by Adam Moynihan

Eighteen teams from Galway, Laois, Armagh, Cork, Dublin and Kerry will compete in this year’s Tommy Griffin Over 35 Football Tournament, which takes place on Saturday (November 9) in Dingle.

The event, which has been running since 2012, has become a popular feature of the local sporting calendar for footballers of a certain vintage. Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week, Tommy explained how the competition came about.

“A few of us were in the bar one night talking about kicking a bit of ball,” the former Kerry player said. “Fellas had retired by that time, so we said we’d try to gather a few lads from old teams. We made some enquiries and there was a bit of interest. We managed to gather eight teams the first year.

“Séamus Moynihan was a real driving force behind it in fairness to him. He brought a Sem team for years. We got teams from Cork and Dublin as well, and it grew from there.”

In the 2024 edition, a total of 26 matches will be staged at two venues: Páirc an Ághasaigh (the home grounds of Dingle GAA) and Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne. Each team will be guaranteed at least two games with the losers from Round 1 going through to the Shield.

Just as important as the football itself is the social aspect of the tournament. “It’s a social weekend with a bit of football thrown in,” Tommy jokes.

“It’s a great way of meeting up with lads you haven’t seen in years, and a great way of meeting lads you might have played against but never met. Shane Ryan (the former Dublin footballer) has been down a couple of times and the first time I met him was in the bar after the tournament, even though I actually marked him a few times.

“And there are lads who never played county level who get a chance to play against these county players. Stuff like that is good.”

Tommy, who won five All-Ireland medals during a stellar intercounty career, says the support of local businesses makes a big difference.

“We kind of fund it ourselves but suppliers for the bar (Muiris Dan’s) and Deirdre and Micheál from The Fish Box restaurant have always been very good to us. It’s great to get support from Denis Murphy from GMIB.ie as well.”

The SMERC recovery truck will be on site in Páirc an Ághasaigh to help players get the bodies right between games. After all, while they might be looking forward to their couple of pints later in the evening, they’re still competitive sportsmen.

“Ah look, it’s a bit of craic to start off,” Tommy notes, “but when the ball is thrown in, there’s always a bit of needle in it.”

PARTICIPATING TEAMS: Clann Éireann (Armagh), Claregalway (Galway), Cork Vets, Currow, Dohenys (Cork), Dr Crokes, Duhallow (Cork), Gneeveguilla, John Mitchels, Kerry Masters, Portlaoise (Laois), Raheny (Dublin), Rathmore, Russell Rovers (Cork), Spa, St Pat’s, Stradbally (Laois), Tuosist.