Promotion – Relegation Not Clear Yet

Sunday 17.10.2010

Club

The final round of league fixtures in Division Two took place over the weekend and interestingly Eglish lost their unbeaten league record following their defeat in a high scoring game against Moortown. That result ensured that the lough shore side finished third in the league behind Derrylaughan on points difference. Moortown are joined in the playoffs by Loughmacrory, Rock and Pomeroy. These four teams will play off against each other with the victors facing the winner of the Division One relegation playoffs. There is still a lot for these teams to play for but the one hope is that the fixture makers don’t rush to complete any of these games while other divisions have still to play their outstanding league games. There is nothing as demotivating for a team as to be left sitting waiting for your next opponents and not knowing who they are or when the game may take place.

At this time of the year, after a long season, that is a situation that can be quite easily avoided with proper planning and co-ordination. At the other end of the table defeats for Aghaloo and Strabane and victory for Killeeshil in their final games mean the playoff position for possible relegation places from Division Two has taken another twist. Killeeshil’s win away to Eskra meant themselves and Aghaloo finished level on seven points with Aghaloo below Killeeshil on scoring difference. However in their head to head fixture which was played only a few weeks ago it was the border side that came out on top in that one. It will be interesting to see if either of these sides or both accept the plan that the county’s fixtures committee has in mind for the relegation playoffs and I have a funny feeling this one might end up with an appeal to The Ulster Council to clarify the situation.

I know that is as clear as mud but sorting out the promotion/relegation issues for each division over the next few weeks is going to see some very exciting games and one or two shocks along the way. One promotion spot that was sealed on Sunday however was Stewartstown’s return to Intermediate football as a result of their win over Fintona. With only one game remaining in the league, the only side capable of catching The Harps is Killyman. However with Killyman having already secured their promotion last week having won the championship, Stewartstown are promoted as league “winners”. All will become clearer next weekend when Killyman travel to third placed Fintona and Stewartstown travel to Leckpatrick to face Owen Roes.