Limavady title party ‘a bit of a fairytale’ for boss Paul Owens as Showgrounds return perfect for trophy presentation
Limavady United’s dream finish has been described as “a bit of a fairytale” by manager Paul Owens - who is ready to relish the reality tonight of a Championship title celebration.
Graft over 37 previous games to a league-winning tally of 81 points means it’s now all about the glory.
With a return to Limavady Showgrounds marking the perfect setting for the showcase send-off, the visit by Queen’s University will have the feel of a procession towards the most important part of the night - and season - arriving after the final whistle with the delivery of the league trophy.
Owens is still chasing a record-breaking sign-off to life in the second tier as Limavady currently share with Larne’s 2019 champions the highest points return across a Championship season.
But if the closing game ends in a closing defeat resulting in a shared spot with Larne within the Irish League history books it will mark a rare occasion in which Owens’ men have not stood alone this campaign.
Irrespective of tonight’s result, none of the 11 rivals can change Limavady’s statistical return of most wins and fewest defeats across the league programme.
Coleraine Showgrounds has provided a temporary home - during the pitch installation process transforming Limavady from grass to an artificial surface - but lasting memories, including as the scene for February’s shock Irish Cup exit of top-flight Linfield.
“Now we've got a 3G pitch and open with a league title coming, so everything's just fallen into place really, really nicely,” said Owens, aiming to extend a run of six wins and one draw from seven. “It's like a bit of a fairytale to be honest.
“We just want to continue that and finish really, really strong.
“We have just been so consistent.
“We drew two games (in February)...honestly, outside the club, outside the changing room, you would have thought we were in a real bad run.
“We had an unbelievable run.
“We went to Ards on a Tuesday night (March 3) and lost…that was probably the best thing that happened to us because the wee fear of losing games, it maybe lifted us.
“We have 37 league games where we lost the first…we've only lost three in the last 36 league games.”