FUTSAL in Ireland will take another step forward this Sunday when eircom League champions Shelbourne participate in the Goldsmith Jewellers Futsal Cup tournament in Tallaght.

Shels become the first eircom League side to sample the official FIFA version of 5-a-side football, which is professional across the globe, when they compete in the event at the National Basketball Arena.

The Reds’ under-21 side will face English futsal champions Sheffield Hallam and St James’s Gate in their group.

Sheffield Hallam will represent England in the UEFA Futsal Cup later this year and are joint-favourites for Sunday’s cup along with professional Moldovan outfit FC Camelot.

The tournament kicks-off at 10.00am and is being run in conjunction with the FAI.

Tranmere Victoria, who represented England in the UEFA Futsal Cup last year, return to Dublin for the third year in a row and are joined by fellow Birkenhead side Spartans FC.

FAI Futsal Development Officer Derek O’Neill has encouraged any interested parties in attending.

He said: “Shelbourne are the first eircom League club to experience futsal and I’m sure they’ll quickly discover what a testing game it is. Anybody interested in learning about futsal should feel welcome to attend.”

First Round fixtures

FC Camelot - Tranmere Victoria (10.00)
Sheffield Hallam - St James’s Gate (10.30)
Spartans - Camelot (11.00)
Shelbourne - St James’s Gate (11.30)
Spartans - Tranmere (12.00)
Sheffield Hallam - Shelbourne (12.30)