Late Byrne goal sees Point a point away from league title

Eoghan Byrne was the hero of the hour at Iveagh Park last night, heading into the Rathfriland net from the last kick of the ball to guarantee Warrenpoint Town at least a play-off and most likely the league title.

The only goal of the game arrived deep in stoppage time and luckily the referee blew the full-time whistle immediately, as there was no stopping the delighted Blue and White Army, who were stationed along the fence right beside where young Byrne connected, from invading the pitch to celebrate with their players.

The tension was high on a chilly Tuesday night in Rathfriland with skin in the game for both sides. Word around the ground kept the punters nervously updated on the scarce information about the other PIL games being played simultaneously.

Table-toppers Warrenpoint were five points clear of second place Dollingstown heading into the third last league game of the season – while Rathfriland sat third in the table. If Warrenpoint won this game and Dollingstown didn’t win theirs against Moyola Park, they couldn’t catch the Point.

There were plenty of chances for both sides in Rathfriland, but no goals at half-time, while Dollingstown were 2-0 down.

After the break, whispers about Queens University began to circulate as the dark horses were on their way to completing six league wins in a row, beating Oxford Sunnyside 3-2.

Queens currently sit fourth in the table 14 points behind Warrenpoint but crucially are playing catch-up with three games in hand.

Dollingstown ended up drawing 3-3 – sending them into a battle for the play-off spot.

Mathematically then Queens are the only side who can catch Warrenpoint should they win all five of their remaining games and the Point lose both of theirs – home to Portstewart on Saturday and away to Banbridge the following weekend.

A draw in Milltown against Portstewart will allow the celebrations to begin in earnest amongst the large crowd of loyal supporters expected, but manager Gary Boyle isn’t counting his chickens just yet.

"We just need to be careful now, it’s not done yet and we have a job to do over the next two games to seal the deal hopefully, but it feels like a big result,” Boyle told the Newry Reporter after the game.

And while the manager praised his players for the character they have shown throughout the campaign in battling to the final whistle on every game - exemplified on this night - he also acknowledged the supporters who chanted and sang throughout, urging their men on.

"It’s been brilliant and it’s about building the club back up I suppose as much as everything else, from being here for a couple of seasons now. And the supporters have been great for us. I would go as far as to say it’s as much away supporters we’ve probably brought for the last couple of years for sure and fair play to Rathfriland, the home game in Milltown the same crowd turned out as well over Christmas and it was a great atmosphere I’m sure for the players to play in.”

One of those players, who has been a stalwart all season, is Jim O’Hanlon and when asked what it meant to him, he looked to the still chanting supporters who had smothered him and his teammates moments earlier and said: “Just look, it’s unbelievable. They all deserve it. Everybody in the club deserves it; Sinead [Boyle], Johnny Bird – so many people to name - and all the boys. Gary Boyle is unbelievable, the way he’s brought in the right players and the right people – Simon [Nicks], Andy [Coleman], the whole staff and players deserve it. We’re really, really happy.”

The goal came as late as possible, but O’Hanlon could afford to smile about that now.

"We haven’t made it easy to be honest,” he admitted.

"We had a few chances to put it away and we’re delighted we left it to the last kick. Sure that was all the better wasn’t it?”

MATCH STATS

Rathfriland Rangers: Steven Maguire, Daniel Devlin, Jack Barbour, Dalton Tate, Brian Johnston, Andy Kilmartin, Stephen McCavitt, Jack Chambers, Eoin Rooney, Josh Cooper, Jonathan Scannell (Jake Corbett 69)

Subs not used: Jake Gracey, Ruari Fitzpatrick, Barry Tumilty, Daniel Murray, Adam Hamilton, Alastair Wilson

Warrenpoint Town: Daniel Devine, Callan Farley, Conall Murray, Christopher Crane, John Boyle, Jim O'Hanlon, Rory Powell (Matthew Lynch 71), Diarmuid O'Hanlon, Stuart Hutchinson (Matthew Robinson, 52), Declan Loye (Eoghan Byrne 52), Michael Leddy

Subs not used: Declan Murphy, Reece Doyle, Shane Haughey, Sean O'Hare

Referee: Conor Murphy