goal would secure a point at Inver Park in February 2025 while the afore mentioned final meeting between the clubs last season ended in a 2-0 win for Niall Currie’s men.

Larne finished second in the Sports Direct Premiership last season and had an historic European run which would see them become the first Irish League club to make the group stages of European competition, however this season they exited the European Conference League at the third qualifying round stage and manager, Nathan Rooney who was only reappointed in May left the club earlier this week by mutual consent just one week into the Premiership season with Gary Haveron taking temporary charge. This summer Larne have brought in Dan Bent, Alfie Bridgman, Kobei Moore and Matt Ridley and have a defeat to Coleraine and a draw with Cliftonville in their opening two Premiership games.

Larne will be without a number of players for this evenings fixtures with Dan Bent, Aaron Donnelly, Conor McKendry and Paul O’Neill all suspended while Andy Ryan and Cian Bolger are long term injury casualties with Leroy Millar, Jordan McEneff and Mark Randall also all expected to miss out.

Portadown’s last victory away to Larne came in our opening Championship game of the 2017/18 season when we won 3-0 at Taylors Avenue thanks to goals from Niall Henderson, Matty Hazley and Kyle McVey, Larne were ground sharing with Carrick Rangers at the time due to ongoing works at Inver Park. Portadown’s last win at Inver Park came back in January 2017 in the Irish Cup when a debut goal from Adam Foley as well as a Stephen Hughes goal secured Portadown’s place in the next round.

Officials | Tim Marshall, Ryan Kelsey, Brian Wilson, Christopher Morrison

Tickets for the game are available via larnefc.com/tickets

 

Last Five | Head to Head

15 February 2025 | Portadown 2 (Ukek, Obhakhan) Larne 0

1 February 2025 | Larne 1 (Ryan) Portadown 1 (McCullough)

27 October 2024 | Portadown 2 (Fyfe, McCartan) Larne 1 (McCarey OG)

24 January 2023 | Larne 2 (Bolger, Thomson) Portadown 0

12 November 2022 | Portadown 0 Larne 5 (Millar, Doherty 2, Bonis, Bolger)

 

Last Five | Inver Park:

1 February 2025 | Larne 1 (Ryan) Portadown 1 (McCullough)

24 January 2023 | Larne 2 (Bolger, Thomson) Portadown 0

29 January 2022 | Larne 4 (Bonis x2, Balmer, Nasseri) Portadown 0

9 February 2021 | Larne 2 (Mottley-Henry, Hale) Portadown 2 (Guy, Bonis)

6 April 2019 | Larne 3 (Cosgrove, Tilney, McDaid) Portadown 0