The smiles on the faces of the County Fermanagh contingent were as broad as parts of Lough Erne, as the Lakeland County were paired with Manchester United at the SuperCupNI 2017 draw.
It was one of several stand out ties in the Junior Section of the SuperCupNI 2017 draw which took place at the Hilton Hotel in Templepatrick on Tuesday evening.
The Old Trafford side confirmed their return to the competition at the start of the week and County Fermanagh’s Junior side will face the English giants on day two of the competition, which gets under way on Sunday, July 23 with the traditional parade through Coleraine, with the first matches taking place on Monday, July 24.
Manchester United’s first game of the competition will be against Chilean side Colina, while Fermanagh take on Club NI in their opening game.
It was a case of deja-vu for County Armagh, as they take on Rangers FC on the opening night for the second year in a row.
County Londonderry will be relishing the chance to take on one of Mexico’s top sides as they face Chivas Guadalajara on the opening day.
Day two of the Junior section for U15s, will see County Down go toe to toe with Antrim in what promises to be an exciting Northern Irish derby clash.
Tournament regulars Strikers FC have improved year after year and on day two they take on Swindon Town, while fellow American side GPS Bayern will face Middlesbrough.
Newcomers NC Elite will face tournament regulars Dundalk Schoolboys League on what is an intriguing day of fixtures.
The third and final day of the qualifying section of the tournament will see two Premier League heavyweights try and battle it out for a place in the semi-finals.
Manchester United face Southampton in one of the most eye-catching games of the Junior section.
There is another Northern Irish derby on Wednesday as Tyrone take on Londonderry.
Rangers finish their qualifying campaign with a clash against First Choice Soccer and two of last year’s semi-finalists will lock horns as Sheffield United take on Chivas Guadalajara, with both sides hoping to go one step better this time around and make it into the Junior final.
*Credit, Sam Gamble
@Sam_Gamble88
SuperCupNI 2017 – Junior draw
MONDAY
Swindon Town (England) v North Dublin SL
Southampton (England) v Co. Antrim
Rangers (Scotland) v Co. Armagh
First Choice Soccer (USA) v Sheffield United (England)
Colina (Chile) v Manchester United (England)
GPS Bayern (USA) v MS Select (New Zealand)
NC Elite (USA) v Middlesbrough (England)
Co. Tyrone v Plymouth Argyle (England)
Co. Londonderry v Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico)
Co. Fermanagh v Club NI
Dundalk SL v Strikers FC (USA)
Cherry Orchard v Co. Down
TUESDAY
Middlesbrough (England) V GPS Bayern (USA)
Sheffield United (England) v Club NI
Southampton (England) v Cherry Orchard
Colina (Chile) v Rangers (Scotland)
Strikers FC (USA) v Swindon Town (England)
Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) v Plymouth Argyle (England)
Co. Armagh v North Dublin SL
Co. Down v Co. Antrim
Co. Tyrone v MS Select (New Zealand)
Co. Londonderry v First Choice Soccer (USA)
Co. Fermanagh v Manchester United (England)
Dundalk SL V NC Elite (USA)
WEDNESDAY
Middlesbrough (England) v Club NI
Plymouth Argyle (England) v NC Elite (USA)
Manchester United (England) v Southampton (England)
Rangers (Scotland) v First Choice Soccer (USA)
Strikers FC (USA) v Co. Antrim
Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) v Sheffield United (England)
MS Select (New Zealand) v North Dublin SL
Co. Armagh v Swindon Town (England)
Co. Down v Colina (Chile)
Co. Tyrone v Co. Londonderry
Co. Fermanagh v Dundalk SL
Cherry Orchard v GPS Bayern (USA)