FOOTBALL: Foyle Cup latest
Torrential overnight showers didn’t dampen the spirits at the 2012 Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup. The first age groups have finished the group stages and the semi finalists are now known at Under 13 & 15.
In the Under 13 competition, hosts Derry & District Youth FA secured a semi final spot with a 3-0 victory over Ballymoney United.
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Hide AdScott Rice got one goal but was overshadowed by Man of the Match David Parkhouse who grabbed a brace.
Maiden City Academy also secured a home town semi final spot with a hard fought 2-1 win over Stonebridge FC. Curtis Beattle’s Man of the Match performance for Stonebridge was capped off with a consolation goal as Matthew Duffy and Alex Carolan won the match for Maiden City. The semi finals on Thursday night at 7pm, see Donegal Schoolboys play Maiden City at Newbuildings and Derry & District play city rivals Institute at Oakland. The final is at 6pm on Friday night at Institute’s Riverside Stadium - the only question now is can the hosts qualify?
In the Under 15, Limavady United grabbed a great victory over top Canadian side ANB Soccer. Eunan Murray and Michael Devine grabbed the goals for Limavady with Christopher Jaggarnath grabbing the ANB score. There were also good wins for Draperstown Celtic over Enniskillen Town United and Inishowen over Ballymoney. The semi finals on Thursday night at 7pm will see Draperstown Celtic play Trojans at Templemore and Donegal Schoolboys play St Johnstone from Scotland at Wilton Park. The victors of these ties meet in the final at Institute’s Riverside Stadium on Friday at 7:30pm.
Mini Soccer continued at various venues in the city. In Under 11, Scottish sides Hearts FC recovered from their opening day defeat to record two victories and claim a Best Runners Up spot in the Foyle Cup Quarter FInals. They now play NW Donegal Yth Lge on Thursday. Last year’s Under 10 holders extended their Foyle Cup unbeaten run to 9 games with wins today over Limavady United and Letterkenny Ballyraine. Their reward is a quarter final encounter with Inishowen Colts. Coleraine will also meet Hillsborough Boys and Derry & District mean the Derry Colts side in a local derby in the other quarter finals. The Under 11 continues Thursday from 1pm through to 7pm at the Vale Centre in Greysteel, at which stage the finalists in the Hughes Insurance Foyle Cup on Friday at 4-15pm will be known.
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Hide AdUnder 10 has been as exciting with ever, with games taking place on the astroturf surfaces at St Columb’s Park and Leafair. Ballymoney United and Limavady United finished the group stages with a 100% record and as a result were top seeds in the quarter final draw. Ballymoney now play Oxford United, Limavady play Sion Swifts - both of whom qualified as Best Runners Up. A 4-0 win for hosts Derry & District over Coleraine secured a quarter final tie against Kilmacrennan Celtic with goals from Adam Green, Jack O’Donnell, Evan McLaughlin and Caoimhin Porter. Glencar are congratulating sole goal scorer Tony Gallagher as he came off the substitute bench to score the only goal against Maiden City and secure a quarter final tie with St Oliver Plunkett FC from Belfast. Play continues Thursday with games at both venues from 1pm. The final is at St Columbs Park on Friday at 5-15pm.
Elsewhere the other groups are at the midway point. At Under 12, Shankill Juniors defeated Ballymoney United at Newbuildings. Man of the Match Reece Carberry topped off an impressive performance with one of Shankill’s goals. Rhys Ferris and Sean Elliott’s goals for Ballymoney weren’t enough on the day. Meanwhile a hat-trick for Zack O’Neill helped Dublin side Lucan United to a comfortable win over Armagh City. This sets up a winner takes all game with Finn Harps on Thursday to secure a quarter final place. Other teams still with a 100% record include Limavady United, NECSL from Co. Meath, Glentoran, Ballymoor and Ballymoney with the latter two also playing each other to make the quarter finals. Games continue Thursday at 3pm at venues across the city.