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KERRY clubs are well represented in The Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2017, the famed club Gaelic football tournament and festival which takes place this weekend (February 17-19) in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry and various GAA venues across the Dingle Peninsula.

Some 32 teams in all compete from 13 counties as well as teams from the UK and the United Arab Emirates in ladies and men’s senior, intermediate and junior competitions.

For Kerry Gaelic football enthusiasts there is plenty to catch the eye with Kerry’s An Daingean, Milltown/Castlemaine, An Ghaeltacht with player/manager Marc Ó Sé and Waterville taking part in the Dermot Earley senior men’s cup which also includes 2016 Laois county senior champions Stradbally, Kildare’s Sarsfields, Dublin’s Fingallians and 2016 Wexford senior county finalists Glynn-Barntown.
Kerry's Keel, Annascaul 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 and also the Dubai Celts.

Four Kerry ladies club teams line out over the tournament weekend with Corca Dhuibhne and Na Gaeil 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 Cork's Clonakilty.

Dingle Ladies and Clounmacon GAA are in the four-team junior ladies cup against Liverpool’s John Mitchels and Dublin’s Lucan Sarsfields.

The senior ladies cup has current Dublin senior league champions Ballyboden St Enda’s, Boardsmill of Meath, current Louth county champions Stabannon Parnells and Wicklow’s Bray Ladies.

The football festival, which is also supported by Grant Thornton, Lee Strand Milk, Fáilte Ireland and Kerry County Council Tourism Unit, has attracted over 13,000 club players since it began in 1989 and is a big boost for tourism in the area with over 1,800 bed nights created over three nights. This year, as well as nightly music and entertainment in Comórtas HQ at Páidí Ó Sé’s pub, there will also be a special excerpt from a John B. Keane play hosted by the late playwright and author’s son Billy Keane on Sunday evening in the pub. Full details are available on www.paidiose.com

Above: An Daingean and Kerry All-Star Paul Geaney with Kerry and Corca Dhuibhne footballer Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Pádraig Óg Ó Sé at Dingle Marina keeping their eye on the ball ahead of the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé 2017.