Cork clubs for Ventry

ARAGLEN Desmonds Buí Ladies and Kiskeam senior men’s teams will represent Cork in the 31st edition of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé 2020, with 36 adult men’s and ladies club teams descending on the rugged Dingle Peninsula from February 21 to 23.

There is some stiff opposition for North Cork’s Kiskeam in the Dermot Earley senior men’s cup with Dingle back to defend their 2019 title against other local West Kerry rivals Annascaul and An Ghaeltacht, while there are four other newcomers including Mayo’s Breaffy, Crosserlough of Cavan, Westmeath’s Mullingar Shamrocks and Granemore GFC, County Armagh, who will all be attempting to leave their mark.

Araglen Desmonds Buí Ladies, made up of players from Kiskeam, Ballydesmond and Boherbue are newcomers to the intermediate ladies competition and will be up against other newcomers Cavan’s Ballymachugh, Ballyroan of Laois while Belturbet Rory O’Moores of Cavan, Edinburgh’s Dunedin Connolly’s and Corca Dhuibhne of West Kerry return again this year.

The football festival, which is supported by Lidl Ireland, McKeever Sports, EJ Menswear, Kerry County Council Tourism Unit and Lee Strand Milk will have some management pedigree is on show this year with former Cavan star Larry O’Reilly managing Knockbride in the senior men’s competition, 10-time All-Ireland winning Cork footballer Valerie Mulcahy is managing Ballyboden St Endas ladies’ senior team while former Offaly senior football manager Stephen Wallace, a native of Ardfert in Kerry, is managing West Kerry side Castlegregory

The festival, founded by Kerry iconic footballer Páidi Ó Sé, has attracted over 16,000 club players over 30 years and has grown into a major international GAA event with senior, intermediate and junior adult club competitions as well as teams attending social events at Comórtas HQ, Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry, County Kerry.

For a programme of events and a full list of teams visit www. Paidiose.com.