Newry City relegated as Portadown win Championship

Portadown have won the Championship title after a 1-1 draw with Dundela at Shamrock Park.

The Ports' triumph condemns Newry City, who lost 4-0 to Ballymena United, to automatic relegation from the Irish Premiership.

Institute's 1-1 draw with Bangor means Niall Currie's side are four points clear with one match remaining.

There was an eruption of emotion at Shamrock Park as the Ports secured an immediate return to the top flight.

Ryan Mayse fired home the opener for the hosts but Jordan Jenkins hit back for Dundela, who hit the post late on.

Ballymena will face either Bangor, Institute or Annagh United in the relegation-promotion play-off at the end of the season.

The Sky Blues' opponents will be decided after the final round of Championship fixtures on Friday.

Nervy Portadown got the job done

Portadown secured the title with a match to spare despite a 1-1 draw with Dundela

Portadown earn an immediate return to the top flight after winning the Championship despite a 1-1 draw at Shamrock Park.

Tipped for promotion at the start of the season, Portadown overcame a poor run mid-season to put in a late charge to secure the title.

Knowing victory would wrap up the title, it was a nervy performance from Portadown in front of home a support who were providing a carnival atmosphere.

Chances were few and far between in the first half, and Dundela had the best chance through Mark Patton's free-kick, which was well saved by Gareth Buchanan.

After Dundela stopper Lewis Hunter produced two strong saves to deny Eamon Fyfe and Brandon Diau, there was lift off at Shamrock Park when Mayse fired into the bottom corner after finding space in the area.

However, Dundela pressed and Jenkins, the Championship's top scorer, scored at the second time of asking with 13 minutes to play.

Dundela looked the likelier to find a winner and came close when Lee Rea smashed an effort against the post in the closing stages.

They missed out on the win, but Bangor's 1-1 draw with Institute, where Oisin Devlin's effort was cancelled out by Ben Cushnie, gave the Ports an unassailable four-point lead with one match to play.

After waiting for the full-time score to come through at the Brandywell, an emotional Niall Currie sat in the dugout as players and fans celebrated on the Shamrock Park pitch.

Newry's relegation confirmed

Ballymena made a bright start to the game and opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Calvin McCurry connected with Fraser Taylor’s short pass from the left-hand side of the box and fired a strong strike towards goal, which Steven Maguire deflected away. However, Noah Stewart was able to steer the rebound home.

Just two minutes later Adam Salley thought he had levelled the game when his strike sailed past Sean O’Neill, but he was offside.

Ballymena doubled their lead in additional time when Brendan Barr did well to weave round multiple Newry players before cutting the ball back for Stewart, whose resulting strike took a deflection off Ryan McGivern on its route into the back of the net.

It was 3-0 on the 52nd minute when McCurry nipped in front of Maguire and two defenders to steer Sean Brown’s cross from the byline into an empty net.

The busy keeper picked up an injury in the process and was unable to play on with Stewart sending a shot past substitute stopper Conor Mitchell shortly after, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Things went from bad to worse for Newry when McCurry's cross hit McGivern's arm inside the box and Steven McCullough fired home the resulting penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.

The final round of Championship fixtures on Friday will reveal who Ballymena will face in the two-legged play-off, while Newry are now consigned to second-tier football next season.