Derry City's Down Syndrome team impresses Republic of Ireland manager Hallgrimsson

Derry City’s Down Syndrome team caught the eye of Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson at the LOI Down Syndrome Festival on Sunday past.

The young Candystripes made it all the way to the semi-finals of the tournament before they just lost out to holders and eventual winners Finn Harps.

The event, played at the Indoor Arena at the National Sports Campus, Abbotstown, Dublin, was only the second ever of its kind, with the inaugural event taking place back in June, when Harps defeated Dundalk in a thrilling final.

The initiative is the start of a collaboration between the FAI Football For All programme and the League of Ireland via the Club’s Football and Social Responsibility (FSR) Officers and provides players with Down Syndrome countrywide with an opportunity to line out for their local League of Ireland Clubs.

The players battled it out for the newly formed Cairdeas Cup trophy with the event also marking October’s Down Syndrome Awareness month.

The level of skill and talent on show made for a brilliant spectacle and an amazing experience for all involved, nit least of all for Ireland manager Hallgrimsson and his assist John O’Shea.

“It was brilliant,” Team manager Kevin Morrison said. “Derry City had approached us originally at the Oxford Bulls, because we run a down Syndrome football team to see if we would be willing to lead the project and get the team set up. So we set up a few trials and brought people in to see if they were interested, and then we got a couple of coaching sessions under their belt. And they took part in their first tournament on Sunday past.”

Derry City defeated Cork City and Sligo Rovers on their way to the semi-finals, and although they lost out to an excellent Harps side, they could hold their heads high on a memorable day.

“They did brilliantly,” Kevin acknowledged. “They only had about four training sessions as a group. Some of the players are still training with the Oxford Bulls as well, but they had trained for four sessions and they managed to win two of their group games, qualify for the semi-finals and then they were beaten by the eventual winners, Finn Harps. But they gave a great account of themselves. A lot of the teams they were playing against were experienced players, and Finn Harps themselves had won this competition back in June, so it was a brilliant achievement to reach the semi-finals, and they seemed to really enjoy it and enjoyed the experience.

“The tournament was held down in the National Indoor Centre in Abbottstown, so there was a bit of excitement about going down there with the FAI, with the Ireland team training and so on. And then of course they got to meet John O'Shea, and the new Ireland manager as well, so it was a brilliant day and a brilliant event.”

The players are already looking forward to their next opportunity to play at this level with the club already planning to build for the future.

“This is something that is specific to people with Down Syndrome, so it's only open to people with Down Syndrome aged 16 or plus,” he explained. “It's something that we've always tried to encourage as well. I think the plan is to hold three Blitzes, three tournaments a year, and we're always going to be looking out for people in the North West who have Down Syndrome, who are over 16 and who might actually want to get involved.

“So we'll be putting out another call as well if anybody's interested to get in touch, because it's a brilliant opportunity for them. There are great memories already. We have hundreds of photographs from Sunday, and it just keeps the memories going and it keeps them enthused and it keeps them excited for the next time we get involved again.”