Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser

From a quickly-taken Linfield corner, the ball is played out to Jamie Mulgrew outside the area but his shot lacks the power and direction to get beyond Aaron Hogg, who saves with relative ease.

Eamon Fyfe is again involved for Portadown as he lays a pass into the path of in-rushing left-back Aaron Traynor.

He takes aim from 25 yards and his effort whistles narrowly wide of Chris Johns' goal.

Portadown striker Eamon Fyfe has been receiving treatment on the touchline but, happily, he is able to continue.

He has been a prominent figure for the Championship side in the early exchanges.

Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser

Linfield have the ball in the net on 16 minutes but it won't count.

From a short corner, the ball is worked out to Matthew Clarke who fires a low shot goalwards.

Ports keeper Aaron Hogg pushes the effort out to Matthew Fitzpatrick who slots home the rebound but the referee's assistant's flag is already in the air.

Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser

Luke Wilson thunders into a 50/50 challenge and deflects the ball out for a goal kick off Joel Cooper.

Every Portadown challenge is being cheered like a goal by the fans behind the goal Aaron Hogg is defending.

Eamon Fyfe strides towards the Linfield penalty area and Ryan Mayse meets his cross with a first-time shot which requires another full-length Linfield block, this time from Daniel Finlayson.

Portadown will be greatly encouraged by how they have started this game.

Linfield respond as Matthew Fitzpatrick flings himself at Kyle McClean's centre but the striker's header is off-target.

It's certainly been a breezy opening to this final - no signs of nerves from either side!

Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser

Portadown striker Zach Barr goes past Ben Hall but as he heads towards the penalty area he ends up on the ground.

Barr looks expectantly towards the referee's assistant, claiming that he had been tugged to the ground, but referee Tony Clarke waves play on.

Portadown break quickly with Ryan Mayse's shot blocked into the path of Eamon Fyfe, whose attempt is brilliantly blocked at full-length by defender Ben Hall.

That has certainly raised the noise levels among the Ports fans - not that they needed it!

Ryan Mayse gives away a couple of early free kicks from wide areas but the Ports survive the early pressure.

Referee Tony Clarke blows his whistle and Rhys Annett kicks off the action in the League Cup final.

Can Championship Portadown spring a major upset on the big occasion?

Will it be the Blues or Ports who take home this trophy this afternoon?

Image source, Press Eye

Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser

Despite having appeared in 18 League Cup finals between them, this will be the first time that Linfield and Portadown have locked horns in the decider of this tournament.

Will Linfield's name appear on the trophy for a record 12th time or can Portadown lift the cup for the third time in their history.

The teams emerge from the tunnel to a barrage of noise from both sets of fans.

It's a cold, murky afternoon in south Belfast but both groups of supporters are doing their best to turn up the heat.

Portadown have accounted for the exit of a quarter of the Premiership’s 12 clubs in this season’s League Cup, having already eliminated Crusaders, Loughgall and Glenavon from the competition.

Can they increase that ratio to a third by landing their biggest scalp so far in the shape of Linfield?