Warrenpoint clinch league   title to win promotion

WARRENPOINT Town defeated Portstewart by two first half goals at Milltown to secure the Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League title and promotion back to the Championship.

It is a massive achievement for the south Down club who have had to bounce back from hard times in recent years but under the management of Gary Boyle they have given the area a great boost with football in the championship.

Neighbours Newry City look to be going the other direction and dropping from the Championship into the Intermediate League following the weekends defeat in must win game against Newington, with manager Darren Mullen stating that he will step down at the end of season, which he can hold his head up after taking the City side over 400 games.

But back to the Seasiders to who played at Milltown on Saturday and Declan Loye opened the scoring for ‘Point on 18 minutes with a header past keeper Paul Wells after Diarmuid O’Hanlon had sent the ball over from the wing.

Then, on 35 minutes, a superb run from Eoghan Byrne brought him into the box to send a powerful finish into the bottom corner.

Warrenpoint Town: Devine, Farley, Crane, Boyle, Lynch, J. O’Hanlon, D. O’Hanlon, Haughey, Robinson, Loye, Leddy subs Murphy, Powell, Doyle, Byrne, Hutchinson, O’Hare, Walker.

Portstewart: Wells, Forgrave, Dealey, McFadden, M. Doherty, R. Doherty (92), Mackay, Stewart, McLaughlin, R. Doherty (96), McCallion subs Quigley, McAleer, McNeill, Bradley, Donnelly, Hanson, Machado.