St Finbarr’s 1-12 | Greenwood 11 points
There was another major sporting achievement for West Kerry on Saturday the 15th August as An Ghaeltacht man Rob Ó Sé captained St Finbarr’s GFC to victory in the Western Australia Men’s Senior Football Championship Final, securing the title for the second time.
St Finbarr’s overcame Greenwood in a closely contested final, finishing on a score of 1-12 to 11 points to claim the Western Australia Men’s Senior Football Championship crown.
The victory comes in a landmark year for St Finbarr’s GFC, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2026. To mark five decades of the club, securing another Western Australia Men’s Senior Football Championship makes the occasion all the more memorable for the players, members and wider St Finbarr’s community.
Ó Sé, who hails from An Ghaeltacht in West Kerry, played a pivotal role from midfield, wearing the number eight jersey and leading his team from the centre of the field.
He made a major contribution both on the scoreboard and in the build-up to St Finbarr’s decisive goal. The An Ghaeltacht midfielder finished with an impressive 0-6, including 0-4 and a two-pointer, while he also played a key role in the build-up to the goal, winning possession and linking the play before the move culminated in the crucial score.
Ó Sé’s outstanding performance was recognised after the final when he was named Man of the Match. He has also been named Western Australia GAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, adding further recognition to what has been an exceptional season for the An Ghaeltacht midfielder.
As captain, Ó Sé was central to the team’s performance and leadership on the field. His influence extended well beyond his own contribution, providing direction, composure and inspiration as St Finbarr’s battled their way to victory.
Ó Sé was part of the Kerry team that won the All-Ireland Minor Championship in 2014 before progressing to the Kerry U21 side, where he featured in the 2016 All-Ireland U21 campaign, narrowly losing to Galway. He enjoyed further All-Ireland success, winning the All-Ireland Junior Championship with Kerry in 2017.
At club and Gaeltacht level, Ó Sé has also enjoyed considerable success, winning the Intermediate Championship and Munster title with An Ghaeltacht in 2017, adding further silverware to an already impressive footballing career.
His footballing pedigree also has a strong family connection. Ó Sé is a cousin of Kerry football legend Dr Seán Murphy, a member of Kerry’s 1959 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship-winning team.
Ó Sé is also a primary school teacher at Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin in Cork and is currently on career break.
For the An Ghaeltacht man, the victory represents his second Western Australia Men’s Senior Football Championship title, while captaining St Finbarr’s makes the achievement even more significant.
From an All-Ireland Minor winner with Kerry in 2014 to an All-Ireland Junior winner, Kerry U21 player and now a two-time Western Australia Men’s Senior Football Championship winner, Ó Sé continues to add major honours to an already distinguished football career.
His latest achievement — captaining St Finbarr’s GFC to championship glory, collecting Man of the Match honours and being named Western Australia GAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year — represents another outstanding chapter in the career of the An Ghaeltacht midfielder.
