final defeat to rivals Limavady United, the club managed to get success in the Irish Intermediate Cup, defeating league champions Ards 3–1 in the final. There was a taste of success via the North West Senior Cup in the 2016–17 season, beating Coleraine in the final (1–1 full-time, 4–2 on penalties), however a 5–2 aggregate loss to Carrick Rangers in the NIFL Premiership promotion/relegation play-off final (having beaten Ballyclare Comrades 3–2 on aggregate in the semi-final), coupled with first and sixth round exits from the League Cup and Irish Cup respectively meant it made for a frustrating season overall. Manager Kevin Deery handed in his resignation following the season end, on 20 May 2017, following discussions with chairman Bill Anderson and was replaced by his assistant, and former club captain, Paddy McLaughlin, on 24 May 2017. In the 2017–18 season, the club won the NIFL Championship and gained promotion to the NIFL Premiership once more. They retained the North West Senior Cup with a 3–1 final victory over Coleraine at the Coleraine Showgrounds, but suffered defeats in the last 16 of both the NIFL League Cup and Irish Cup, in what was seen as a fantastic season for the club considering the flooding of their Riverside Stadium home after just one home league game. The 2018–19 season saw the club finish eighth place in the NIFL Premiership, as well as the departure of manager Paddy McLaughlin, (in February 2019), who left to take the Cliftonville job. The club appointed first team coach Kevin Doherty as caretaker manager until the end of the season, at which point, new manager John Quigg was appointed, on 22 April 2019. Following the resignation of John Quigg on 3 August 2019 after just two matches in charge; Sean Connor was appointed as first team manager a month later, on 14 September, with the club yet to win a game in the 2019–20 season. In a season which was severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Institute were relegated following an NIFL decision to go ahead with promotion and relegation, despite the curtailment of the season with 7 matches remaining. The club appealed the decision to no avail; having been bottom of the table, but just 3 points adrift of 11th-placed Warrenpoint Town. Prior to the pandemic, Institute had reached the NIFL League Cup semi-final for the first time in the history of the club, where a