Carrigaline win back-to-back titles in Páidí Ó Sé festival

Carrigaline were once again victorious at the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidí Ó Sé festival, retaining the Dermot Earley Men’s Senior Cup for 2026.

The wild Atlantic welcome wasn’t warm for the teams that travelled to West Kerry for the 37th rendition of the adult ladies and men’s Gaelic football festival at the weekend. Twenty teams from 13 different counties turned up for the event, including Carrigaline, who arrived as defending champions, after winning the Dermot Earley Men’s Senior Cup against Kerry’s Listowel Emmets last year.

The four team competition was played off on Saturday of the weekend, and the Cork side were pitted in their knockout semi-final against St Faithleach of Roscommon, who they defeated 2-8 to 0-5.

The other side of the draw saw Milltown of Galway take on O’Connell’s Tullysaran of Armagh, a game the Galway outfit won, 2-4 to 2-1 to set up a Galway/Cork final.

Carrigaline had brought a big panel with them to West Kerry, and with the Comórtas rules permitting unlimited substitutions, the Cork side used them smartly. Fresh legs were there to punish Milltown’s as they began to tire.

They led 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval and pushed on with a strong second-half wind behind them. Kevin O'Reilly was the standout. The forward found the net twice on the day, his contributions the decisive thrust in a 3-13 to 1-2 final scoreline to seal back-to-back titles.

Comórtas chairman Pádraig Ó Sé was full of praise of the Cork side's conduct across the weekend. “It was a pleasure to have Carrigaline down with us again this year,” he said. “The lads should be proud of how they conducted themselves on and off the pitch and we welcome them down again next year to defend their title, as is tradition.

“It is always pure luck with weather conditions this time of the year but it did not dampen the spirit of the weekend with over 400 players togging out and socialising in West Kerry over the weekend.

“We had no major injuries, the clubs seemed to enjoy our West Kerry hospitality and we packed out hotels, BnB’s and rental houses with the teams, some who travelled from as far away as Tyrone to visit us which shows the enthusiasm that remains for our football festival.

“I’d especially like to thank our sponsors Lidl as well as the great support we get from Kerry County Council Tourism Unit, Údarás Na Gaeltachta, Lanes & Sons Foods, EJMenswear.com McKeever Sports,” he remarked. “Also, I want to sincerely thank our volunteers, referees and of course Lispole GAA, Castlegregory, Dingle, An Gaeltacht GAA clubs and Rugbaí Corca Dhuibhne for proving the pitches.” 

There were five cups in total on offer over the weekend, and they each produced their own stories. Colmcille's of Longford claimed the junior ladies cup. Templemore of Tipperary took the intermediate ladies prize. Castledaly of Westmeath won the intermediate men's cup, while Kilmacud Crokes lifted the ladies senior cup.