Quigley's Point Swifts seal return to Premier Division at expense of Cockhill Youths

QPS sealed their return to the Premier Division in style, overcoming Cockhill Celtic Youths with a fine 2-0 win in Saturday’s Division 1 League play-off at Maginn Park. 

On a perfect evening for football, the Point men delivered a composed and clinical performance to lift the title and secure promotion.

In a tight opening half, the first chance fell to Cockhill after a PJ Doherty ball over the top sent Darragh McDermott clear on the right. 

He advanced into the area but dragged his effort past the far post. QPS had a similar opportunity at the other end midway through the half when keeper Jason McCallion’s long free broke off two defenders into the path of Conor Barrow. He advanced and saw his left-footed effort from a tight angle gathered by Jordan McLaughlin.

Cockhill had another chance on 35 minutes after a defensive lapse allowed Conor Allen to burst into the area, but McCallion was superbly off his line to block at his feet.

Within a minute, QPS opened the scoring after Lee Barr’s free kick saw Darragh McIntyre get his head to the ball ahead of both defenders and keeper McLaughlin. The ball fell kindly to Oisin McIntyre, who slotted home from six yards.

Cockhill had the final half-chance of the first half when Mason McDaid’s cross from the right found McDermott, who headed just wide at the back post.

QPS started the second half well, and when Lee Barr slid in midfield to find Barrow on the right, his sliced cross drifted just over McLaughlin’s crossbar. 

They went close again midway through the half from an inswinging Conor Barrow corner when the ball came off a cluster of players, but Conor McDaid cleared off the line.

Cockhill tried hard to get back into the game but got no change from the Point back four. It was QPS who had the final chance in the closing minutes when good play from Oisin McIntyre found substitute Cillian McElhinney, who in turn released fellow substitute Lee Rutherford on the right-hand side of the area, but his low effort was well blocked by Jordan McLaughlin.

QPS saw out the remaining minutes to clinch promotion back to the Premier Division as league champions, while Cockhill will have an early chance to avenge this defeat when the two teams clash next Saturday in the Charlie O’Donnell Memorial Cup final.