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Festival of football for Belfast’s Grand Old Team |
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Celtic FC Foundation Ambassador Jay Beatty helped Belfast Celtic Society President Charlie Tully Junior get proceedings underway at the Second Annual Belfast Celtic Cup on Sunday, October 25, 2015.
Organised by the Belfast Celtic Society in honour of the city’s Grand Old Team, the tournament was held in the shadow of the former Celtic Park, now occupied by tournament sponsor The Park Centre.
West Belfast club St Oliver Plunkett lifted the trophy after a thrilling penalty shoot-out final with Shankill Juniors at Willowbank Park, after the teams locked together in a 2-2 draw in regulation time. St Oliver Plunkett's squad will now take the trip of a lifetime to Celtic Park in Glasgow, courtesy of the Kano Foundation.
Teams from across Belfast took part, including local big guns Crusaders and Glentoran, while the Charlie Tully Shield headed to Armagh for the second year in a row having been clinched by the 'Lurgan Blues', Glenavon FC Academy - club of former Belfast Celtic Society President, the late Jimmy Jones.
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Crumlin United, Colin Valley, Andersonstown Celtic, Immaculata, Aquinas and hosts Willowbank FC completed the roster and the standard of football played - at under 12 level - was incredibly high, with some stand out young players on show. Local club Belfast Celtic Young Men also provided referees for the occasion.
A special demonstration of the new Circular Soccer concept took place and the runners up in each competition – Willowbank FC and Shankill Juniors, received a new ‘Tri Goal’ each as a prize.
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The 'Lurgan Blues', Glenavon FC Academy. |
West Belfast club St Oliver Plunkett |
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IFA Director of Football Development Michael Boyd helped distribute medals to participating teams, while the Belfast Celtic Cup was handed to ‘Plunkett’ captain Ethan Carey by Arthur ‘Mousey’ Brady, friend of Charlie Tully and the last player to sign for Belfast Celtic before their demise in 1949.
Speaking after the event, Charlie Tully Jr said: “This was yet another fantastic event and this competition is now firmly placed in the Belfast sporting calendar".
"Over 100 children took part and each took away a special medal, carrying a little bit of Belfast Celtic with them as they went. Having Jay Beatty and his father Martin with us was a particular honour and the Bhoy stole the show."
“Our sincerest thanks go to Raymond Bonner, Martin McKiernan and Hugh Greene for their amazing work in facilitating the football matches on the day and also to all the coaches and mentors of the participating teams."
Thanks also to Mousey Brady (with trophy left), Michael Boyd, our hosts Willowbank FC for their warm hospitality and also the Highland Hoops CSC from Inverness who sponsored the shield named after my father.’
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