The Galway Cup is an association football National Youth Tournament held annually in Galway, Ireland. The tournament takes place in Salthill Devon F.C.'s Drom Soccer Park venue.
History The competition began in the summer of 2005 in a bid to bring the international football scene to Ireland. Over 40 teams representing seven nations participated in the inaugural tournament. Academy teams of such football clubs as Celtic F.C., Preston North End F.C., Shelbourne F.C., Fulham F.C., Sheffield United F.C., Newcastle United F.C., Leeds United F.C., Aberdeen F.C., Leicester City F.C., Ipswich Town F.C., Derry City F.C., Glentoran F.C., Belvedere, MŠK Žilina, Cherry Orchard F.C. and also Football Association of Ireland youth selection have competed. The tournament includes age groups from Under-11 to Under-17 and there is a group for a girls' Under-15 tournament. Now the youth competition has gone from strength to strength and is recognized as one of the best youth tournaments in Europe. The tournament highlights are broadcast on Setanta Sports.
Past winners 2005 Name of Competition Sponsor Winner Under 16/17 Cup Higgins Motorpark Ford Salthill Devon Elite Group Under 15 Cup Finches Football Association of Ireland Youth Selection Under 14 Cup Hibernian Mervue United Girls Under 14 Cup Simon J Kelly Architects Bealnumalla Under 13 Cup Anglo Irish Bank Clare Select Under 12 Cup Ulster Bank Galway Town
2006 Name of Competition Sponsor Winner Under 17 Cup Higgins Motorpark Ford Derry City Under 16 Cup Anglo Irish Bank Riada Under 15 Standard Cup Supermac's Ulster Schools Under 15 Elite Cup Finches Aberdeen Under 15 Girls Cup Vodafone Western Cellular Lifford Under 14 Cup Nexus Home Clare Select Under 13 Club Cup Hibernian Salthill Devon Under 13 District League Cup Hibernian Galway District League Under 12 Cup Sawgrass St Francis Under 11 Cup Galway Bay Hotel Barna F.C.
2007 Name of Competition Sponsor Winner Under 17 Cup Higgins Motorpark Ford Salthill Devon U16's Under 17 Plate TBD Group Holdings Langhorne Under 16 Girls Cup Irish Rail Drumahoe Under 15 Elite Cup Finches Ipswich Town Under 15 Cup Supermac's Tuam Celtic Under 13 District League Cup Nexus Homes Dunfield Under 13 Club Cup Hibernian Merrion U.C.D.
2008 Name of Competition Sponsor Winner Under 17 Cup Higgins Motorpark Ford Salthill Devon Under 17 Girls Cup Anglo Irish Bank Salthill Devon Under 15 Elite Cup Finches Leicester City Under 15 Club Cup Nexus Homes Newhill Under 14 District Cup Supermac's Salthill Devon Under 13 Academy Cup Smyths Donegal Schools Under 13 Club Cup Irish Rail West Waterford/East Cork
2009 Name of Competition Sponsor Winner Under 17 Cup The Ardilaun Hotel Belvedere Under 17 Girls Cup Finches Northern Ireland Under 15 Elite Cup Lifestyle Sports Leicester City Under 15 Club Cup Supermac's Foyle Harps Under 13 Academy Cup Discover Ireland Sports Clinic Under 13 Club Cup Smyths Galway District League
2010 Name of Competition Sponsor Winner Under 17 Cup The Ardilaun Hotel Mervue United Under 17 Girls Cup Finches Cork Schoolgirls Under 15 Elite Cup Lifestyle Sports Aberdeen Under 15 Club Cup Supermac's Wexford District League Under 13 Elite Cup Fáilte Ireland Galway District League Under 13 Club Cup Smyths Athlone District League
External links Tournament history Official Website