A documentary profiling the lives of the O’hAilpin brothers has taken out category honours at the 5th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards in Dublin.

The film, Tall, Dark and O’hAilpin (Telegael Media Group), was this week adjudged best sports documentary film, ahead of 20 Moments that Shook Irish Sport (Liberty Films), Red Mist (Wildfire Films), Rugby World Cup (TV3/Hot Air Productions) and Six Nations Ireland V England (RTÉ).

The film got the gong on a glittering evening in which Mel Gibson was on hand to be presented with the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema Award, with fellow actors Rene Russo and Bo Derek prominent amongst the guests.

Early last year, Irish documentary filmmaker Patrick Comer, pictured here accepting the award, spent a number of weeks in Melbourne filming Carlton’s O’hAilpin brothers, the Cork-based hurling players trying to eke out an existence with the club.

Comer sought to highlight the trials and tribulations of the younger O’hAilpin siblings with those of oldest brother Sean Og, an accomplished hurling player who has made an indelible mark on the game in Cork.

To read an earlier interview with Comer about the film, whose working title was From Cork To Carlton, go to the Blueseum