The Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League promotion race took some fresh turns at the weekend, thus a climactic end to the campaign is in the pipeline with the prize of dining among the ranks of senior-status football in 2024/25.
A couple of crunch clashes between top-five rivals, namely Armagh City’s hosting of leaders Limavady United and Queen’s University’s traversal to Ballymacash Rangers, produced outcomes that have added spice going into the tail end of the season.
In-form, newly-promoted Rathfriland, meanwhile, have turned it up a gear in 2024 but found themselves on the wrong end of a shock that has stunted their progress in the immediate term, with the summit looking bunched-up going into the last half a dozen encounters of a restructured third-tier.
Starting at Holm Park, then, where Shea Campbell’s Armagh – back at the top end following a disappointing 2022/23 season – entertained Limavady, who had been threatening to pull clear under Paul Owens’ stewardship following a goal-filled first half of the term but now find themselves brought right into the mix a mere six matches out from their denouement.
The Roesiders’ title cause wasn’t helped by events in the Cathedral City. The Eagles soared into the lead with just 17 minutes on the clock through a well-placed header by the impactful Noeem Oladunjoye, with captain Conor Mullen swooping to then add their second 16 minutes from time after Lims substitute Alex Pomeroy blasted a powerful penalty into the bottom corner to restore the level pegging in the game.
It means Armagh, on 39 points, close to within one of the summit – albeit having played a game more than their fellow blue-shirted counterparts – and apply more than a little bit of squeeze at the PIL’s top end.
They were handed a boost by second-from-bottom Moyola Park, too.
It’s been a difficult season for Kenny Shiels’ charges, but they maintained their eight-point gap from PSNI at the bottom of the league by upsetting fancied Rathfriland at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
The Whites, who contended with the distinguished Ally Wilson’s surprise departure from the hotseat last month, had still been going well under former Banbridge Town assistant Ronnie Haughey, but a six-match unbeaten streak was snapped in the north west when the second-placed side were dealt a 2-1 defeat by the inaugural Irish Cup champions.
Peter Duffin’s opener for The Park 14 minutes into proceedings put the pressure on ripe and early, but Jesse Carson’s reply with under 20 minutes to go looked to be putting the Co Down club on course for a precious point.
A draw would’ve put them level with Limavady bearing in mind other events, but Lee Harkin had other ideas. The 20-year-old Coleraine loanee has proved talismanic, and on netting his third goal in four matches for Moyola, it not only kept their recent resurgence in form ongoing but saw Armagh instead peg even on 39 points with last campaign’s Amateur League kingpins.
Don’t discount Ballymacash or Queen’s, either – they clashed at the Bluebell, and with the Students possessing multiple matches on hand on those around them, their determination to capitalise in full could scarcely be doubted.
However, they were cut down to size in their bid to take the maximum spoils here as a ‘Cash outfit that has hit a stumbling block of late showcased their best selves again in Lisburn.
Still harbouring ambitions of forcing themselves into the race, Lee Forsythe’s fourth-placed side did no harm in that pursuit.
The introduction of super sub Aaron Duke was the ultimate turning point; he was drafted in on 58 minutes with the score goalless, and in an 11-minute span after being brought on, the Loughgall loanee hit the target twice to establish breathing space for last season’s promotion play-off representatives.
Owen McKeown added a third eight minutes from time, with a Matthew Hughes finish for James Lavery’s men on 84 minutes rendered but a consolation as they sit seven points off the top – albeit still with at least three games in hand on the four outfits above them.
Ballymacash, who had lost three of their last four prior to Saturday’s kick-off after losses to Limavady (2-1), Moyola (1-0) and Armagh (3-2), leapfrogged their opponents into fourth spot on 34 points and also retain a match in hand on Armagh and Rathfriland.
What’s for sure is that the run-in to scale the climb into the Playr-Fit Championship couldn’t be further from a done deal.
Featured image from Paul Harvey Photography.
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