The Foyle Cup International Football Tournament played annually in Derry has established itself as one of the most prestigious events of its’ kind in underage football. Five separate age groups, one of them for girls, compete over a packed five day period. This year, teams representing fourteen different countries will compete in the various competitions.

Vincent Butler has brought an U16 development squad to the Tournament and they will compete in the schoolboy section for U17’s which will enable the young Irish players to gain valuable experience against physically stronger opponents, at least one year older than themselves.

The FAI Development squad were drawn in Group Six and opened their campaign on Tuesday afternoon with a splendid 4 v 1 victory over the Maiden City Academy, whose players are drawn from the Derry and North Donegal region and are linked to Leicester City of the English Championship.

Butler’s team took the lead in the first half with a goal from Ian Daly of Home Farm. Ten minutes into the second half, Barry Tourish from Castlefin in Donegal entered the fray as a substitute and made an enormous impact by scoring a hat trick in twenty minutes. The victory was, tempered somewhat by injuries sustained by midfielders Daly and James O’Brien of Cherry Orchard.

The team had an early start on Wednesday morning when they kicked off at 10.30 a.m. against New Hill FC from Belfast. The match was extremely tough with the young Irish team taken a physical pounding from their older opponents exemplified by the loss through injury of their inspirational captain and centre back, David Joyce of Castlebar Celtic. Justice was served however, with goals from Cork’s Craig Duggan and Conor McCormack of Bellurgan, Dundalk providing a sweet victory for Butler’s tyros.

Later that same day, the team met German opposition in their final Group game and bereft of their injured trio they struggled throughout the match. Having conceded a disappointing goal to a misplaced cross from very deep the team briefly composed themselves and scored an equaliser through Mark Nolan of Shelbourne. Fatigue finally caught up with the lads and they conceded a late winner to the Germans when a free kick struck the wall and fell fortuitously for an incoming player to score. Notwithstanding the result, the Development Squad’s opening two victories enabled them to top the Group and qualify for the quarter-finals.

Following a well deserved, overnight rest the team met Sporting Lokeren of Belgium on Thursday afternoon in the quarter-final of the competition. The first half was largely dominated by the Belgium outfit and they took a deserved one goal lead into the interval. The second half saw a revitalised Development Team apply regular pressure to their Belgian opposition and they earned a well merited equaliser when a free kick wide on the right was driven fiercely into the box and as the ball headed towards an Irish striker, one of the Belgian defenders stretched a leg and diverted the ball into his own net.

The match finished one each and in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, the Irish boys held their nerve and succeeded with their opening four spot-kicks whereas the Belgians failed twice, allowing Butler’s Boys to proceed to the semi-final where they will meet the Derry & District Youth League. The Development Team will almost certainly be without the injured James O’Brien and David Joyce for the semi-final while Barry Tourish is also carrying an injury. The other semi-final sees Arminia Bielefeld from Germany encounter Ferencvaros of Hungary.

Manager Vincent Butler said tonight that he was very pleased with the performances and progress made by his young charges. Their success in reaching the semi-final stage against their older and more developed opponents had exceeded expectations. He added that the dedication and discipline shown by his squad reflected very favourably on them and their application and focus epitomised the character and quality of the players.