OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s 24th Annual St. Patrick’s Soccer Tournament concludes this weekend after hosting over 150 teams and hundreds of players from all over the mid-Atlantic region for the last month.

From modest beginnings, the annual St. Patrick’s Tournament has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and is now one of the largest events of its kind. The 2012 event has hosted over 150 teams competing in 12 divisions over the last three weekends beginning with the boys’ and girls’ under-18 tournament back on February 24.

Last weekend, the boys’ and girls’ under-12 and under-16 teams took center stage at Northside Park in the penultimate weekend of the tournament. In the boys’ under-12 division, the PHWM Lightning beat the ASC Galaxy, 8-0, to win the championship, while in the girls’ under-12 bracket, the Premiere SC Spirit topped the PHWM FC Red Bulls to win their title. In the boys’ under-16 division, it was the FC Barcelona team topping the SSP United, 3-2, in the title game, while the girls’ under-16 bracket saw Rommel’s Ace beat the PHWM Wildcats, 4-2.

The tournament concludes this weekend with the adult men and women over-18 divisions taking the courts. Games will be played practically around the clock starting today and concluding with championship games on Sunday.