Our (2006) squad had a tough opener in this year's Copa Sol (formerly the Powerade Cup) last Friday evening at Cornelia FC in Barcelona going down 2-0 to FC Barcelona.

They are experiencing football at a level totally new to them and to all young Irish players where the pace control and movement of even the local teams let alone the professional academies are a long way ahead of what they are used to week to week at home.

On Saturday they continued their group games with three more ties v Manresa (1-1 Chris Conlon)  0-1 v Malaga. The final group game ended in disappointing fashion when having gone ahead after three minutes through Richard Vodo and leading 3-1 ( Vodo's second & Andy Parnichev) heading into the final half a minute Saint Cugat scored twice in added time to end it 3-3.

Sunday with a k-o time of 8.30am the play-off games to determine the final tournament placings took place with Valencia the opponents and they quickly showed their class going 3-0 up after 15 minutes but a late rally which had Chris Conlon at the heart of it yielded two goals - Aaron Campbell and Chris Conlon the scorers.

Barcelona defeated the favourites Real Madrid 3-1 in the final.