Foyle Cup 2026: Latest from the prestigious youth football tournament
The record breaking O’Neill’s Foyle Cup 2026 kicked off on Monday with thousands of young footballers showcasing their talents at one of the world’s biggest youth football tournaments.
The six-day youth football festival concludes on Saturday.
Wednesday review
Under 16s
Institute 4
Newell Academy 2
A local derby game at Oakland Park, Creggan on a sun-kissed Wednesday evening saw Institute come away with a victory over local rivals Newell Academy in a hotly contested clash that had six goals among the drama.
It was first blood to ‘Stute in the ninth minute. A long ball through the centre, saw Aidan Deehan lob the keeper before continuing his run to head home from two yards out.
A bout of sustained pressure midway through the half, and a failure to clear, let Newell’s Zac Quinn in on goal and he slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to bring the game level before half time.
The second half started well for Institute and a period of sustained pressure saw them notch up four corners coming close to scoring on two occasions.
Eleven minutes in and it was Newell who took the lead. Striker Shea Smith won the ball on the 18-yard line, beat the advancing keeper and scored.
Four minutes later, it was level again. A long high corner from the right was met at the back post by ‘Stute’s Mason Kelly who toe-poked home to draw level again.
With minutes remaining and both sides going for full points, it was the light blue of Institute that gained the upper hand.
A long ball through the centre and Ryan Deery won possession. He slipped the ball wide of goalkeeper Joel Houston and tapped home from close range.
They then got a fourth and final goal in the last minute when Terry Meenan collected a through pass on the left, before netting from 12 yards out.
Final score 4-2 to Institute.
Under 13s
Partick Thistle 2
Top of the Hill Celtic 0
Both teams came into this clash with very good section results – Partick 1 win and a draw; Celtic 2 wins but it was the Scottish side that won the day.
A tight encounter with a scoreless first half saw both defences and goalkeepers dealing with any problems in front of them.
A mistake early in the second half by the Celtic netminder cost the first score. A high cross from a corner was spilt and fell to the feet of midfielder Donnie Sinclair who tapped home from six yards.
Despite a number of decent chances by the local side they failed to test the Partick goalkeeper and it was pushing for an equaliser in the latter stages that saw the Scottish side score again when Calvin Crews turned his marker and blasted home.
Final score 2-0.
Under 13s
Good Lads Soccer 3
Oxford United 1
North American side Good Lads Soccer proved too strong for locals Oxford United at Templemore’s Swilly Stadium on Wednesday morning.
An early goal in the first minute when Good Lads striker Keegan Taylor broke through the centre only to be pulled down for a penalty. Up stepped captain Gavin Bibee to slot home.
Not to be outdone, it was Oxford who levelled the score five minutes later. Beating the offside trap, midfielder Harley Quigg controlled the ball before sliding the ball through for the inrushing Caolan Noble to score from 15 yards.
A minute later the US team were ahead again. Some slick passing on the left saw Keegan Taylor’s shot beat Braden Smith from close range.
With Oxford attacking looking for an equaliser, it was a breakaway by Good Lads that saw a penalty awarded but netminder Smith was on hand to palm the resultant kick over the crossbar.
In the dying minutes, Good Lads scored again to put the game beyond the local team. Final score 3-1.
Tuesday review
Under 16s
Ballymoney Youth Academy 3
Fanad United 2
A game of end-to-end football at Lisnagelvin on Tuesday afternoon as Ballymoney came back from being a goal down to take all three points against a very good Fanad United side.
Some fantastic early saves by Fanad’s goalkeeper Fionn Haughey saw the Donegal team take the lead on 18 minutes when Dara Boyce broke through and his low shot gave Lennon Blair no chance in the Ballymoney goals.
Ballymoney came out on the second half determined to get an equaliser and it was from a corner on the left that centre forward Brajan Janakoski rose high to tuck into the corner of the net.
Minutes later Ballymoney pulled ahead. Sustained pressure on the Fanad backline saw the ball break to Nathan Burrows and he fired home.
Fanad full-back Charlie Patrick failed to control a short pass from his goalkeeper and Cormac Coyle stole in to slot home for Ballymoney to make it 3-1.
Fanad pushed to get back into the game, and it was another goalkeeping error, this time Blair failing to clear a full back and winger Aaron Sheridan headed home the spinning ball to cut the arrears.
Despite constant pressure on the Ballymoney backline they held out to take all three points.
Under 15s
Trojans 0
Wicklow Youth League 0
A very entertaining game played at Oakland Park, Creggan between Trojans FC and the Wicklow Youth League on Tuesday afternoon.
Both sides lost their opening section matches and went all out to get the three points but some resolute defending and one or two fine saves at either end saw the spoils shared.
Most notable save in the first half was from Trojans netminder Connor Clarke, who dived to his right and finger-tipped a shot wide of the upright to keep his side in the game.
A 25-yard free kick late in the game saw the keeper also block low down on the right before pushing the second attempt over the crossbar.
Best for the home side were centre back Caoimhin Ramsey and tricky winger Ali Faris while Wicklow were best served by Tommie Ryan and midfield dynamo Rian Abell-Ward.
Under 11s
Letterkenny Rovers 4
Glenavon 0
This under-11 clash at City of Derry Rugby Club had both teams going for victory but it was the Donegal side that came out tops with four first-half goals including two penalties.
Six minutes in Letterkenny’s Cody McGarrigle broke through the centre and drove his shot under the keeper to open the scoring.
Four minutes later it was a penalty that added to their tally. Glenavon’s netminder upended Shea McLaughlin and the forward stepped up to score.
Sustained pressure by the Donegal side saw another penalty awarded and this time it was midfielder Zac Doherty who blasted high past the Glenavon keeper.
The last minute of the first half saw Letterkenny go further ahead. A high corner from the right saw Jake Devlin creep in at the back post and his low shot went in off the upright.
The second half saw a few Glenavon changes and while they had more possession, a resolute Letterkenny defence held firm for another victory which sees them with nine goals for and none against after two games.