FOYLE CUP: Strabane battle to point after Mayor's Parade takes spotlight

The Mayor of Derry & Strabane District Council City, Alderman Hilary McClintock, welcomed the parade in the Guildhall Square, which commenced at Magee Campus in soaring temperatures with over 4,500 kids walking the short distance to the Guildhall.

Such was the length of the parade that it took almost 35 minutes for all the participants to reach their destination in what was a colourful spectacle. 

The Mayor expressed her delight that the Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup was welcoming its biggest ever entry of 310 teams, adding that the event ‘contributed to building good relations as kids of all colours, creeds, religion happily parade together and play football together all week long’.

She added that the event was a huge boost for the North West area with in excess of 12,000 beds booked and an economic spend in excess of £1.6M.

Following the parade, it was back down to business as Cheshire club, Altrincham FC played Strabane Athletic at Oakland Park in the U13s. Both teams earned a point in an entertaining draw.

Altrincham scored in the early stages as long ball cleared out of defence by Luke McMurray allowed Alex Johnson to outpace the Strabane defence and slide the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Deep into the second half Strabane scored through their talented striker, Montel Atoge. A cross from fullback Sean O’Donnell was dispatched into the corner of the net. Athletic had a chance to grab the winner but Atoge’s shot sailed wide. Both teams go into their final game today looking for their first win.

Scottish champions Celtic FC got their campaign off to a winning start with a lucky win over Donegal Schoolboys in the U14 section.

Celtic dominated possession in the opening stages with star player, Karamoko Dembele causing havoc on the left flank. Donegal soon settled and had the ball in the net only for an offside flag to deny them the opener.

In the second half the Schoolboys made a real game of it but found themselves a goal behind with five minutes remaining. Owen Moffat stepped up to fire home a brilliant free kick from 25 yards.

Donegal went close on three occasions in the final minutes and can consider themselves very unlucky to lose to their illustrious opponents.

Tuesday’s results:

Under 9:

Don Boscos FC 2-0 Hillsborough Boy Colts, Ballyraine FC 4-2 Phoenix FC, Illistrin FC 1-0 Ballymoor FC, Foyle Harps 0-0 Magherafelt Sky Blues, Swilly Rovers FC 2-4 Tristar, Maiden City Academy 4-2 Redcastle United, Oxford FC 3-0 Glentoran FC, FS Easton 0-2 Eglinton Eagles, Strabane Athletic 2-2 Aileach FC, Culmore FC - Roe Valley YFC, Lagan Harps 2-1 Sion Swifts, FS Eastdon Colts 1-0 Letterkenny Rovers, Clooney Soccer Schools - Ballymoney Youth Academy, Kilmac Academy - Tristar Colts, Ballinamallard - Oxford Colts.

Under 10

Strabane Ath 1 - 3 Glentoran FC, Bright Stars 2-2 Hillsborough Boys, Oxford FC 1-0 Roe Valley Y, Top of The Hill Celtic 1-1 Northend U, Culmore FC 0-1 Coleraine Colts, FC Corinthians 0-4 Ballinamallard FC, FS Eastdon - Killea FC, Hillsborough Boys - Strabane Ath, Lagan Harps 1-0 Lifford C, Northend U 1-3 Oxford FC, Quigley Point S 2-1 FS Eastdon Jun, Ballinamallard FC 4-0 Culmore FC, Killea FC 0- 4 Bright Stars, Glentoran FC 4-2 B Peacock YL, Lifford C 0-1 Top of The Hill Celtic, Roe Valley Y 1-1 Dungannon Utd, FS Eastdon Jun - FC Corinthians, Coleraine Colts - Maiden City Ac, Foyle Harps - Larne FC, Oak Ath - Oliver Pkt, Don Boscos - Limavady Utd.

Tristar Colts - Oliver Pkt C, Elginton Eagles - Oxford United Colts, Balymoor FC - Ballycastle Utd, Irish Rovers - Kilmac Acad, Oliver Pkt - Foyle Harps, Ballyraine FC - Alieach FC, Oliver Pkt C - Don Boscos, Illistrin FC - FS Eastdon C, Ballycastle Utd - Eglinton Eagles.

Under 11

Oxford Utd 0 - 2 Dungannon Utd, Sth Donegal Sboys 0 - 0 Oliver Pkt, Eglinton Eagles 1 - 0 Glenavon FC, Inishowen YL 1 - 0 St Marys FC, Strabane Ath 1 - 6 TOTH Celtic, Letterkenny R 2 - 0 Albion Stars, Ballymoney Utd 1 - 0 Institute FC, Sion Swifts 0 - 0 Northend U, Roe Valley FC 1 - 0 Clooney SS, Oak Athletic 0 - 6 Warrenpoint Town, Roe Valley Colts 0 - 3 Carniny Y, Tristar 7 - 0 Coleraine Oly, Ballybofey Utd 0 - 0 Lisburn Y, Tristar Colts 1 - 2 NArds Dist PS, Lagan Harps 0 - 1 Mfelt S Blues, Ballinamallard FC 2 - 0 TrojansFC, Ballymoor 0 - 2 Lisbellaw Utd, Olive Pkt Jun 0 - 8 Rosario Y, Foyle Harps 0 - 3 B Peacock YL, Kilmac Acad 2 - 0 Oliver PK Colt, Culmore 0 - 2 Dergview Utd, FS Eastdon 1 - 0 Coleraine FC, Don Boscos FC - Landsdowne Boys, Maiden City Acad - Kildrum FC

Under 12

Braniel FC 0 - 9 Derry Colts, Donegal Sboys 3 - 0 Foyle Harps, Cookstown Youth - Rosarion Y, Ballycastle Utd 2 - 3 Tristar, LKenny N West 1 - 3 Glenavon FC, Mountjoy U - Ballymoor, Glentoran FC 16 - 0 B Peacock YL, Ballymoney Y 2 - 2 East Donegal

Under 13

B Peacock Y 1 - 1 Derry Colts, Finn Harps - Warrenpoint Tn., Roe Valley 4 - 0 Institute FC, Arklow Town 5 - 2 Killen Rangers, Ballymena Utd 2 - 0 St Marys FC, Foyle Harps 1 - 3 Donegal Sboys, Maiden City Ac 4 - 1 Newell FC, Magherafelt SBI - Inishowen YL, Sion Swifts 1 - 4 Oliver Pkt, Strabane Ath 1 - 1 Altrincham FC, Oliver Pk Colts 0 - 3 Ballymoney Y, Oxford Utd 2 - 1 Crusaders FC

Under 14

Letterkenny R 0 v 0 FD Suomi, Finn Harps 4 v 0 Institute FC, Carmoney Y 1 v 2 Derry Colts