Purpose To compare the effect of milk based protein-carbohydrate beverage (MP-CHO) and a carbohydrate only beverage (CHO) immediately following Gaelic football match play on markers of muscle damage and inflammation, muscle soreness and sprint performance. Methods Male Gaelic football players with a mean age of 17.4 years played a competitive Gaelic football game after which they consumed a 500 mL of either a MP-CHO beverage or a CHO only beverage. Blood samples were taken and subjective muscle soreness was measured before, immediately post-game and at 12 h, 36 h and 60 h post-game. Sprint performance was measured pre-game and at 12 h, 36 h and 60 h post-game. Heart rate and movement patterns were continuously measured using telemetry and GPS tracking, respectively. Results Measured activity characteristics and impact zones were similar in MP-CHO and CHO during match-play. No significant main effect for group or interaction effects between time and group was observed for CK, circulating leukocytes, muscle soreness or 5 m and 20 m sprint times. Creatine kinase (CK) levels were elevated (p<0.001) in MP-CHO and CHO immediately after, and 12 h post-game. Muscle soreness was elevated at 12 h (p<0.001) and 36 h (p<0.01) in MP-CHO and at 12 h (p<0.001) in CHO compared to pre-game. Compared to pre-game values, circulating leukocyte increased significantly in both MP-CHO and CHO immediately post-game, and decreased significantly in both experimental conditions at 12 h, 36 h and 60 h post-game. There was a decrease (p<0.001) in 5 m and 20 m sprint times at 12 h, 36 h and 60 h in MP-CHO and CHO. Conclusion: Consuming MP-CHO or an isocaloric CHO beverage immediately following Gaelic football match play has no effect on attenuating DOMS, decrements in 5 m and 20 m sprint times or circulating levels of CK and leukocytes.