The champagne that had been on ice in Newry for weeks was finally uncorked on Saturday as Darren Mullen’s team celebrated lifting the Championship title.
The County Down side were not official champions going into the final round of games based on an improbable goal swing and final day loss at home to Dergview, but a 6-1 victory secured their progress back to the top flight in style.
Teenage forward James Teelan got the party started with two first half goals to put any lingering questions to bed and he has thanked boss Mullen for giving him his opportunity this season.
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Local lad Teelan arrived at Newry last summer from Dungannon Swifts and has been one of a number of youngsters to thrive in the side, impressing in attack alongside Northern Ireland Under-21 international John McGovern.
“Darren was the one who took a chance on me and put me in the team,” Teelan told Match on Tuesday.
“It was invaluable for me to be coming into senior football and be playing week in week out at this level, to develop over the course of the season but giving success to the team.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity I have had this season and he stuck to his word from the start of the season on that.
“There are a lot of young players who were blooded into the team this season and there are even more
coming up through the youth sides who will get their chance too.
“He deserves a lot of credit for taking those chances.”
It was a special day and a special season for everyone involved with Newry, whose playing and coaching staff are almost unanimously from the local area.
Teelan explained: “We are all local players and after the games and you’re in the town, it makes it that little bit more special.
“You are meeting the fans and talking about the games, there is a real connection there between the support base and the players.
“Our recent results have not been great and we were focused on giving the fans something on the final day to go out on a high.
“Thankfully we were able to do that and give them something to celebrate ahead of the celebrations.
“Promotion was the aim at the start of the season, we were always very clear on that.”
Promotion was sealed just days after Newry’s remarkable Irish Cup campaign finally came to an end after they were edged out in the semi-final by Ballymena, but the players took heart from the performances.
“The Irish Cup showed that we can handle ourselves against those top-flight teams,” added Teelan.
“We were a bit unlucky against Ballymena and against Glentoran too – we had a few chances to score in that game.
“We have shown we can compete in those games, restrict their chances and create a few of our own.
“The aim now is to be even stronger for next season and we believe we can hold our own.”
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