Dergview won the game 3-2 with a Neil Coulter free kick in the last ten minutes separating the sides in a five goal thriller. Irvinestown had fought back from 2-0 down at half time to level the game with 15 minutes to go but Coulter’s astute free kick kept Dergview up and relegated Irvinestown.

    Irvinestown, obviously were not best pleased given that Dergview were allowed to field as many of their Intermediate league team as they wished, an advantage which they took.

    Irvinestown manager Paul Cassidy commented: “I was very happy with our performance. However, it was a Fermanagh and Western relegation play off but in reality it turned out to be a Fermanagh and Western team against an Intermediate team. Last year’s competition was decided on this year’s rules.”

    Paul also indicated that the Irvinestown committee was far from happy and that they are toying with a protest on the ticket that last year’s rules would have prevented Dergview playing so many players in the match.

    “ This whole affair has been a farce from start to finish and it is ironic that the guilty party to the original incident are the one team to benefit out of the mess. Moreover, the Fermanagh and Western added to the farce by allowing the 2002/2003 rules to govern a 2001/2002 relegation play off. In the end up, they have aided and abetted Dergview to profit from the situation.”

    Paul did, however, say that he did not want to add to a delay to the start of the season by virtue of another protest but that it was up to the Irvinestown committee. At the time of going to press, he said the decision was in the balance but that he had not contacted all the members of the committee.

    The match, in isolation, was a tight affair and while Irvinestown looked a little ring rusty in the opening half, they played better in the second half and will be disappointed to have lost. Dergview, with a game already under their belt, started the brighter and bossed the opening half, playing with a strong breeze at their backs.

    Dergview opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Stephen Campbell volleyed home to give Seaney no chance. Dergview continued in the ascendancy throughout the half with Irvinestown only able to create a couple of half chances with Conor McGuigan looking threatening with his pace.

    Just before the half hour mark, Dergview deservedly increased their lead when Watson engineered some space in the box and fired in a fine low shot which nestled in the left hand corner of the Irvinestown net to put Dergview two ahead.

    In the second half, Dergview resumed where they had left off with only last ditch defending thwarting the Castlederg men from increasing their lead.

    Slowly but surely, Irvinestown got back into the game. Ryan Quinn moved into the centre of midfield with Shane Goan going wide while Conor McGuigan dropped deep so as to get on the ball. It seemed to work and a delightful Goan goal put them back in the match with 30 minutes remaining. Goan received the ball from a throw in and flicked it neatly over his head, turning his marker in the process before adeptly lifting the ball over the Dergview net minder for a classy goal.

    Lifted by this goal, and with the wind at their backs, Irvinestown pushed forward and were rewarded for their endeavour soon after when Kevin Goodwin’s block tackle in the box ended with the ball in the net and very much game on at 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining.

    Dergview, however, had other ideas and a long ball out of defence opened up the Irvinestown defence. A free was conceded on the edge of the box and Neil Coulter showed his class by placing the ball in the top corner despite the best efforts of Seaney who got a hand to the ball.

    That was it really. Irvinestown pressed forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to fashion a clear cut chance.