This week saw the remaining two Intermediate titles secured, with Crumlin Star following Dollingstown in making it back to back titles, while Glebe Rangers usurped Bangor in the final game to win the BPIL.

In the BPIL Bangor had done their bit on Saturday, as they eased to a 3-0 home win over Dunloy. Glebe then went into Monday night’s meeting with St James Swifts knowing nothing less than a win would do if they wanted to succeed Coagh United as BPIL Intermediate Champions.

They duly obliged with a hard fought 1-0 win over the Swifts, secured by Ian Christie’s first half strike which set up a tense second half for the club. St.James pushed Glebe hard throughout, and struck the woodwork as the game wore on, but Glebe held out to get the victory which won the title.

The drama didn’t end there, however, as after initially being confirmed as the opponents for Mid Ulster Champions Dollingstown in the PIL playoff, Glebe made the decision to opt out of the tie. Glebe cited the financial commitment required to regain their place in the nation’s third tier as the reason for their decision. They did however reaffirm their desire to once again compete at that level, and they will now focus on retaining the BPIL title they worked so hard to win.

Seven points from their last three games, allied with their nearest challengers dropping points in two of their games, meant Crumlin Star made it back to back titles in the NAFL. The title was wrapped up last Thursday night though, as the Star saw off Shankill Utd 2-0 at the Hammer, while Rathfriland fell to a 3-1 defeat at Crumlin Utd which gave the Star a seven point lead with just two games to go.

Crumlin Star did not let up though, and on Saturday they were on the road again, this time to long time leaders East Belfast. The sides fought out a 2-2 draw at East Park while Rathfriland fell to a second defeat, this time 2-1 at 1st Bangor OB.

The two sides wrapped up their fine league campaigns with victories, Star romping to an 8-2 win over relegated Lisburn Rangers, while Rathfriland were back in Newtownards, this time claiming a 2-0 win over Ards Rangers.

Now onto Mid Ulster, where Dollingstown made it a double, as they added the Marshall Cup to their trophy cabinet on Friday night in a pulsating game at Crystal Park.

Cup holders Crewe United were their opponents and the Dolly Birds got off to a flying start, racing into a 2-0 lead thanks to red hot strikers Aaron Duke & Richard Thompson. Crewe then pulled a goal back to halve the deficit, but Dollingstown got another two quick-fire goals to stretch their lead to 3. Crewe won and scored a penalty right on the stroke of half time, but by the interval Dollingstown were in control of the game with a 4-2 lead.

Crewe began the second half in dominant form and pulled it back to 4-3, but a penalty from Duke gave Dollingstown a two goal cushion again. Almost right from the restart though Crewe made it 5-4 and this made for a nervy last few minutes, but Dollingstown held out to secure the double.

Glebe Rangers decision to opt out of the PIL playoff then meant that Dollingstown had a third reason to celebrate as they took the place of Donegal Celtic in the Premier Intermediate league for next season.

Now the dust has settled, over the next few weeks Over The Turnstile will be having a chat with the manager at each of the Intermediate Champions; Magherafelt Sky Blues, Glebe Rangers, Crumlin Star and Dollingstown to round off our coverage of this seasons Intermediate football.

FINAL INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE TABLES

Mid Ulster Intermediate A

Position Team P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Dollingstown 24 17 5 2 72 26 46 56
2 Banbridge Rangers 24 18 1 5 57 27 30 55
3 Crewe United 24 15 5 4 59 35 24 50
4 Hanover 24 15 3 6 61 33 28 48
5 Valley Rangers 24 13 1 10 49 48 1 40
6 Windmill Stars 24 10 5 9 49 38 11 35
7 Moneyslane 24 10 4 10 42 41 1 34
8 Fivemiletown United 24 9 3 12 33 56 -23 30
9 Tandragee Rovers 24 6 9 9 50 44 6 27
10 Ballymacash Rangers 24 6 3 15 40 59 -19 21
11 Richhill AFC 24 6 2 16 38 53 -15 20
12 St Marys 24 4 6 14 31 62 -31 18
13 AFC Silverwood 24 3 1 20 24 83 -59 10

