Ballymena's Special Olympics 5-a-side team taste glory

Teams from most other parts of the Province took part at the Valley Leisure centre and Ballymena went in to the final round, one point ahead of Belfast and with a vastly superior goal average. This cushion was not required however as the Ballymena team defeated the Belfast boys who also lost three points to one of the other teams.

Outstanding player of the IFA sponsored tournament was 15 year old Ballymena Captain Oli Byrne. If there had been a Golden Boots award he would have won it hands down with a total of 85 goals, and his overall skill and ball control would have put any adult player to shame.

The Special Olympics movement is led by volunteers and provides year round quality training in a variety of Olympic sports to children and adults with learning difficulties. It also offers opportunities to develop social skills and build friendships through the chosen sport.

The movement has a Special Olympics Oath, "Let me win, but if cannot win let me brave in the attempt," and the practical outworking of this was very evident in the hand-shaking before and after the games, and the back slapping and applause for the winners.