CLINICAL BLUES KICK OFF TITLE DEFENCE
Holders Linfield kicked off their Danske Bank Premiership title defence with a four goal defeat of Portadown at Windsor Park.
The Blues needed just seven minutes to open the scoring when Kirk Millar fired into the bottom corner after the ball fell into his path.
Linfield had the ball in the net again around the half-hour mark but Ethan Devine's 'goal' was ruled out after referee Tim Marshall had inadvertently knocked on Eetu Vertainen's pass.
The Ports might have levelled on the stroke of half-time but the unmarked Mark Russell failed to find a way past Chris Johns following a lapse in concentration from the home defence.
Devine did get his name on the scoresheet on 57 minutes after hooking home a Millar cross before, a quarter-of-an-hour after that, Vertainen added a third with a tap in from Devine's knock across the face of goal.
Substitute Andrew Clarke completed the scoring five minutes from time from close range after Robbie McDaid had cushioned a Millar delivery.
Linfield: Johns, Roscoe, Newberry, Shields, Millar, McClean, Cooper, McDaid, Devine, Fallon, Vertainen subs Walsh (not used), M. Clarke (not used), McKee (replaced Fallon 78), Finlayson (replaced Newberry 69), Mulgrew (replaced McClean 69), A. Clarke (replaced Devine 78), Palmer (replaced Vertainen 78)
Portadown: Barr, Akiotu, Upton, Wilson, Donnellan, Russell, Conaty, Moore, McNally, Teggart, Jenkins subs McKenna (not used), Beverland (not used), Stedman (replaced Moore 61), Mashigo (replaced Wilson 61), Tantale (replaced Jenkins 61), Mitchell (replaced Conaty 78), Ovens (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
