Of the three Premier Intermediate League encounters to take place during midweek, each carried a potentially priceless significance at both ends of the table.
In the division’s promotion hunt and relegation battle, the trio of matches taking place on Tuesday night all produced winners who will reap the rewards of three important points.
A battle of third versus fourth at Holm Park saw hosts Armagh City claw level on points with play-off occupiers Queen’s University after a victory by the odd goal in five over Ballymacash Rangers, while Rathfriland spurned the chance to overtake the Lisburn club having ceded a 3-1 lead to fall to defeat to Lisburn Distillery at home.
Meanwhile, Moyola Park, the first-ever Irish Cup winners who began the day precariously above the drop zone, bagged a critical success at mid-table Dollingstown that builds much-needed breathing space from the basement.
It was a day of decision that didn’t come at the expense of entertainment; no fewer than 16 goals in those affairs that tended to swing one way and the other, too.
Starting in the Cathedral City, Shea Campbell’s resurgent Armagh entered their match-up with Ballymacash knowing they would’ve lost their grip on third with a defeat.
Buoyed by a hot start to 2024 and having tasted defeat just once in their last 11 in the third-tier, the Eagles knew that if The ‘Cash clinched the maximum reward on Tuesday night, they would have dropped out of the top three and been left with a battle on their hands to step up given all around them had crunch clashes in hand.
Fears of that looked to have been allayed by the hour, when Noeem Oladunjoye’s brace either way of the interval saw the blue-and-back-striped hosts blaze into a searing two-goal lead, but the seed of doubt was installed courtesy of a double in reply by half-time substitute Aaron Duke – his first two finishes since joining on loan from Loughgall in January – and meant Lee Forsythe’s men were back on level terms heading into a frantic finale.
It was an old nemesis of the visitors who settled matters, however. Igor Rutkowski scored for Knockbreda at The Bluebell during last season’s relegation/promotion play-off and saved the Castlereagh club’s skin; this time, he popped up seven minutes from time with a late dagger for Armagh for a 3-2 lead that stayed so until the final whistle.
The outcome? Campbell’s side rise to 32 points, level with Queen’s and just three behind red-hot leaders Limavady United – albeit having played two games more than both.
Fighting a relegation battle for much of last term en route to ending ninth, City are back at the top end of the table and riding the crest of a wave that comes with a fourth consecutive triumph.
Ballymacash, who remain a game in arrears, could’ve found themselves dropping down a place in the standings as a result, but they retain their grip on fourth spot thanks to a stirring comeback in south Down.
Their near-neighbours Lisburn Distillery did them a favour from a rather unlikely position.
A clash of Whites at Iveagh Park that had been postponed and rescheduled due to a waterlogged surface five weeks earlier, NIFL debutants Rathfriland have threatened a promotion push of late and flew out of the traps with the bit between their teeth.
Fleet-footed Ruairi Fitzpatrick handed the hosts the lead less than 180 seconds into proceedings, and despite midfielder Gerard Storey conjuring up a response for Barry Johnston’s Distillery before the 20-minute mark, Rathfriland retook control thanks to goals by two impressive performers, Dalton Tate and top scorer Matthew Holloway, and ignited into a 3-1 lead with 35 minutes on the clock.
Cliftonville loanee Storey doubled his personal tally up before the break, though – and as it happened, it sprung the Ballyskeagh men into life.
Frontman Ryan McNickle found Distillery’s second equaliser just six minutes after the restart before another young gun on loan from the Reds, Jack Berry, rubber-stamped the comeback just before the hour.
With Ally Wilson’s troops unable to make a fresh inroad following the teenage star’s finish, the Bob Radcliffe Cup champions stay sixth, now half a dozen points from the play-off, while the New Grosvenor side prop up from 11th to eight and level on points with Dollingstown, who themselves were in action simultaneously.
They, too, were to lose on their home patch as they entertained a struggling but reinforced Moyola Park.
Another Premiership loanee, Coleraine ace Lee Harkin, put Kenny Shiels’ Moyola in front with 20 minutes gone before the experienced Gary Liggett levelled on the stroke of half-time at Planters Park.
From there, former Ards hitman James McLaughlin restored The Park’s advantage five minutes into the second period before a clincher 10 minutes from time.
A grand old staple of football on the island of Ireland who conquered Cliftonville in the first Irish Cup showpiece in 1881, Moyola are fighting for their Irish League status now and have helped themselves out by lifting five points clear of bottom-placed PSNI in the standings.
How pivotal those points could prove to be will be most telling come the end, but if there was ever a night for grasping opportunities with a firm two-handed grip, then Armagh, Distillery and Moyola made sure they did just that.
Featured image from David Hunter/Lisburn Distillery FC Media.
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