Portadown's defence of the Co-operative Insurance Cup title continued on Tuesday night at Shamrock Park but progress past Ballinamallard United arrived at a cost.
Portadown 1 - 3 Ballinamallard United (6 - 3 agg.)
The Ports, holders of a 5-0 first-leg advantage over the determined Championship visitors, lost Keith O'Hara to a red card on 22 minutes following an off-the-ball incident, with Ballinamallard's Darren Higginbotham picking up a yellow at the same time.
As a result, O'Hara will now miss Saturday's Carling Premiership trip to Coleraine due to an automatic suspension. The dismissal for violent conduct could also lead to additional punishment from the IFA Disciplinary Committee.
It marked just one negative on a poor night for the Ports, with Higginbotham having previously put Ballinamallard into a first-half lead on 14 minutes by converting David Kee's low free-kick delivery.
Ballinamallard played with impressive commitment from the first whistle but struggled to make more of the numerical advantage.
Portadown, despite a starting line-up which featured experienced players such as OHara, Neil Armstrong, John Convery, Tim Mouncey and Kevin Braniff, proved out-of-sorts across the pitch.
Portadown carved out one first-half opening as Aaron Haire picked out Sean Mackle but the winger's shot was stopped by Trevor Morrison.
Armstrong was called into action late in the half to prevent an own goal with an acrobatic stop when Duwayne McManus' attempt deflected off the head of Convery.
Convery came close to finding the net at the same end minutes into the second half but, at a stretch, he was unable to keep on target a loose ball from Braniff's deflected free-kick.
Ballinamallard doubled the tally on 59 minutes, with McManus attacking down the right and delivering a cross which Hunter could only steer into his own net.
A consolation arrived on the night when Haire picked up possession and made the most of the time and space presented by firing home from distance on 66 minutes.
Ballinamallard wrapped up the second-leg tie with a third goal on 75 minutes thanks to a looping header from substitute, James McKenna, following another McManus delivery.
PORTADOWN: Neil Armstrong, Keith OHara, John Convery, Gareth Porter, Neil Teggart, Tim Mouncey, Aaron Haire, Sean Mackle, Chris Curran, Kevin Braniff, Andy Hunter. Subs: David Miskelly, Richard Clarke (on for Curran, 45 mins), Chris Coleman, Johnny Topley (on for Haire, 80 mins), Richard Lecky (on for Teggart, 61 mins).
BALLINAMALLARD UNITED: Trevor Morrison, Mark McConkey, Conor McGuigan, Gareth Liggett, Mark Stafford, Grant Hutchinson, Duwayne McManus, David Kees, Darren Higginbotham, Andy Crawford, Richard Flaherty. Subs: James McKenna (on for Kees, 54 mins), Matthew Quinn, Chris Crilly (on for McConkey, 66 mins), Stuart Hutchinson.
Referee: Stephen Weatherall (Belfast).
© UTV News