The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Teams from Down and Dubai Comórtas Páidí Ó Sé
THE launch of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2017 was hosted on Tuesday evening at Croke Park Hotel by Kerry All-Star Paul Geaney who announced supermarket chain Lidl as its new title sponsor.
The famed club Gaelic football tournament and festival takes place from February 17-19 in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry and various GAA venues across the Dingle Peninsula and continues to attract teams from across the country as well as abroad. Thirty-two teams in all compete from 14 counties across all four provinces as well as teams from the UK and the United Arab Emirates in ladies and men’s senior, intermediate and junior competitions.
Five Kerry men’s teams will compete with An Daingean and An Ghaeltacht taking part in the Dermot Earley senior men’s cup while also includes 2015 Waterford senior county champions Stradbally, Down’s Downpatrick which is managed by former Down footballer Conor Deegan, Dublin’s Fingallians and Wexford senior county finalists Glynn-Barntown.
Keel, Anascaul and Lispole are up against Meath’s Dunderry, North Cork side Knocknagree and Sligo’s St. John’s in The Boars Head intermediate men’s cup and Valentia Island are flying the flag in the junior men’s cup against Cavan’s Shannon Gaels, Cork’s Ballinacurra managed by former Glenflesk footballer Eamon Spillane and also the Dubai Celts, the first Middle East team to play in the tournament.
Four Kerry ladies club teams line out over the tournament weekend with Southern Gaels in the senior ladies cup against current Dublin senior league champions Ballyboden St. Enda’s, Boardsmill of Meath, current Louth county champions Stabannon Parnells and Wicklow’s Bray Ladies.
Corca Dhuibhne are in the intermediate cup against Mayo’s Burrishoole who are going for three in a row at the Comórtas along with Cavan’s Gowna Ladies, Baile Bhuirne’s Naomh Abán and Galway’s Maigh Cuilinn. Dingle and Clounmacon are in the four team junior ladies cup against Liverpool’s John Mitchels and Dublin’s Lucan Sarsfields.