The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Clubs from LA to Lispole for Comortas Páidí Ó Sé
GAA clubs from Orange County in California, Edinburgh, London and 14 counties across the four provinces of Ireland will take part in the 31st edition of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé 2020 this weekend, with 36 adult men’s and ladies club teams descending on the Dingle peninsula.
The football festival was recently launched at Ballyboden St. Enda’s in Dublin by Kerry forward Tommy Walsh, and was also attended by 10 time All-Ireland football winner Valerie Mulcahy, from Cork, who is manager of Ballyboden Ladies, broadcaster Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, former Galway manager John O’Mahony, and representatives of all the participating clubs.
The festival, founded by 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 competitions as well as teams attending social events at Comórtas HQ, Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry.
There is some stiff opposition in the Dermot Earley senior men’s cup with Dingle back to defend their 2019 title against local rivals Annascaul and An Ghaeltacht, while there are five newcomers including Mayo’s Breaffy, Crosserlough of Cavan, Westmeath’s Mullingar Shamrocks, Granemore GFC from Armagh, and North
Cork club Kiskeam, who will all be attempting to leave their mark.
There are 10 Kerry teams competing. Apart from the three Kerry clubs in the Dermot Early Cup, the intermediate men’s competition includes Listry and Castlegregory, under the stewardship of former Offaly senior manager Stephen Wallace, while Lispole play in the Junior Men’s competition. Corca Dhuibhne line out in the intermediate Ladies cup while Dingle LGFA, Ballymacelligott and Annascaul compete in the Junior Ladies cup.
Newcomers to the intermediate ladies competition include Araglen Desmonds Bui of Cork, 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 intermediate men’s competition sees Kerry’s Listry and Castlegregory lining out with Louth’s Na Piarsaigh (Dundalk) and Hunterstown Rovers (Ardee), St. John’s of Sligo along with Cavan’s Knockbride
In the Junior ladies cup, Kerry have the strongest representation with Ballymacelligott, Annascaul, Finuge/St. Senan’s and Dingle LGFA competing against Mayo’s Breaffy and Ballyboden St. Enda’s Ladies, Dublin. Wild Geese GFC of Orange County, Los Angeles, USA will be up against it in the Junior Men’s Cup in a group that includes West Kerry’s Lispole, Killenaule of Tipperary and London’s St Brendan’s GAA.
The football festival will also host nightly free music and entertainment which is open to the general public and a Saturday Night Players Banquet at the Comórtas marquee at Páidi Ó Sé’s pub in Ard a’ Bhóthair , Ventry
Comórtas Chairman Pádraig Óg Ó Sé said: ‘Páidi’s idea to expand the tournament beyond senior men’s teams back in 2009 was visionary and he would be proud to see new clubs getting involved year on year, all wanting to experience all that is good about the GAA. We are pleased that the tournament continues to be one of the most talked about GAA events in the calendar and we wish all clubs a safe and enjoyable experience. The support of local host clubs is crucial in ensuring we can maintain such a high number of teams and we thank them for their co-operation and making fields available to us.”
Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé is supported by Lidl Ireland, McKeever Sports, EJ Menswear, Kerry County Council Tourism Unit and Lee Strand Milk,
SENIOR MEN
An Ghaeltacht Annascaul Dingle Crosserlough, Co. Cavan Mullingar Shamrocks, Co. Westmeath Granemore, Co. Armagh Breaffy, Co. Mayo Kiskeam, Co. Cork
INTERMEDIATE MEN
Listry Castlegregory Knockbride, Co. Cavan Na Piarsaigh, Dundalk, Co. Louth St John’s, Carraroe, Co. Sligo Hunterstown Rovers, Ardee, Co. Louth
JUNIOR MEN
Lispole Wild Geese GFC, Orange County, LA, USA Killenaule, Co. Tipperary St Brendan’s GAA, Richmond, London, UK
SENIOR LADIES
Thomas Davis GAA, Tallaght, Dublin Clonguish, Newtownforbes, Co. Longford Sarsfields Ladies, Newbridge. Co. Kildare Caltra Cuans, Co. Galway Drumlane Sons of O’Connel, Co. Cavan Ballyboden St. Enda’s GFC, Co. Dublin
INTERMEDIATE LADIES
Corca Dhuibhne Belturbet Rory O’Moore’s, Co. Cavan Ballyroan Ladies, Co. Laois Ballymachugh, Co. Cavan Dunedin Connolly’s, Edinburgh, Scotland Araglen Desmonds Buí, Cork
JUNIOR LADIES
Dingle Finuge/St Senans Ballymacelligott Annascaul Ballyboden St. Enda’s, Dublin Breaffy, Co. Mayo