60 teams on glory trail in annual Derek Crowe soccer tournament

Date Published: {J}

THE annual soccer fest that is the Derek Crowe Memorial 6-A-Sides kicks off on Saturday morning at its traditional venue along McHugh Avenue in Mervue this weekend.

The tournament is in its 16th year and is held in memory of the former Mervue Utd/Galway Utd player and will run over both Saturday and Sunday before a winner is decided.

The competition has once again attracted a huge entry of sixty teams who will take part in the competition with over 120 games due to be played on three 6-a-side pitches along McHugh Avenue in Mervue.

The first of the group matches kick-off on Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m. with 32 teams progressing to the knockout stage on Sunday after Saturday’ group stages where each team is guaranteed at least three games. The knockout stage will begin on Sunday morning before the tournament will reach it’s conclusion with the final timed for 3.30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Last year’s winners, Pass the Ball Spudie, will be looking to retain the title they won last year without conceding a goal on the Sunday and winning all of their knockout games on a 1-0 scoreline.

They will face the usual competitive opposition again this year as 2010 runners-up and recent East Utd Fives winners, Castle Celtic, along with previous winners Classic Seven, Six Shooters and Joey’s Buzzers will all fancy their chances.

Six times winners, the Vibrating Chickens, return to the competition having missed their first tournament in 15runnings last year and they will no doubt have a big say in matters.

Other teams like former runners-up, Tony Crowes, Better Bettor Schoolbags (Mervue Utd) and Salthill Fives winners Big-O-Taxis (OLBC) should also be inm contention.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.