Any Great Port In A Storm - Portadown vs. Queens University

Entrance to Shamrock Park

Storm Dennis arrived around lunch time on the Saturday and already a host of games had already been called off. Portadown had said on Twitter that there was no inspection planned around midday but on the walk to the ground it was really hammering down but everyone still seemed confident so I retired to the bar under the main stand. Portadown missed on promotion last season, losing in the first round of the playoffs and were looking to avoid that lottery and go up automatically and were well ahead at the top of The Championship. Visitors Queen University were in the bottom half were some distance ahead of the relegation places.

Game on at Shamrock Park

Queens University are perhaps a little unfortunate to keep eleven on the pitch when the keeper appears to shoulder barge the on rushing forward before they nearly take the lead only for the ball to get stuck in the mud (something that would become a bit of a theme). Portadown score the opener when the ball is forced home from close range following a corner. Then they score the goal that has been all over the internet. The Portadown forward is played in, slotting the ball past the keeper and he celebrates while the ball has got stuck in the goalmouth leaving his team mate to knock it in.

Just before the Portadown opener

The goals then really begin to flow after half time. After missing out on the second goal, the forward makes no mistake when through again, hammering the ball past the goalie. The fourth comes as the attacker is first to a free kick and although he hits the post he gets the rebound to make it four nil. Queens University get on the score sheet with a well crafted goal before Portadown score the goal of the game. The striker runs onto a ball over the top, smashing a half volley back across the keeper into the far corner. Portadown add two further goals, one from another corner and the seventh when the Queens University keeper gets caught out of his goal. All of the goals and further chances can be seen here.

Portadown celebrate a second half goal

To get to Belfast from Portadown takes half an hour on the train from Great Victoria Street with Portadown being the last stop. More or less next door to the station is the excellent McKeevers Bar which had a great selection of drinks and the sports channel. Around the corner is McConville Bros which doesn't look like its changed in a long time (which is a good thing) and also has a good drink selection and Sky Sports. The ground is then around twenty minutes walk away, I didn't see any buses walking there or back. The bar underneath the stand sold cans and I can strongly recommend the chips and curry sauce. It was a great afternoon out, every at the club and the town in general was exceptionally friendly, making Portadown another must visit ground in Northern Ireland.

Interior of the main stand