LARNE, Northern Ireland (Interstat) — Kevin O’Hara, credited with 20 minutes and one goal, scored in the 82nd minute as Larne beat visiting Portadown 1-0 at Inver Park in Larne on Friday. The goal was the only breakthrough in a match that was punctuated by seven yellow cards and a series of substitutions, and it allowed the home side to take the full result from a tense contest.

Portadown defended in a compact shape and made the game difficult for Larne through the opening hour. The visitors picked up the first yellow card in the 18th minute when Thompson G. was booked. Larne’s McKendry C. was cautioned in the 19th minute, and Portadown received another yellow card in the same minute. Carson M. of Portadown was booked in the 32nd minute as the match grew increasingly physical. Portadown made an early change in the 28th minute when Thompson G. was substituted, while Larne waited until halftime to make a change, replacing McKendry C. in the 46th minute. Portadown’s early substitution forced a reshuffle before the half-hour mark, and Larne responded by maintaining possession without finding a clear path through the visitors’ back line.

The second half brought more of the same intensity. Graham S. of Larne was booked in the 51st minute, and Portadown received another yellow card in the 69th minute. Lusty M. of Larne was cautioned in the 70th minute. Larne used that same minute to make three substitutions, bringing on O’Neill P., Doherty R. and Simpson J. Those changes gave the home side fresh legs as it pushed for a winner. Larne made another substitution in the 79th minute when Gallagher C. came on, and Portadown made a final change in the 84th minute when Chapman L. entered.

The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. O’Hara K. found the net for Larne, breaking the deadlock and giving the home side a 1-0 lead. It was the play that separated the teams on a night when clear chances were limited and the contest was broken up by fouls and stoppages. O’Hara’s goal made the difference as Larne protected the narrow advantage through the closing stages. Larne’s players quickly reset after the goal, protecting the narrow lead with disciplined defending in the final minutes.

Larne’s season record in this competition is now 8 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws. That same record applies across all competitions. Portadown’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins, 11 losses and 2 draws, while its record across all competitions is 2 wins, 12 losses and 2 draws. The result continued a difficult run for Portadown, who had also lost to Larne in the previous head-to-head meeting this season.

Larne had entered the match after a draw against Limavady and a win at Bangor FC, while Portadown had lost to Linfield and Cliftonville in its two most recent matches before this trip to Inver Park. The home side’s recent form had been stronger, and Larne carried that edge into a match that remained scoreless until late. Portadown’s defensive effort kept Larne from adding to the score, but the visitors could not find an equalizer after O’Hara struck.

The game’s disciplinary count reflected the competitive nature of the contest. Larne’s cautions went to McKendry C., Graham S. and Lusty M. Portadown’s yellow cards went to Thompson G., Carson M. and two additional players. The bookings interrupted the flow of the match and contributed to a stop-start second half. Even so, Larne found the one moment it needed when O’Hara scored in the 82nd minute.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Larne 2, Portadown 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Larne with a 94.5 percent probability to win.