Trevor O’Neill Memorial Cup returns

Since its establishment over two decades ago to remember the life of local man Trevor O’Neill, the cup has gone from strength to strength, with this year being a “special one” because of the 25th anniversary according to one member of the organising committee.

There is usually a huge degree of local interest in the annual summer soccer tournament, with teams from across the North West taking part. Geoff Ferris, a member of the organising committee, told the Sentinel about this year’s competition, the first match of which is currently scheduled to be played on May 27.

He said: “This year is the 25th anniversary so I suppose it is going to be a special one. It’s been run in Limavady every year and it is fairly successful. All the matches will be played at Drummond Cricket Club at 7.15. The teams have already been drawn. First up will be last year’s winners Aghanloo, who will kick off versus Newbuildings on the 27th. The following day, Tuesday 28th, it is Ballyspallon versus West Bann. Wednesday the 29th will see Boy’s Brigade Old Boys versus Dromore. The last match in the first half of the draw will be Bushmills versus Dervock, so that one should be a good one because it is a bit of a local derby.”

Mr Ferris is encouraging as many locals as possible to come down to the Drummond Cricket Club just outside the town to attend the football tournament, which involves both teams from Limavady and teams from locations such as Coleraine and Londonderry.

He said: “I’m helping out with the organising committee, something I’ve been doing for a long time. I knew the young man, Trevor, and the family asked me to help organise something. It has been going all this time and it has always been fairly successful. This year it should definitely be a great competition with some really good sides in it. There is also good prize money, good trophies and hopefully we will have a good few people down to watch as well.”

Last year, local side Aghanloo United defeated Dervock 2-1 in the Trevor O’Neill Memorial Cup final in a very entertaining game played in front of a large crowd