It’s been one hell of a season in the Playr-Fit Championship.
A league that literally has it all… where no holds are barred, where nothing is off the table, where to expect the unexpected would be to somehow insinuate there were even expectations in the first place.
And it is dramatic until the dying embers. This campaign, it really wasn’t over until the fat lady finally sung.
On the final day, three teams split by a point were in contention for a play-off. Another one could’ve finished above them all yet could not achieve promotion.
It was, as promised, a night of nerves. Believe me, try supporting one of those concerned, shaking, shivering.
The matches between Annagh United and Bangor at the BMG Arena and already-confirmed champions Portadown and Institute at Shamrock Park were barely a mile apart. Probably so close that you could hear beating hearts from one side of the Co Armagh town to the other.
Not until second-half stoppage-time was there a goal in either – and it sparked ecstasy for one, a sucker-punch for two others.
‘Stute were in fifth when the clock entered the red, but when Michael Harris powered home, firing across lanky centre-back Brandon Diau and in at Gareth Buchanan’s far post having been slipped in by Shane McGinty, the sheer scenes of jubilation sparked among the north west club’s travelling faithful could be juxtaposed with the sighs and groans from just down the Tandragee Road where all inside learned Kevin Deery’s men had shot into second.
The Drumahoe outfit’s fate was dependent on them securing victory and their two rivals-in-chief for the right to play Ballymena United over two legs playing out a stalemate.
That, now, in a split second, was just what was happening. And by Jesus, that’s just how it finished.
Cue a picture at Annagh of two teams who had not lost but may as well have done.
The situation there was winner-takes-all. If Bangor won on the road, they would book the play-off in their first season back at Championship level after seven years away. If Annagh won at home, they would seal their spot in a third straight two-legged series under Ciaran McGurgan’s watchful tutelage.
Neither did. A draw, incidentally, favoured Lee Feeney’s Seasiders, who were headed for that play-off against the Sky Blues for 91 minutes on Friday night with a superior goal difference.
And then Harris struck.
The emotions could be bottled up and you still wouldn’t contain them. It’d have been bloody hard to – no less than that by full-time at the BMG, you had the sight of two sets of distraught players sinking to their knees, falling to the ground, hands on their heads… well, take your pick.
That’s the emotional investment of going through nine months of hard work, through highs and lows, to just, just fall short.
Bangor ended third, and Annagh, who’d enjoyed a barnstorming 2024 having not even been in the picture by the turn of the year, settled for fourth.
Dundela, who were 2-0 up in the East Belfast Derby against Harland and Wolff Welders after Jordan Jenkins’ brace, were beaten 3-2 after Matthew Ferguson signed off his season with a second-half hat-trick.
A treble was what the son of Glenn needed to share the Championship top scorer accolade with Jenkins – and he did just that, the pair joint on 23 as Ferguson won it for the Welders, like Harris for ‘Stute, on 91 minutes.
It means the Duns, who were second 84 minutes in at Wilgar Park where the narrow pitch’s failure to meet Premiership regulations – given it is short by four and a half metres – ultimately has denied them a top-flight right, end up fifth in Stephen Gourley’s first season in charge.
Behind them in the scoring stakes, Bangor’s Ben Arthurs and Portadown ace Zach Barr (18) have a share of second, Barr’s fellow Ports title winner Ryan Mayse (17) has third to himself while a three-way tie for fourth on 14 is shared between Ballyclare Comrades skipper Gary Donnelly, Player of the Year nominee Scott McArthur of Bangor and Ards’ Callum Dougan.
There’s no dead rubbers in this league. Ultimately, there’s something for every team to play for, and sometimes, it can break your heart.
As a Bangor fan, it certainly broke mine.
You still keep coming back for more, though. It’s insatiable. Crowds are rising, the quality of player is arguably unprecedented, the open-ended style of football and the unpredictability of it all is just irresistible.
Four points split the top five. Far too close for comfort and reflective of a division that is in a very, very good place indeed.
The Irish League needs a strong second-tier, no question – just as it needs a strong third-tier, too, which Limavady United have won to secure their Championship spot for 2024/25 and from which Armagh City will bid to follow suit when they play Dergview in the Championship play-off.
And doesn’t it have one. It’s rising in stature and, at just eight quid – value for money is an understatement – it’s right on your doorstep.
Influenced largely by Portadown and Bangor’s involvement this term but with crowd rises reported at near enough every team in the league, a cumulative 85 per cent spike in attendances in the Championship compared to the 2022/23 campaign reflects just how well things are going.
And the quality argument holds up when you notice just how well Loughgall adapted to the rigours of Premiership life after promotion, as well as that a couple of Villagers stars – Benji Magee, now a Northern Ireland Under-21 international, and Nathaniel Ferris – both ended it with 15 or more goals.
Those who watch the second-flight week in, week out are all singing from the same hymn sheet regarding the direction the league’s headed.
It was a big year for the Championship, a big season, an emotional season, but it delivers. It always delivers.
It can leave you on top of the world, it can leave you close to tears.
But it’s special alright. Really special. And if you’re not following it already, you’d be well-advised to put that right pronto.
Featured image from INPHO/Jonathan Porter.
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