MILK CUP: McDowell opens Milk Cup

Coleraine came alive with the parade of more than 900 players and officials making its way through the town centre.

The event, now in its 28th year, has attracted teams from 56 countries around the world, including the USA, Africa, the Far East, South America, the Middle East, Australia, Russia, New Zealand and Canada and famous club sides Spurs, Spartak Moscow, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, McDowell, who hails from Portrush, said: "It is a huge honour for me right in my own back yard.

I have grown up with the Milk Cup and enjoyed watching games over the years."

Today's fixtures

ELITE SECTION

Monday, July 26

8.00pm Japan v Denmark (Riada Stadium, Ballymoney); N.Ireland v Mexico (Showgrounds, Coleraine); USA v China (Showgrounds, Ballymena)

Wednesday, July 28

8.00pm China v N.Ireland (Riada Stadium, Ballymoney); Denmark v USA (Showgrounds, Coleraine); Mexico v Japan (Showgrounds, Ballymena).

PREMIER SECTION

Monday, July 26

GROUP A

3.30pm Cherry Orchard v Etoile Lusitana (The Warren, Portstewart)

3.30pm Queen of the South v Aspire (Broughshane)

5.00pm Shamrock Rovers v K.V. Mechelen (Castlerock)

6.00pm Manchester Utd v Co. Tyrone (Showgrounds, Ballymena)

7.00pm Tottenham Hotspur v Co. Londonderry (Showgrounds, Limavady)

7.00pm Bolton Wanderers v Co. Armagh (Mullaghacall, Portstewart)

GROUP B

2.00pm Desportivo Brazil v Cruz Azul (Mullaghacall, Portstewart)

3.30pm Belvedere v Co. Fermanagh (Riada Stadium (2), Ballymoney)

5.00pm Hartlepool Utd v Co. Down (Rugby Avenue Stad., Coleraine)

5.00pm Donegal Schools v Co. Antrim (Parker Avenue, Portrush)

5.00pm South Coast Bayern v San Agustin (University, Coleraine)

6.00pm FC Porto v Club Marcet (Riada Stadium, Ballymoney)

Tuesday, July 27

GROUP A

5.00pm Etoile Lusitana v Bolton Wanderers (Riada Stadium, Ballymoney)

5.00pm Co. Londonderry v Shamrock Rovers (Rugby Avenue Stad., Coleraine)

5.00pm Co. Armagh v Cherry Orchard (Castlerock)

5.00pm Co. Tyrone v Queen of the South (Parker Avenue, Portrush)

7.00pm K.V. Mechelen v Tottenham Hotspur (Riada Stadium, Ballymoney)

7.00pm Aspire v Manchester Utd (Showgrounds, Coleraine)

GROUP B

3.30pm San Agustin v Donegal Schools (Broughshane)

3.30pm Cruz Azul v Hartlepool Utd (Roe Mill, Limavady)

5.00pm Club Marcet v Belvedere (University, Coleraine)

7.00pm Co. Antrim v South Coast Bayern (Showgrounds, Ballymena)

7.00pm Co. Down v Desportivo Brazil (Showgrounds, Limavady)

7.00pm Co. Fermanagh v FC Porto (Mullaghacall, Portstewart)

JUNIOR SECTION

Monday, July 26

GROUP A

Noon Swindon Town v Cruz Azul (Broughshane)

Noon Dundalk SL v Co. Antrim (Riada Stadium(2), Ballymoney)

Noon Club Marcet v Co. Londonderry (Warren, Portstewart)

1.30pm Everton v FC Puebla (Rugby Avenue Stad., Coleraine)

1.30pm Queen of the South v Co. Armagh (Castlerock)

3.30pm Chelsea v South Coast Bayern (Showgrounds, Coleraine)

GROUP B

Noon Plymouth Argyle v Co. Tyrone (Roe Mill, Limavady)

Noon Kashima Antlers v Aspire (Anderson Park, Coleraine)

1.30pm Vaag FK v Hapoel Haifa FC (Parker Avenue, Portrush)

1.30pm Brentford v Co. Fermanagh (University, Coleraine)

3.30pm Watford v Co. Down (Anderson Park, Coleraine)

3.30pm Spartak Moscow v Hapoel Beer-Sheva (Roe Mill, Limavady)

Tuesday, July 27

GROUP A

Noon FC Puebla v Dundalk SL (Broughshane)

Noon South Coast Bayern v Queen of the South (Riada Stadium (2),Ballymoney)

1.00pm Co. Armagh v Chelsea (Mullaghacall, Portstewart)

1.30pm Co. Londonderry v Swindon Town (Castlerock)

1.30pm Cruz Azul v Club Marcet (Parker Avenue, Portrush)

3.30pm Co. Antrim v Everton (Anderson Park, Coleraine)

GROUP B

Noon Co. Down v Kashima Antlers (Roe Mill, Limavady)

Noon Hapoel Haifa FC v Plymouth Argyle (Anderson Park, Coleraine)

1.30pm Hapoel Beer-Shiva v Brentford (Rugby Avenue Stad., Coleraine)

1.30pm Co. Tyrone v Vaag FK (University, Coleraine)

3.30pm Aspire v Watford (Riada Stadium (2), Ballymoney)

3.30pm Co. Fermanagh v Spartak Moscow (The Warren, Portstewart)