Setanta Cup/ St Patrick's Athletic 3 Portadown 0:With telling contributions from new signings Joseph Ndo and Alan Kirby, St Patrick's Athletic gave their faithful some cause for real optimism ahead of the new domestic season with this rousing debut in the Setanta Sports Cup before a crowd of 1,625 at Richmond Park.

Ex-Cameroon midfielder Ndo had begun his career in Inchicore before a two-year spell at Shelbourne. But the powerful midfielder quickly re-introduced himself to the locals, scoring the opening goal before setting up Kirby for the second.

Winger Kirby would add a second as St Patrick's glossed over their early rustiness to cruise to a comfortable win to take an early lead in Group Two.

Approaching the interval, another new signing, Gary O'Neill, played Ndo in on goal and his shot deflected off defender Michael Collins to beat the visiting goalkeeper.

The game was over as a contest within eight minutes of the restart when Ndo broke up the Portadown play to set up Kirby on 47 minutes and the Waterfordman crashed a stunning shot into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Kirby struck again on 53 minutes after Keith Fahey carried the ball from his box before slipping Kirby in on goal.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Quigley, Brennan, C Foley, Frost; Murphy (Maguire, 81 mins), Ndo (M Quigley, 68 mins), Fahey, M Foley (O'Connor, 66 mins), Kirby; O'Neill.

PORTADOWN: Pressman; McKeown, Collins, O'Hara, Redman; Boyle (Teggart, 81 mins), Clarke (Liggett 86, mins), Kennedy, McCann; Branniff, Smart (McCutcheon 66, mins).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer(Cork).