Bannsiders bid to halt Ports’ Cup run

TOMORROW’S cup contest will be the eighth time Coleraine and Portadown have met in the famous competition at The Showgrounds…

By: Michael Anderson

The bad news is it’s the Shamrock Park side that has held the upper hand in recent meetings!

After a run of wins in the 60’s and 70’s – and the first ever cup meeting between the clubs back in 1929 – it has been the Bannsiders’ exiting the tournament in recent times.

The turnaround in fortunes started after a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds in 1995, Portadown winning the replay 3-1.

Four years later Isaac English scored as Coleraine went down 2-1 at the quarter finals stage.

And it was at the same stage in 2013 when Portadown romped home 3-0 at Ballycastle Road.

Here’s hoping Oran Kearney’s men can halt that run when the Premiership rivals once again go head to head in the cup.