All Ireland Glory.

The Under 14 All-Ireland Finals at Athlone GAA on Saturday, 16th May delivered a spectacular showcase of the future of GAA Rounders, with thrilling contests, outstanding skill and drama right to the final innings in both the boys and girls competitions.

U14 Boys.

The boys championship opened with reigning champions Emo laying down an early marker. A powerful batting display gave the Laois side the edge over Cuchulainn in the opening preliminary round, putting the Carlow club immediately into a must-win clash against Connacht champions Michael Glaveys.

Cuchulainn give it all

With defeat meaning elimination, Cuchulainn threw everything at the Roscommon side in the second preliminary game. They produced a determined display, but the experience of Michael Glaveys eventually told.

Connacht champions

Despite travelling with only seven players, the Connacht champions raised the intensity in the second innings and proved just too strong for the battling Carlow outfit.

Tantalising final

That result set up a tantalising final between defending champions Emo and a Michael Glaveys side that had already shown immense resilience throughout the day.

The quality on display throughout the final belied the age of the players involved. Excellent fielding, sharp catching and confident hitting repeatedly drew admiration from the large crowd watching on.

Pitching class

A standout performer was eventual Player of the Match Luke Bailey of Michael Glaveys, whose excellent pitching disrupted the usually dangerous Emo batting order for long periods of the contest.

In the end though, numbers would prove decisive. With only seven defenders trying to cover the ground, gaps inevitably began to appear in the Glaveys fielding unit. To their immense credit, the Roscommon side pushed the defending champions all the way to the wire, but Emo just held on to bring the silverware back to Laois once more.

Girls raise the bar higher 

If the boys competition was excellent, the girls championship somehow managed to raise the bar even further.

Setting the standard

The standard in the provincial championships had already hinted at something special to come, and the finals in Athlone more than lived up to expectations.

Quality fielding

From the opening fixture onwards, the quality of fielding on display was exceptional, with every team showing discipline, composure and defensive organisation of the very highest order.

Cuchulainn make a statement 

Cuchulainn immediately announced themselves as genuine contenders in the opening game. Neat and composed base play, combined with superb defensive work, helped them overcome the reigning champions and showed they were far more than simply participants on the day.

Athenry respond

Their next assignment was against highly fancied Connacht champions Athenry. Victory for the Carlow side would secure a place in the final, while defeat would leave qualification hanging on permutations.

Tough to call

Much like their opening match, there was almost nothing separating the sides. Defences dominated once again, with every score hard-earned. Athenry’s traditionally strong batting line-up ultimately proved the difference however, as the Galway side edged home by three runs and left Cuchulainn anxiously waiting on later results.

Old rivals

Few teams know each other better than Athenry and Emo, and both sides entered their meeting fully aware that defeat could still lead to elimination. Runs scored, innings won and qualification permutations all loomed large before a ball had even been pitched.

Tension

The tension showed throughout a gripping encounter. With Cuchulainn watching nervously from the sidelines and calculators at the ready, momentum swung repeatedly between the two sides.

Once again, Athenry’s batting strength and intelligent base running proved decisive. They eventually overcame Emo and in doing so sent the defending champions out of the competition.

A final to savour

With only three runs separating Athenry and Cuchulainn in their earlier meeting, and with no match clock to fall back on in the final, nobody in Athlone was brave enough to predict an outcome beforehand.

What followed was a final worthy of the occasion.

Defenses stand firm

Both defensive units stood firm throughout, refusing to yield easy scores.

Down to the wire 

Even deep into the closing innings, there was still nothing between the sides.

While the Athenry pitcher worked superbly to contain the Cuchulainn batting order and earned herself the match ball, the collective defensive brilliance of the Carlow side kept them within touching distance long enough to create their own opportunity.

Seize the moment 

When it finally came, Cuchulainn seized it.
One crucial run proved enough to secure victory and bring a historic first underage All-Ireland title back to a Carlow club steeped in rounders history.