Kilbarrack United vs Portadown

Fyfe's 40th-minute opener was the decisive moment. Kilbarrack had defended resiliently for the first 40 minutes, but the goal just before the interval forced the Dublin side to open up after the break, creating the space for Hewitt and Jessop to capitalise.

• Eamon Fyfe: The striker continued his encouraging pre-season form with a well-taken opener, his second goal in Portadown colours since joining the club.
• Liam Jessop: The Gibraltar international, signed just a day before the match, marked his debut with a goal — a hugely promising start for the 20-year-old winger.
• Lewis MacKinnon: The defender was named PSS Man of the Match, having anchored a backline that kept a second clean sheet in four pre-season outings.

While detailed match statistics are not available for this friendly, the 3-0 scoreline and the timing of the goals (one just before half-time, two early in the second half) suggest a familiar pattern from Portadown's pre-season: controlled possession, patience in the final third, and clinical finishing when opportunities arose. The clean sheet, Portadown's second in four friendlies, points to growing defensive solidity under Jeffrey.

Portadown have now won three of their four pre-season friendlies (W3 L1), with the only defeat coming against Premiership rivals Coleraine (3-0 on 18 July). The friendly schedule concludes with a trip to Mountjoy United — the date yet to be confirmed — before the 2026/27 NIFL Premiership season begins.

For Kilbarrack United, the match served as valuable preparation for their Leinster Senior League campaign, offering their squad a stiff test against full-time professional opposition.

A professional, no-frills pre-season performance from Portadown, who got the job done without fuss. The debut goal for Jessop will be the headline takeaway for Ports supporters, but the clean sheet and the fluidity in attack suggest Jeffrey's squad is building momentum at the right time.