Rathfriland future is bright says Ally Wilson as he plots more success

Ally Wilson says he’s not sure what the future holds for Rathfriland after his club sealed the double on Saturday, adding the Premier Division title to the Intermediate Cup they won 12 days earlier.

The Whites have made little secret of their desire to push on in Intermediate football, and clinching the Amateur League’s top flight title in style at the weekend, dethroning Crumlin Star on their own patch to do it, would normally earn them the right to a play-off for entry into the NI Football League’s basement tier, the Premier Intermediate.

However, Rathfriland didn’t apply to take part in any potential play-off this season – applications had to be in by December – with respective Mid Ulster and Ballymena Premier league champions Ballymacash Rangers and St James’ Swifts now set to lock horns for that honour.

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It’s an option that remains open to the club beyond next season, but for now, Wilson confirmed Rathfriland will be sticking around to defend their title after they finally completed what had long seemed their destiny, wrapping up the league with two games to go following a champagne performance at the Cricky on Saturday.

“It’s been a brilliant season,” beamed Wilson.

“I feel a bit relieved too, because looking back maybe two weeks ago, it was in our hands and I nearly felt that if we didn’t win it, we would have been giving it away.

“Certainly, the last week or so, we probably haven’t been at our best, but we got over the line.

“We are probably inexperienced as a group, but the fact that we went through all this together and got over the line will stand us in good stead you’d hope over the next few years.”

Club legend Wilson returned to Iveagh