After all the hard work done during July and August last weekend saw most of our teams get their season up and running with some highly impressive performances right throughout the age groups and we hope when things settle down over the next few weeks that all of our teams will have a successful season.

Our 14’s and 16’s were involved in the TORNEIG ELIT CEM 2014 which was held in A L’Estadi Nou Gongost De Manresa just outside Barcelona. Both of our teams were seeded 3 in the initial 4 team groups with the top seeds in the 16’s category being Real Madrid, Sevilla F C, RCD Espanyol, Malaga C F, Real Betis, RCD Deportivo La Coruna, CF Villareal and Athletico Madrid while the 14’s top seeded teams were Athletico Madrid, Sevilla F C, RCD Espanyol, Malaga C F, Real Betis, RCD Deportivo La Coruna and CF Villarea.

In the group games the 16’s defeated FC Girona who were the second seeds 2-1 and Manresa F C 6-0 but lost 3-0 to a superior Espanyol side but did enough in their first two games to qualify for the last 16 where they met Villareal – this game ended scoreless but we lost the penalty shoot out 3-2 (3 pens not 5) which saw us go out. Just an indication of how fine the margins were Villareal drew their quarter final 0-0 against Real Betis and went through to the semis 2-1 on pens they eventually qualified for the final and played the only other team to defeat SKB – Espanyol, Espanyol won the final 4-1. In our final game to decide 9th – 12th placings we defeated Manresa F C 2-0.

In the under 14 section SKB had group wins over Manresa F C and AEC Manlleu but lost narrowly to Villareal 1-0 which saw them reach the last 16 but found Malaga CF too strong losing 2-0, in their final game to decide 9th – 12th placings they beat Manresa CE 2-0.

The Club were awarded the Tournaments Fair Play Trophy at the presentation ceremony at the end of the Tournament on Sunday night.

The standard displayed by the top seeded teams technically, tactically and physically was far in advance of what our players are used to meeting in this Country and shows the gap that exists at the top level in each country but the experience gained by the players should ensure that they work harder individually and as a group at their game to narrow the gap.

Our thanks to Fernando Herrero of Novajika Sports for all his help in securing our participation in this tournament and for being on hand throughout the weekend as our guide and interpreter.

Following on from Paddy Brophy playing last week for the Irish Amateur team this week saw Jack Byrne (Man City) make his competitive debut for the Irish 21’s against Germany and his former SKB team mate Eoghan Stokes (Leeds United) scored the winner for the Irish under 19’s against Holland.