WATCH: 'Job done' - Newry's Stuart King celebrates dramatic final win as Irish League promotion spots wrapped up for four in PIL third tier
Newry City AFC manager Stuart King celebrated promotion out of the Irish League third tier as “job done” following a 1-0 away success over rivals Dollingstown on a dramatic final night in the Premier Intermediate League.
Moyola Park capped a title-winning campaign with success by 6-0 over Lisburn Distillery as David Parkhouse bagged a treble alongside goals for Jack Wallace, Michael Ruddy and Luca Doherty.
Strabane Athletic closed a first campaign within the Northern Ireland Football League system with promotion to the Championship as runners-up off a comeback win over Coagh United.
Joshua Busteed put Coagh in front before Gary Merritt’s equaliser and a brace by Oisin Duffy.
Harry Campbell, Joshua Cahoon, Adam Neale and Andy Kilmartin secured Rathfriland Rangers’ promotion off a 4-0 victory against Knockbreda.
Away to Dollingstown, Newry had Evan McEnteggart’s goal to thank for the biggest win of the campaign on the closing night.
"I thought we were outstanding in the first half...scored an early goal, could have had two or three more and then we knew they'd throw the kitchen sink at us in the second half,” said King on the official Newry City AFC social media platforms. "But listen, we dug it out.
"I told them at half-time what they were going to do, they were going to throw the big boys on.
"I thought to a man tonight we were outstanding...really dangerous on the counter in the second half.
"And job done – promoted, it's what I came in to do.
"I'm going to say this, my lads have been unbelievable.
"Everything's been thrown at them...they're the big boys in the league, everyone wanted to beat us.
"And we lost a hell of a lot of players throughout the season.
"But, to a man, the group's outstanding.
"Yes, they annoy me at times but they deserve immense credit.
"It's not about me, it's not about ‘Pixie’ (Ryan Moffatt, assistant manager), it's not about my staff...it's about all the lads.
"I want to obviously talk about my staff too, I think they're phenomenal, they've given me everything.
"The volunteers behind the scenes deserve immense credit, the board have been unbelievable to me...the best board I've worked with.
"It's a massive football club, the potential of our football club is so big and we just had to get over the line now.
“We had three games left...I told the lads, just get me to the final game.”
Ballymacash Rangers – under the management of former Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton – defeated Portstewart at home but missed out of promotion, with the programme also featuring wins for Ballyclare Comrades and Oxford Sunnyside over, respectively, Dergview and Banbridge Town.