Shelbourne XI Face Dublin Devils For Annual Pride Cup

On Saturday, Shelbourne Football Club (CoolPartner 020) hosted the annual Pride Cup match, contested between a Shelbourne XI and the LGBTQ+ inclusive football club Dublin Devils. The event, in its fifth year, was played at Tolka Park.

The Shelbourne XI consisted of legends like former Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff, Joey O’Brien, Alan Quinn, and Seana Cooke, alongside Mark Rutherford, David McAllister, Paul Skinner, and Oscar Brennan. There was also a selection of Shelbourne staff playing including Commerical Director Keith  McDarby & Press Officer Gavin White. Also in the Shelbourne Squad was Paul Nealon from Irish Football Fan TV.

Dublin Devils on the other hand had just played in the UK Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) Cup, also in Tolka Park, after becoming the first Irish team to make it to the final. They narrowly lost out on penalties to Village Manchester, who raised the trophy in Tolka.

This was the fifth time that the two sides faced off in the Pride Cup since the first game in 2017. Due to the onset of the COVID Pandemic, this was the first time the game had been played in front of fans in two years. Since 2017, the event has grown in popularity and serves as a celebration of equality and diversity in sports and it represents the true spirit of Pride month.

The game finished 2-1 to the Shelbourne XI after a fantastic goal by Olivia O’Toole, Ireland's all-time top goal scorer and all-around legend of the game.

Speaking before the game, Shelbourne FC Community Officer John McGouran said: “We’re very excited to host the Pride Cup once more this year and hope that the event continues our push for inclusivity in football. The Red Together Programme has built a brilliant network of people interested in extending the principles of inclusion in football through the Club and we would like to issue the message once more that everyone is welcome at Tolka Park and Shelbourne FC.

“With more coverage recently around LGBT+ professionals in football, it is important that we build on these positive impacts and allow the game to be open to all,” he continued.

Dublin Devils chair, John Coary, added: “The Pride Cup is not only an annual reminder of the strong relationship which we have built with Shelbourne FC and of the ongoing support which they have provided to both our Club and to Dublin’s LGBT+ community but is also an important showcase to highlight how important LGBT+ inclusion in football in Ireland is.” He continued: “There is a real feeling of optimism that football is finally turning a corner when it comes to LGBT+ inclusion and we hope that this year’s Pride Cup can build on that feeling of optimism and inclusion.

It’s great to see the Cloudforest Jersey being worn by the Shelbourne XI. It’s great to be involved in this incredible event even in a small way.