In the Premier Intermediate League this past weekend, two of the expected big hitters of the division locked horns when Warrenpoint Town travelled to face Ballymacash Rangers.
It proved a tight affair at The Bluebell, with frontman Junior Shotayo putting the ‘Point into the lead three minutes after the half-time restart before ‘Cash captain Jordan Morrison replied with 11 minutes to play in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Warrenpoint, whose controversial relegation into the third-tier was the dominating storyline of last season’s tail end, dropped their first points of the campaign after a run of five straight victories, while last season’s play-off representatives Ballymacash preserve their hitherto unbeaten record to stay just a couple of points off top spot.
First-place is currently occupied by Queen’s University, who also drew 1-1 at the weekend as Ben Mulgrew cancelled out Ben McKeown’s opener for Banbridge Town at Crystal Park, while Limavady United – who were in Craig Memorial Cup semi-final action, overwhelming Desertmartin 6-0 to book their spot in the Boxing Day showpiece – are sandwiched between Ballymacash and Warrenpoint in third.
Although not having played the same amount of fixtures, merely two points split what likely was an expected top four going into a reinvented PIL.
Accompanying news of Milltown outfit Warrenpoint’s demotion out of senior football was the announcement that the league would expand from 12 to 14 teams, with the post-split being ditched to make way for a straight round-robin format – every team would play each other home and away across a 26-match season, rather than the initial 22 plus five fixtures after the division was divided into top half and bottom half.
Consequently, 2022/23’s bottom-placed side PSNI – whose own anticipated drop-out had been a point of dispute – retained their Irish League status, while Rathfriland and Coagh United achieved promotion via a three-team play-in; Oxford Sunnyside the odd one out after their defeat at the latter’s Hagan Park home.
That rejig hasn’t appeared to have a major impact at the top end of the table, however.
The second, third and fourth-placed finishers of last term, plus the relegated side that went down as champions Bangor rose up, have largely avoided major stumbling blocks up to now.
Limavady’s only reversal was against Warrenpoint. Warrenpoint’s sole dropped points came against Ballymacash. Ballymacash are unbeaten and, while Queen’s suffered defeat at home to Dollingstown and have drawn versus Banbridge and Moyola Park, they lead the chasing pack.
It is a formidable top end that looks hard to split – but the season is not even a third of the way through.
Plenty of time for thrills and spills.
In time, the team – or teams – that achieve promotion will feel like they have earned it. It is hard, gruelling yet very rewarding.
Where do the keys lie? Well, the top-four meet-ups will, of course, prove critical. When you have the chance to take points off a title rival, you are fired up not to spurn the opportunity.
Morrison’s clinical edge made sure Ballymacash didn’t fire a blank.
Lee Forsythe’s charges – whose highly commendable first-ever campaign as an Irish League club ended in agonising fashion with defeat to Knockbreda in the play-off – have shown they are no one-trick pony, and that they managed to snatch a share of the spoils here could prove very decisive.
The Lisburn club took the lead through now-Newington frontman Zach Barr against ‘Breda, but a four-goal Bluebell splurge by the Castlereagh club proved the defining factor behind why they retained their place into this term’s Playr-Fit Championship.
You couldn’t question their determination to put things right this time, no less than with the ambitious recruits of Gary Warwick and Benny Igiehon to provide extra sting up top, and you can’t let your guard drop when that is accounted for.
Barry Gray’s ‘Point would’ve had that in mind, and it’s not such a bad thing that they fought hard enough to garner a reward to take back to south Down.
It felt like some outsiders were handing Warrenpoint, which was a Premiership away day less than two years ago, the title on a silver platter before a ball had even been kicked this term.
Those with experience in the division will tell you, though, that nothing comes gift-wrapped.
Sure, Gray’s panel remains formidable given that they retained the services of flying forward Steven Ball and midfield maestro Fra McCaffrey, while former skipper John Boyle’s return and ex-Premiership mainstay Joe Gorman’s recruit certainly shored up the defensive line.
They also promoted several features of their Development League-winning Under-20 selection, including Junior, Evan McEnteggart and Niall Lennon, into the first-team fold.
But the team that wins the PIL this campaign will be the one that is most hardened for battle.
Warrenpoint supporters will have been encouraged by their start, bearing in mind so much football is still to be played. It’ll be a test of character.
There’s a trickle-down effect to factor in, too. Queen’s’ surge has largely been led by the fleet-footed Stewart Nixon, whose loan arrival from Carrick Rangers has provided a boost and a spark for boss James Lavery, while a Limavady arsenal in attack that comprises seasoned pros like Ian Parkhill and Joe McCready can hardly be sniffed at.
With 28 goals in league play alone, Paul Owens’ Roesiders boast the division’s best frontline so far, but both Warrenpoint and Ballymacash boast resolute defensive lines that have only shipped five goals each, too.
And that’s not even factoring in prospective storylines elsewhere.
What shape will Kenny Shiels-led Moyola Park take? How will resurgent Dollingstown and Armagh City – currently fifth and sixth after bottom-half placings last time out – make their stamp on proceedings? Will Rathfriland and Coagh prove serious disruptors at some point?
The team that wins the league is, fundamentally, the one that sees through the noise.
Clinching the small battles to win the war. They take many forms, too, and it requires a lot of resilience along the way – but, in the end, victory is a dish best served warm.
Featured image from Paul Harvey/Ballymacash Rangers media.
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