2015 Macron Galway Cup Launched

Over fifty teams will gather in Salthill Devon's home grounds at Drom for the 11th renewal of the Macron Galway Cup on the 5th August. The tournament will, as before, run over four days, with three age groups spread over four sections.

This year the competing groups will be 1998 Cup, 2000 Club, 2002 Boys and the 2002 Elite. The 2002 Elite featuring eighteen teams will showcase the talents of the Leeds United Academy, the Northern Ireland International squad and the best that the District Leagues have to offer.

The 2015 tournament was launched this week by the legendary Kevin Kilbane. Kevin is a brand ambassador for the main sponsors Macron. At the launch at NUI Galway, who are also patrons of the Galway Cup, Salthill Devon chairman Oliver Daniels stressed the importance of the tournament in developing the best young talent in the country.

Speaking in reply Kevin Kilbane addressed himself to some of the young players in attendance telling them how hard work was required to reach the top. He singled out Irish U21 star Ryan Manning as a shining example of how a combination of ability, character and dedication is required to make it into the professional ranks.

Ryan recently signed for Queens Park Rangers and is a former Player of the Tournament at the Galway Cup. A number of other players who have gone on to play at a very high level, most notably, Conor Wickham (Sunderland), Greg Cunningham (Bristol City), Joe Shaughnessy (Aberdeen) - have all starred in the tournament.

This year the tournament will welcome it's first visitors from Japan with a team from Kyoto playing in the 2000 Club event, where they will be joined by Ipswich Town – long-time supporters of the event – while Colorado Rapids also travel to compete in the 2002 Boys section.

Over the past ten years the tournament has attracted teams from the UK, the US, Russia, Canada, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Mexico. Solid foundations have been laid. Another great Macron Galway Cup is in prospect.