Belfast’s Big Two provide the majority of players in the Northern Ireland squad for the inaugural Under-13 Dale Farm Milk Cup in Coleraine.
The two-day competition at the Showgrounds begins this Friday and also features Manchester United, Partick Thistle and North Dublin Schools League.
Linfield have six players selected with five from rivals Glentoran.
Northern Ireland’s Elite performance director Jim Magilton says: “Our programme for the players at this level is still in its infancy and it will continue to evolve.
“It’s great for the young boys to get to play in such a top class tournament as the Dale Farm Milk Cup.
“The addition of the U-13 minor section is a great idea by the organisers and our young lads are excited about playing in it.”
Performance coach Declan Devine adds: “It will be a fantastic experience. To get competitive games at this age will be great for the development of the boys.
“To play against Manchester United at any level is something you don’t forget. To do it at 12 or 13 years old is superb.”
The full squad is: Neil Kilpatrick (Dungannon); Paul McLaughlin (Glentoran); Ethan Warnock (Glentoran): Lewis McGarvey (Glentoran); Barney McKeown (Portadown); Padraig Robinson (Linfield); Patrick Burns (Linfield); Paul McAdorey (Cliftonville); Cai Gemill (Linfield); Fergal McGarrity (Dungannon); Jordan McEniff (Derry Colts – Tri Star); Lee O’Brien (Linfield); Conor Farrelly (Linfield); Ben Cushnie (Glentoran); Ethan Galbraith (Glentoran); Andrew Whiteside (Coleraine); Christopher Conn (Linfield); Ben Wilson (Oxford).
A special opening ceremony will take place at Coleraine Showgrounds on the Friday for the four teams involved.
Dates: Friday 25th July to Saturday 26th July
Venue: Coleraine Showgrounds
Participating teams (in alphabetical order):
Manchester United (England)
North Dublin SL (Republic of Ireland)
Northern Irelad
Partick Thistle (Scotland)
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS:
Friday 25th July:
6.15pm Opening Ceremony
6.45pm North Dublin SL v Northern Ireland
7.45pm Partick Thistle v Manchester United
Saturday 26th July:
11:30am North Dublin SL v Manchester United
12:30pm Partick Thistle v Northern Ireland
Kickoff TBC Northern Ireland v Manchester United
Kickoff TBC Partick Thistle v North Dublin SL
NB: The times for the last two games are 6.45pm and 7.45pm, the order of the games will be decided by Committee after Saturday morning games.
The Dale Farm Milk Cup will be presented to the winners
Medals will be given to winners and runners up
Pennants will be presented to all participants
Matches in the U-13 Festival wil not be covered by the tournament’s multi match ticket.
Admission to every session of two games will be £3 (adults) and £2 (U-16s)
In addition to title sponsors Dale Farm, Northern Ireland’s largest dairy company, the Dale Farm Milk Cup is supported by the five Council areas of Coleraine, Ballymena, Ballymoney and Limavady Borough Councils and Derry City Council, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, apparel sponsors Legea, the Sun newspaper and Dawson Whyte Insurance with BBC Sport NI as broadcast partners.
Note for editors
Dale Farm is part of the United Dairy Farmers Group, a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1,600 dairy farmers who supply it with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.