Rain no pain as Milk Cup attracts record numbers

Chris Simpson, Josh Corry and Eamon Fyfe were part of the County Antrim team which made history by becoming the first team from the county set-up to reach the final of the world-famous competition.

It was another magnificent week for the tournament, which continues to attract global support.

That was brought home to me when, during the course of the finals night, I gained a new Twitter follower from Mexico, anxious to gain up-to-the-minute news of his compatriots in the Elite (under-19 section) final

Finals night brought a fervour which I hadn’t previously experienced, since the Warden Street Showgrounds first hosted the deciding games five years ago.

On previous occasions, the Junior final would often have been played in front of a sparse crowd, which would gradually build towards the Elite and Premier deciders later in the evening.

Not so this year, as County Antrim’s history-making appearance ensured a bumper crowd for the 4pm kick-off.

And for a few minutes they dared to dream as Antrim - complete with the three Ballymena boys in the starting line-up - took the lead against Everton with just 10 minutes to go.

The dream was short-lived, though, as the Merseysiders scored just three minutes later to take the tie to penalties where - despite a save from Cambridge House pupil Simpson in the shootout - Everton prevailed.

But a bumper evening was well underway - and with Northern Ireland still to come in the Elite final and Manchester United taking on County Tyrone in the showpiece Premier decider, no-one was going anywhere!

It was an evening which also went some way towards dispelling the notion that football people don’t embrace the county set-up, preferring instead to focus on club sides.

Antrim rightly received a rapturous ovation for their efforts during the week, while the roar that Tyrone received as their players were announced before their final made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up - although how much of that was swelled by ‘Anyone But United’ fans in the crowd was unclear!

While all the logistics ran with their usual military-like precision thanks to the hard-working team behind the scenes, even the one factor which the Milk Cup committee couldn’t control during the week - the weather - couldn’t spoil proceedings.

Games were often interrupted with spectators running for cover as the heavens opened but it didn’t have any detrimental effect, with attendances reaching record numbers.

When you looked around the packed Showgrounds on Friday night, you get an indication of how fortunate we are to have such a marvellous facility in our borough.

Tournament chairman Victor Leonard also paid tribute to the committees at both Broughshane and debutants Clough, not only for the facilities but also the welcome which they afforded to their visitors.

But then, that part was never going to be in any doubt!

* See this week’s Ballymena Times for a two-page picture special from the tournament.