This article is from page 72 of the 2009-08-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 72 JPG
AVENUE United face off against some of the best teams in the coun- try this week when they compete in the fifth international Umbro Galway Citi}
The Ennis club have been drawn against Templeogue United, Salt- hill Devon and the Gawlay District League in Group A in the under 13 section of the competition.
The tournament will take place at Drom Soccer Park, home of Salthill Devon FC, in Galway City and will run from August 5-8. The Galway Cup is aimed at talented soccer play- ers from 12 to 17 years of age. It at- tracts teams from the UK, the US, Canada, Mexico, the Middle East and Europe, as well as a strong rep- resentation of Irish clubs. The aim of the Galway Cup is to bring inter- national class teams together to test them against quality opposition to develop their skills.
Thousands of spectators are ex- pected from Ireland and overseas to capture the action in Drom Soccer Park. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance gate each day.
“The Galway Cup is now in its fifth
successive year and is considered one of the leading underage soccer competitions around the globe’, said Liam Brady, FAI. “This tournament offers the FAI and overseas repre- sentatives the opportunity to assess players who are on the fringe of the international squad. It also gives the best of our home grown talent a real opportunity to perform at the high- est levels and showcase their ability in front of scouts from the UK and Ireland.”
The Failte Ireland Elite U13 Group includes the first Mexican entrant to the cup from Mexico, Sports Clinic which is associated with Cruz Azul, one of the top Mexican sides. Other teams include the Donegal School Boys, Athlone, North Tipperary, St. Kevins Boys, F.C. Carlow and Gal- way. Salthill Devon enters into this Elite section having won the Galway & District League Cup, and the Con- nacht Cup in 2008-2009.
Fiona Monaghan, General Man- ager Failte Ireland West Region, said, “Failte Ireland is delighted to partner with the Umbro Galway Cup as sponsor of the U13 Elite Tourna- ment. The Umbro Galway Cup is one of the key events on the sporting
calendar in the West of Ireland and has gained strong international rec- ognition since its inception five years ago. Failte Ireland West region has positioned itself as the outdoor and activity region of Ireland and this sponsorship is in line with our stra- tegic goals. The Umbro Galway Cup is a great opportunity to promote the West Region as a destination for sporting events combined with activ- ity based holidays to a wide audience and to showcase Galway as a fam- ily friendly holiday destination with plenty to do for all ages. We look forward to welcoming the players and their families both from home and overseas to Galway in early Au- gust”.
This year Lifestyle Sports and Fail- te Ireland have signed up as “Elite Group” sponsors. Lifestyle Sports will be sponsoring the UI5 Elite competition which includes the FAI Emerging Talent Squad and leading UK clubs such as Sunderland, Ful- ham, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Aberdeen. Cherry Orchard and St. Joseph’s Boys will represent the DDSL and leading Norwegian Club, Valerenga will also compete for the UI15 Elite Cup.