Over 3,600 games and 950 teams – It can only be the O’Neill’s Foyle Cup!

The biggest ever Foyle Cup kicks off today, with 950 teams set to take part in the annual parade through the city this morning.

Last year, a number of local teams tasted success, going all the way to the finals in their respective categories before lifting the trophy.

One of those victors was Maiden City Academy in the U16s category, who rounded off their 2024 O’Neill’s Foyle Cup with a deserved 3-0 win over Atlantic to get their hands on the U16 trophy thanks to two goals from Sean O’Donnell and one from Thomas Maxwell.

Last year Peter Hutton’s Derry City lived up to expectations as they dominated Cliftonville to retain the U15 title in a once-sided game at Wilton Park, winning 5-0. The goals came from Mark McGuinness, Adam McColgan, Donnacha Malone, Rossa Fleming and John Strunks as the young Candystripes made it 29 goals and just one conceded on the way to their Foyle Cup success.

It was also a memorable week for Derry City Ladies, who controlled the women’s final against Clonmany Shamrocks, as they ran out victors on a 3-0 scoreline. Chelsea Sheerin’s goal, sandwiched by a brace by Caoirse Doherty, earned Derry the victory.

The 2025 O’Neill’s Foyle Cup begins with a celebratory, joyful and colourful Opening Mayor’s Welcome Parade, which will exit Magee Campus of Ulster University at 10am.

Derry City Ladies defeated Clonmany Shamrock in last year’s final.

The Foyle Cup will be played across the Derry Strabane District Council area, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council area, extending from Coleraine and Portstewart to Castledawson;from Magherafelt to Castlederg Strabane; Lifford Letterkenny, Convoy, St Johnston, to pitches in Inishowen - Buncrana, Dunree, Redcastle, Moville, Culdaff, Carrowmenagh, Redcastle, Gleneely, Quigley’s Point. All in all, some 57 venues will be used.

Over the course of the 6-day tournament no fewer than 3664 matches will be scheduled, requiring the services of more than 250 referees, travelling from Europe, and the rest of the world.

It is expected the presence of 950 team entries, 20,000 plus participants, over 200,000 spectators, will generate in excess of £8,000,000 in the local economy.