Galway Cup

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^{[by whom?]} as one of the best youth tournaments in Europe. The tournament highlights are broadcast on Setanta Sports.

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

v t e Association football in Connacht
Governing bodies	Connacht Football Association Galway Football Association
League of Ireland clubs	Galway United Sligo Rovers Mervue United Salthill Devon
Women's National League clubs	Galway Sligo Rovers Castlebar Celtic
Leagues	Galway & District League Mayo Men's Women's Roscommon and District Football League Sligo/Leitrim & District League Connacht Senior League
Cup competitions	Connacht Junior Cup Michael Byrne Cup Galway Cup Connacht Senior Cup Connacht Senior League Challenge Cup
Stadia	Celtic Park Drom Soccer Park Eamonn Deacy Park The Showgrounds Galway Sportsgrounds