We spoke to a delighted Warrenpoint Town manager Gary Boyle after his side were crowned Playr-Fit Premier Intermediate League champions.
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00:00Gary, first and foremost, congratulations. How good does that feel to be League Champions?
00:03Oh, it's brilliant. You know, it's something that probably we talked about when we first met on the 22nd of June.
00:08But we really didn't know what to expect, obviously. Coming back last year and the tail end of last season, it didn't go so well.
00:16So we knew we sort of had to rejuvenate and rebuild and go again.
00:19But the beauty about here is, unlike a lot of clubs, there's a lot of really, really good people.
00:24So we've only performed for them and they've given us the platform to perform, which has allowed us to flourish.
00:31And we're just very grateful. And I can't sort of emphasize that enough.
00:35And the group of players that we've amassed together has been nothing short of exceptional.
00:40And listen, I'm standing here, but certainly they don't lead it themselves.
00:43And anybody can be standing here when you've a group like that sort of all pulling in one direction for the one common goal. And it was brilliant.
00:49Look, Gary, I suppose when you win a league title, it doesn't matter how you do it.
00:52But how nice is it to come here at Middletown, put in a performance like that and have this 2-0 win being the game that got you over the line.
00:58Yeah, listen, sport doesn't very often sort of lend itself to that romance and them sorts of stories.
01:04But listen, it's a sort of happy ending too, isn't it, for everybody and me being local, you know, it adds that to it.
01:10And it's brilliant to be able to do it here and really enjoy it with the people that matter most.
01:16Yeah, and probably you showed two sides of your game. First half, you're well on top, got them two goals.
01:20Second half, they put you under a bit of pressure.
01:22But I thought your two centre halves were absolutely excellent at holding the fort.
01:25Yeah, no, listen, we probably should have been a couple more ahead if we're being honest.
01:29But we weren't and we knew that with the elements and with the form that Port Stewart are in, you know, and they play a good brand of football too, that we were under pressure.
01:36But we talked about it at half time and we said about enjoying defending.
01:40And I think you could see there that we did enjoy defending and keeping it out, we talked about it again.
01:45I think we can go as far to say as our defensive record has won us the league, you know, we've been absolutely so solid.
01:51And that's a team thing. Yes, we've been helped by the keeper in the back four, but certainly the team all buys into the clean sheets.
01:57And that's what's got us over the line. I guess a bit of pressure and we still created a few chances on the break.
02:02And probably that's the one thing that we weren't good enough at doing was on that transition, maybe just killing them off.
02:07But listen, you can't complain on a day like this.
02:10Yeah, and you touched on it already. Look, it has been a tough couple of years for the point.
02:14But great resilience in that group and great resilience in the club to keep coming back and ultimately get back to where you were before now.
02:19Yeah, no, listen, as I say, I wasn't part of that. And what's happened to the point, I only know that it's been unlucky.
02:25I don't know the ins and outs of what all happened, but certainly we're very glad and very privileged to be taking us back to where we were a few seasons ago.
02:32Yeah, and then last one for me. I know you'll enjoy tonight. It mightn't be too much on your mind.
02:35But look, before this is promotion, next season you'll be looking to build and it's great for the development, isn't it, to get up back into the championship?
02:41Yeah, listen, it is brilliant now, but that being said, there's a lot of hard work to be done and we know that.
02:48But we're better looking at it than trying to get there, so to speak.
02:52So, listen, we set out goals, we've achieved them and we sort of set new ones out for next year.
02:57And again, just that hard work, that craft and that resilience and see what it takes us.
03:00Yeah, good stuff. Look, enjoy the night. Congratulations again.
03:02Thanks, Ian. Thank you. Cheers.