Third placed Coleraine had to settle for a point from this visit to Newry City as new boss Rodney McAree awaits his first win.
The Bannsiders almost moved in front after five minutes through Stephen Lowry who turned the ball against an upright after Ian Parkhill had knocked on a sliced Andy Coleman clearance.
However, the deadlock was broken in Newry’s favour on 19 minutes when a free-kick was whipped into the area for Declan Carville to head home into the top corner.
In attempt to get back into the game Coleraine saw efforts from Ciaron Harkin and Darren McCauley dealt with while Parkhill saw a ball driven across the face of goal before going wide.
McCauley then clipped the top of the crossbar before, on 57 minutes, Parkhill split the Newry defence with a fantastic through ball for Aaron Burns to make no mistake with a clinical finish.
Chasing all three points, McAree’s side could have edged in front after Jamie McGonigle raced clear but Coleman did well to deal with the threat.
And Newry might have regained the advantage later in the half only for Darragh Noonan to strike the woodwork before the ball fell to safety.
Then, towards the end, Coleman pulled off a series of stops in quick succession to deny James McLaughlin and Lowry.

BBC Sport NI coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45694918

Newry City: Coleman, King, Noonan, Boyle, McCann, Walker, Carville, S. Hughes, M. Hughes, Lavery, Montgomery subs Maguire (not used), McCabe (not used), Johnston (not used), Delaney (replaced King 86), Teggart (not used), McArdle (not used), Mullen (not used).

Coleraine: Johns, Mullan, Harkin, McCauley, Lowry, Crown, Burns, O’Donnell, Parkhill, McGonigle, Canning subs Doherty (not used), Douglas (not used), McLaughlin (replaced Parkhill 77), McConaghie (not used), Gawne (not used), Owens (not used)

Referee: Tony Clarke
Attendance: 495

A Philip Donnelly stoppage time header ensured the first ever top flight derby between Newry City and Warrenpoint Town ended with honours even at The Showgrounds. 

Both sides had their chances in the first half.

‘Point came closest after Eamon Scannell picked out Fra McCaffrey but with only Andy Coleman to beat he fired low into the arms of the Newry keeper.

At the other end Stephen Hughes jinked his way forward to the edge of the area before his deflected effort fell just wide of Aaron McCarey’s left post.

But the deadlock was broken three minutes into the second half. Mark McCabe broke into the area but was impeded by Max Kouogun prompting referee Lee Tavinder to award a penalty which Jimmy Walker duly stepped up to convert sending McCarey the wrong way.

That was how it stayed until late in the game. Warrenpoint came closest to levelling when Scannell lifted the ball over from the left side of the area but Kouogun headed narrowly wide.

Then, in the 91st minute, the visitors got their equaliser after Donnelly glanced home Ciaran O’Connor’s cross.

Newry City: Coleman, Mooney, King, Boyle, McCann, Walker, Carville, McCabe, S. Hughes, M. Hughes, Montgomery subs Maguire (not used), McCaul (replaced King 13), Lavery (not used), Rushe (not used), Delaney (not used), Teggart (not used), McArdle (replaced Mooney 46)

Warrenpoint Town: McCarey, Hughes, Moan, Kelly, Griffin, O’Sullivan, McCaffrey, Kouogun, Scannell, Norton, Wallace subs McGrandles, J. Lynch (not used), M. Lynch (not used), Watters (replaced Moan 73), O’Connor (replaced Norton 62), Donnelly (replaced O’Sullivan 71), Turker (not used)

Referee: Lee Tavinder

Attendance: 1156