Comortas Peil Páidí Ó Sé

An Gaeltacht 3-9 Tullamore 2-11

TULLAMORE'S interest in what was their first appearance in the Comórtas Peil Páidí Ó Sé ended at the earliest possible stage last weekend when they lost their opening game to host club, An Gaeltacht in Galluras, Co Kerry.
A vastly understrength Tullamore were hit by a sucker punch of a goal in the opening minute, followed swiftly by a point for the home side though with the help of Adam Shelly's goal the teams were level by the 10th minute.
With a strong wind at their backs, Tullamore dominated the rest of the first half and were four points in front approaching half-time when An Gaeltacht struck for a second goal against the run of play though a couple of points by Shaun Martin before the break saw them retire with a 1-8 to 2-2 lead.
That advantage was pushed out to five points shortly after the resumption but a burst of 1-2 without reply from An Gaeltacht restored parity before a goal from the impressive Conor Finlay looked set to give Tullamore enough impetus to book a semi-final spot.
However, An Gaeltacht struck five points on the spin in the closing minutes to move two in front, with Jayson Darby's reply proving too little, too late as Tullamore finished a point adrift.
Although the footballing aspect to the weekend didn't materialise as team and management would have wanted, the bonding amongst the group didn't suffer as a consequence with Páidí Ó Sé's famous bar in Ventry one of the watering holes frequented.
Among the highlights was the impromptu singing of Shane Kelly and the relentless, though fully merited, ribbing of a member of the backroom team's questionable hair style.
The Tullamore travelling party returned home on Sunday afternoon, having set out on Friday, reflecting on a positive weekend as the focus very much turns to fast approaching championship assignments for the under-21, senior, intermediate and junior footballers.
In all, 36 teams took part in the Comórtas on the Dingle Peninsula over the weekend with senior, intermediate and junior competitions for both men's and ladies football.
The senior men's title was eventually won by the Defence Forces on Sunday afternoon after they saw off Castlewellan of Co Down in the final on a 2-9 to 1-6 scoreline to claim the Dermot Earley Cup, named after the late Roscommon legend who was a former Defence Forces Chief of Staff.
Incidentally, ex-Kildare midfielder Dermot Earley Junior formed part of the Defence Forces management team.

TULLAMORE: Gavin Shiel; John Hickey, Ken Hogan, Mark Conlon; Conor Finlay (1-2), Dean Carroll, Paul O'Toole; Aaron Hensey, Conor McNiffe; Shaun Martin (0-3, 0-1f), Shane Kelly (0-2), Adam Shelly (1-0); James Keane, Stevie Keogh, Brian Hogan (0-1).

Subs used: Pauric Brazil (0-1), Paddy Farrelly, Jayson Darby (0-2), Mel Rowland.

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