Limerick's Galbally celebrate Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé title success

LIMERICK'S Galbally GAA Club won the junior men’s title at the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé which took place in West Kerry last weekend.

It’s 35 years since the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé began, with over 600 players playing football, socialising and filling up hotels and BnB’s across the Dingle Peninsula last weekend, providing a huge economic boast to the area during the off-season.

Galbally, of Limerick, beat Kerry’s Beale, last year’s champions, in the junior men’s cup straight semi-final after extra-time. The game was a draw at 2-7 to 1-10 at full time but thanks to a man of the match performance by Ger Quinlan, the Limerick lads came out on top on a scoreline of 2-14 to 2-9 in Castlegregory pitch.

Galbally then went on to beat Cahir of Tipp, with Johhny B O’Brien of The Two Johnnies acting as player/manager, by a single point on a scoreline of 2-8 to 13 points.

As usual, some well-known people were part of the line-up including former Down 1994 All-Ireland winning captain DJ Kane who managed Cooley Kickhams in the senior men’s cup, Multi All-Ireland winning Dublin all-star Lyndsey Davey who lined out Skerries Harps in the junior ladies cup and the aforementioned Johnny B O’Brien of The Two Johnnies who was player/manager whose native Cahir GAA of Tipperary.

Comórtas Chairman, Pádraig Óg Ó Sé said; “We are thrilled that Galbally came away with silverware. They conducted themselves very well all weekend and are welcome back next year to defend their title. The tournament is a big organisational and financial undertaking and special mention has to go to Lidl, our title sponsor.

"They have really changed the ladies game in Ireland and have been with us for six years now, which shows their commitment to our national sport. We also have strong partners in Dooctor.ie, Medel healthcare, EJ menswear.ie, Udaras Na Gaeltachta and Kerry County Council Tourism Unit who see the value of being part of one of the most well- known GAA club tournaments in the country.”

Pádraig Óg Ó Sé continued, “Our volunteers and locals clubs who give us their pitches are vital and the goodwill is unreal from everyone involved to make this happen annually.”

Other results from the weekend included victory for Round Towers London, who beat Galway’s Grainne Mhaols 4-3 to 2-7 in the junior ladies final. Sligo’s Eoghan Rua beat St. Maur’s of Dublin in the intermediate ladies final by 3-4 to five points.

St. Anne’s of Dublin, managed by Dublin footballing legend Joe McNally won the intermediate men’s final, beating Ballycumber of Offaly 4-20 to 2-9.

In the senior men’s final, Clane of Kildare coasted to victory this one against Courtwood of Laois by 5-10 to 6 points while last year’s ladies senior cup winners Clonguish of Longford lost to Burrishoole of Mayo by 13 points to six points.