Hi °C | Lo °C Donegal Celtic have lost vital ground recently in the race for promotion to the Irish Premier League next season but the return of three points, deducted by the Championship League committee for allegedly playing an unregistered player, Liam Watson, in the opening game of the season against Dergview, has helped their cause.
Celtic originally lost an appeal against the decision but an Arbitration some seven weeks ago, overruled the Appeals Committee and made it clear that both committees had acted wrongly in their handling of the matter.
Celtic are currently six points behind leaders Portadown with three game in hand and so every point will prove vital before the season ends.
Only the Ports and DC can qualify for promotion but they must finish in the top two. Failure to be first or second, will deny them the opportunity of going up.
The winners will replace Bangor while the runners-up will play the bottom team in the Premier League.
That is dependent of course, on both teams meeting the licensing criteria although if any other Premier club fails, they too like Bangor, will be ousted which would mean an automatic return for DC if they pass the test.
Meanwhile, DC will face Dundela in the second WKD Intermediate Cup semi-final at New Grosvenor on March 25. The other ‘semi’ is between Portadown and Knockbreda at Stangmore Park on March 24.