Results

Saturday 19th May2018
Hanover 4-0 Ballymacash Rangers
Valley Rangers 1-1 Tandragee Rovers

Tuesday 22nd May 2018
AFC Silverwood 3-4 Crewe United

Northern Amateur Football League Premier Division

Position Team P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Crumlin Star 26 20 5 1 79 29 50 65
2 Rathfriland Rangers 26 18 3 5 79 31 48 57
3 East Belfast 26 15 7 4 84 42 42 52
4 Immaculata F.C. 26 16 1 9 75 54 21 49
5 1st Bangor Old Boys 26 11 5 10 45 45 0 38
6 Ards Rangers 26 10 5 11 52 47 5 35
7 Albert Foundry F.C. 26 10 5 11 50 52 -2 35
8 Crumlin United 26 10 5 11 43 54 -11 35
9 Downpatrick F.C. 26 9 5 12 61 56 5 32
10 Shankill United 26 10 2 14 50 52 -2 32
11 Drumaness Mills 26 9 3 14 39 73 -34 30
12 Derriaghy C C 26 7 5 14 39 57 -18 26
13 Malachians 26 6 3 17 42 98 -56 21
14 Lisburn Rangers 26 3 2 21 40 88 -48 11

Results

Tuesday 22nd May 2018

Crumlin Star 8-2 Lisburn Rangers
Ards Rangers 0-2 Rathfriland Rangers

Saturday 19th May 2018
East Belfast 2-2 Crumlin Star
1st Bangor Old Boys 2-1 Rathfriland Rangers

Thursday 17th May 2018
Crumlin United 1-1 Rathfriland Rangers
Shankill United 0-2 Crumlin Star

Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League

Position Team P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Glebe Rangers 24 19 2 3 74 30 44 59
2 Bangor 24 18 4 2 82 14 68 58
3 St James Swifts 24 16 3 5 66 28 38 51
4 Newtowne 24 14 1 9 59 42 17 43
5 Dunloy 24 11 5 8 57 38 19 38
6 Coagh United 24 10 7 7 74 39 35 37
7 Desertmartin 24 11 3 10 59 64 -5 36
8 Brantwood 24 7 5 12 49 47 2 26
9 Cookstown Youth 24 7 4 13 48 56 -8 25
10 Ballynure OB 24 7 3 14 31 62 -31 24
11 Cookstown Royal British Legion 24 4 8 12 32 57 -25 20
12 Sofia Farm 24 5 2 17 31 95 -64 17
13 Chimney Corner 24 2 1 21 18 106 -88 7

Results

Monday 21st May 2018
Glebe Rangers 1-0 St James Swifts

Saturday 19th May 2018
Bangor 3-0 Dunloy
St James Swifts 5-2 Newtowne

NI Intermediate League

Position Team P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Magherafelt Sky Blues 16 13 2 1 40 23 17 41
2 Ardstraw 16 11 1 4 45 21 24 34
3 Strabane Athletic 16 10 3 3 42 14 28 33
4 Maiden City 16 10 1 5 44 17 27 31
5 Newbuildings Utd 16 6 1 9 24 33 -9 19
6 Dungiven 16 5 3 8 24 35 -11 18
7 Trojans 16 5 1 10 30 46 -16 16
8 Ballymoney Utd 16 2 4 10 17 43 -26 10
9 Oxford Utd Stars 16 1 2 13 19 53 -34 5

Results

Saturday 19th May 2018
Oxford United Stars 1-6 Maiden City

Thursday 17th May 2018
Oxford United Stars 1-1 Ballymoney Utd

Tuesday 15th May 2018
Trojans 2-2 Oxford United Stars