Michael Ruddy falls in the box under the challenge of Ryan Waide and referee Tim Marshall points to the spot!

Eamon Scannell takes the free-kick and fires just wide of the right hand post.

A nervy moment at the back for the visitors!

Odhran Casey’s under-hit pass puts Jonny Addis under pressure, allowing Jarlath O’Rourke to steal in.

The ball breaks kindly for Jordan Stewart, who wastes no time in pulling the trigger with his left foot inside the box, but it’s straight at Lewis Ridd, who parries it away.

Berraat Turker rushes out to try and gather the ball, but clatters into Lee Newell and becomes the first player in referee Tim Marshall's book.

The home fans think it should have been a different colour of card, but Ards now have a free-kick in a good position.

Alex Parsons hurls a long throw into the mix, with Ryan Curran getting the slightest flick-on to keep it alive.

But Jonny Tuffey is alert, stepping forward to claim it with safe hands and snuff out any danger for the Crues.

Ronan Doherty, with a well worked free-kick routine, delivers an inviting ball into the Portadown penalty area but Matthew Shevlin's weak effort is easily dealt with by Aaron McCarey.

Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser

It was very tight - Dylan King was the player adjudged to be playing him (Danny Gibson) on and to be fair, Gibson doesn't even take a touch and lobs it over Declan Dunne.

It's a great start for Carrick.

Ross Clarke spots a gap and lifts a clever ball in behind the Reds’ defence for Harry Franklin to chase.

Just as it looks like danger might be brewing, Jonny Addis reads it well and gets across to sweep up and clear.

It's been a dominant start by the Premiership side, but they are yet to test Alex Moore.

John Bailie will be happy with how his side have defended and closed Loughgall down so far.

Danny Gibson, Carrick's leading scorer last season, has been used on the right for most of Stephen Baxter's tenure, but he is in a central position today and shows why he belongs there with that finish.

Kyle Spence, so impressive last week in the win over Linfield, gets to the byline before crossing but, again, Portadown defend the situation.

Jordan Forsythe launches one of his trademark long throws into the box, but it’s only cleared as far as Daniel Larmour.

The defender takes it on the volley first-time, but there’s no real venom in the strike, and it's straightforward for Lewis Ridd, who watches it sail wide.

Early pressure from the home side as Levi Ives whips a cross in with his left foot.

Well defended by Portadown, though.

Early effort from John McGovern of Dungannon.

The striker swivels and offloads a volley from the edge of the area that forces Jack McIntyre into a good save.

Promising start here in east Antrim.

And with a peep of Jamie Robinson's whistle, the ball is rolling in north Belfast.

Portadown's Shay McCartan gets us underway on a bright sunny day on the north coast for the sole league game taking place this afternoon.

A win for the visitors would see them leapfrog both Cliftonville and Larne into fifth place while a home victory would see the Bannsiders close to within a point of the Ports.

Plenty to play for, then, for both teams.

Andrew Mitchell of Dungannon gets the ball rolling at Taylors Avenue.

One of the sides will be in the semi-final draw at 6pm, but which one?

Francis McCaffrey gets the action under way!

Can Ards cause the second upset of the weekend at Clandeboye Park and advance to the semi-finals?