CLIFTONVILLE boss Jim Magilton hailed the return of Ryan Curran from an injury nightmare to score the only goal of the game and defeat promoted Portadown.
The 30-year-old has been troubled by a groin injury for more than two years and missed all of last season, but at least was able to undergo an operation back in November and came back to lead the Reds to victory as captain.
His bad luck initially seemed to be continuing when he saw a penalty kick superbly saved by former team-mate Aaron McCarey in the Ports goal, but the Derryman then finished off a fabulous assist from new attacking partner Ruaidhri Donnelly.
“In terms of Ryan Curran coming back, he was outstanding, given that he’s been a year out of the game,” said Magilton. “His contribution can’t be underestimated, just his presence and his stamp of quality on the team is very important for us.”
Cliftonville might have dropped two points deep into added time but their goalkeeper David Odomusu made a splendid save to keep out a shot from the Ports’ Steven McCullough.
“That’s his job,” quipped Magilton, before adding: “When you dominate as we did, it’s important that your goalkeeper maintains his focus and concentration, and he did that – and it’s a huge save.”
After a minute’s applause in memory of referee Peter McGrath, whose widow and children were in attendance, the game began with both starting sides much-changed from last season.
The hosts included five summer signings, Michael Newberry, Shaun Leppard, Luke Conlan, Donnelly, and Sean Stewart, the latter after being on loan last term. The same applied to Eamon Fyfe for Portadown, who was joined by five full newbies – McCarey, Lewis MacKinnon, McCullough, Liam Mullan, and Shay McCartan.
Understandably both teams took some time to get going – indeed the first shot of real note came from the penalty spot.
Cliftonville seemed fortunate to be awarded that spot-kick in the 17th minute, when Curran, after a short run, went down after minimal contact with Ports captain Gary Thompson. Justice was perhaps done when Curran’s effort was excellently saved by former Red McCarey, diving to his right.
Ports midfielder Luke Wilson swept in a shot which was easily held by Odomusu as the game continued in sluggish fashion in the sunshine, albeit with the Reds dominating possession.
Ronan Doherty thought he had broken the deadlock in the 34th minute, but his curling shot came back off the far post, perhaps with the faintest touch from goalkeeper McCarey.
However, the Reds retrieved possession and a deep diagonal ball from Doherty reached Ruaidhri Donnelly on the left, who brilliantly volleyed the ball across to present Curran with a close-range chance he couldn’t miss.
Joe Gormley replaced Donnelly inside 10 minutes of the second half and twice came close to adding to his historic goal tally. First, found by Doherty, his fierce cross-shot was pushed away by McCarey.
Then the same home combination came even closer, but Gormley’s header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Cliftonville continued to be in control, albeit without being able to net an insurance goal, even with Axel Piesold, on loan from Luton Town, given a late run-out.
Still, the Reds looked mostly comfortable, even though the home defence was almost entirely new-look, with Magilton pleased by their performances: “The back five and goalkeeper were outstanding, they gelled particularly well.
“The three centre halves were excellent and the two wing-backs’ athletic ability is huge for our team.”
It was only late on that the visitors posed much threat, with Cathair Friel joining McCartan in a front two. Portadown belatedly roused themselves in the final quarter-hour, and McCullough almost bent in an equaliser in added time, but Odomusu plunged to his right to ensure a home victory.
Ports boss Niall Currie acknowledged it was probably the right result, but still felt they could have snatched a draw:
“It would be a bit much if I said we deserved to take a point, but we can take a hell of a lot of positives from the whole day…
“You have to come to these places and stay in the game…We did that and then got them in the back foot in the last 10, 15 minutes. I’m frustrated we didn’t get that equaliser – I’d have been over the moon with a point here.”
Cliftonville: Odomusu; Kearney, Newberry, Leppard, Conlan, Stewart; Pepper, Doherty, Gordon (Piesold, 72); Donnelly (Gormley, 54), Curran (capt.) (Berry, 88).
Portadown: McCarey; Chapman, MacKinnon, D Wilson, McCullough; Mayse (Traynor, 72), L Wilson (Friel, 65), Mullan (Henderson, 72), Thompson (capt.), Fyfe (McDonagh, 84); McCartan.
Referee: Ben McMaster.
