Irish Premiership: Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown (15:00 BST)
Ryan Curran misses penalty before scoring 34th-minute opener
FT: Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
That is all from us as Cliftonville are the 1-0 victors against Portadown in their opening game of the season.
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FT: Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
Portadown showed that maybe there is not much of a gap between themselves and this division, but they need to start picking up points.
My concern for Portadown is, like most teams around the bottom of the table, how are they going to create chances and more importantly how are they going to score goals?
FT: Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
I think Jim Magilton will be pleased with that performance.
His squad isn't complete, he is short of players, he has been impacted by injuries to some key players and they were very comfortable for 85 minutes of that game.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
The hosts hang on for all three points following Ryan Curran's first-half winner.
Jim Magilton's men were made to work as the Ports piled on the pressure in the end, but it's an opening day victory for the north Belfast side.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Michael Newberry's momentary lapse in concentration nearly proves costly as the defender is caught in possession of the edge of his own area.
However, David Odumosu, alert to the danger, produces a stunning fingertip save from Steven McCullough, turning the ball behind for a corner.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Portadown with a late chance to equalise, but Jamie McDonagh's delivery is hooked clear.
With minutes remaining, the visitors have sprung into life.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
There will be five minutes of additional time.
Can Niall Currie's side rescue a point?
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Solitude rises to applaud goalscorer Ryan Curran as the frontman makes his way to the bench to be replaced by Jack Berry.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
I think the only worry now for Jim Magilton is will they regret not making more of the possession and opportunities as we head into the last 10 minutes.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
You wonder how fit Jamie McDonagh is on the side for Portadown because he is the sort of player that maybe if he got himself on and was fit, he has a point to prove.
Obviously just released by Cliftonville and he has had some loan spells as well, but you would have thought he would be itching to get on today.
He has ability, there is no doubt about it, could he make the difference?
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
A quick return to Solitude for Jamie McDonagh as the former Cliftonville man is introduced for Eamon Fyfe with six minutes remaining.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Shay McCartan, desperate to make an impact, takes a speculative shot from distance.
The attackers' effort, struck more in hope than expectation, fails to trouble David Odumosu as the ball sails harmlessly over the bar.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Axel Piesold is handed his first taste of Irish league football as the on-loan Luton Town man is introduced for Shea Gordon.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
I would assume that Aaron Traynor is going to go in as left back or on the left-hand side of the pitch. Whether Portadown are going to go two up top and fill the midfield a little bit more, it'll be interesting.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Joe Gormley's audacious overhead kick attempt, following Sean Stewart's front post cross, ends in disappointment.
As Gormley makes contact, he collides with Lewis MacKinnon.
Referee Ben McMaster spots the infringement and blows for a foul.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
A double change for the Ports as Aaron Traynor and Jack Henderson are introduced for Ryan Mayse and Liam Mullan.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
David Odumosu, usually reliable, momentarily loses his grip on Ryan Mayse's corner.
The ball spills invitingly into the six-yard box, but Cathair Friel is left with his head in his hands as the forward fails to capitalise.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Lee Chapman, showcasing his pace, bursts past Sean Stewart on the flank.
His dangerous cross evades the outstretched Eamon Fyfe at the back post by a matter of inches before Steven McCullough's subsequent cross is turned behind by Shea Kearney for a corner.
Much better from the visitors who've been largely passive thus far.
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
Amazingly so far the wingbacks for Cliftonville haven't had much in the way of defensive responsibilities, they are just playing like wingers.
Both [Shea] Kearney and [Sean] Stewart are having a field day!
Cliftonville 1-0 Portadown
Philip Major
BBC Sport NI summariser
It'll be interesting to see if Cathair Friel can get a bit closer to Shay McCartan. McCartan hasn't had any level of support, he hasn't be on the ball and influencing the game as Portadown would like.
Ryan Curran (right) celebrates scoring the only goal of the Solitude encounter
Ryan Curran hit the only goal as Cliftonville started their Premiership campaign with a 1-0 win over newly promoted Portadown at Solitude.
The Reds skipper saw a penalty saved by Aaron McCarey before making amends on 34 minutes.
On his return, Rory Donnelly delivered an exquisite pass to Curran after being found by Ronan Doherty and the striker finished with aplomb from close range.
This breakthrough followed moments after Doherty's thunderous strike that had rattled the post for Jim Magilton's men.
Curran's goal was a moment of redemption after an earlier missed penalty.
The 30-year-old forward was felled in the box by Portadown captain Gary Thompson, but debutant Aaron McCarey produced a stunning save, diving low to his right to thwart his former teammate.
Highlights: Cliftonville edge Portadown in Solitude opener
The second half mirrored the first, with the home side dictating the tempo. Substitute Joe Gormley nearly doubled the advantage in the 55th minute, only for McCarey to make an acrobatic save.
Moments later, the Reds' all-time top scorer was again denied, this time by the crossbar.
McCarey continued his inspired form, brilliantly parrying Curran's powerful half-volley in the 66th minute to keep his side in the contest.
Niall Currie will be disappointed that his charges struggled to create clear opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, although they will be frustrated that they did not leave north Belfast with a point.
Their best chance for an equaliser came in stoppage time when Michael Newberry was dispossessed on the edge of the area.
However, Cliftonville's stopper David Odumosu was equal to Steven McCullough's curling effort, ensuring the Reds clinched all three points.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrick Rangers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 2 | Linfield | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
| 3 | Cliftonville | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 4 | Crusaders | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 5 | Coleraine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 6 | Dungannon Swifts | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 7 | Larne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 8 | Loughgall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
| 9 | Glentoran | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 10 | Portadown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
| 11 | Ballymena United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 12 | Glenavon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
|
Manager: Jim Magilton
Manager: Niall Currie
Manager: Jim Magilton
Manager: Niall Currie
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