It’s the second last weekend of May and we have a fantastic selection of matches across all grades and levels to look forward to on Sunday. Ulster and Leinster both host Senior, Intermediate and Junior games while there is one Junior match in Connacht. With several teams taking to the field for the first time this season, let’s take a closer look at what’s happening this weekend.

Ulster – Clash of Champions

Kicking off the action at 11am in Breffni Park, Cavan on Sunday morning will be the Junior Women of Kilmore and Drumhowan. The Roscommon ladies won their first match and had their second conceded so now sit at the top of the table. Drumhowan had a commanding win over local rivals Inniskeen and will hope to take that momentum into Sunday’s game but are they strong enough to win this?

Intermediate action starts in Cavan at 1pm when Galway City Rapparees’ Mixed team takes on hosts St. Clare’s. Both former Junior All-Ireland Champions – St. Clare’s in 2021 and Rapparees in 2024 – both teams are taking to the pitch for the first time this season, but the Galway players have the advantage of having played both Intermediate Women’s and Senior Men’s games already this month so will they be sharper or will St. Clare’s be more rested and ready to take the win? Last year’s game in Galway saw the Connacht side take the victory – will home advantage work for St. Clare’s this year?

At 3pm it will be the turn of both clubs’ Intermediate Women to finish the day’s games, and this looks likely to be an interesting contest. Rapparees’ women comprehensively defeated Elphin earlier this month and St. Clare’s struggled at the end of the 2025 season with injuries. Never a team that can be written off, can they come back stronger this year and win?

All Ulster Battles in Inniskeen

Inniskeen Grattans will host Derry side Slaughtneil and Antrim club Wolfe Tones in an Ulster Junior Mixed derby from 11.30am.

Playing two games the same day and having beaten Elphin’s Junior Mixed team already this season, Inniskeen will be hoping that home advantage will help them to defeat both visiting teams.

All-Ireland Final Reply in Carrickmacross

10 minutes away, in Carrickmacross, what looks like being the clash of the day will start at 2.30pm between last year’s Senior Men’s All-Ireland Final pairing of Carrickmacross Emmets and Erne Eagles.

With one win and one loss this season, Carrickmacross are hitting their stride. Erne Eagles have already beaten Glynn Barntown and Cúchulainn and will be looking to make it three from three to secure their place at the top of the table.

After the dust settles on that great battle, at 4pm, it will be the turn of the Mixed teams from both clubs to face off. Carrickmacross have had two losses already this season and will be anxious to turn things around. Eagles beat Cúchulainn but lost to Glynn Barntown and will want to take the points to move up the table.

At 5.30pm the final match of the day in Platinum Tanks Park will be between the Senior Women of both clubs. Newly promoted to Senior this year, Carrickmacross fought hard last Sunday and beat The Heath. Eagle have won one game and drawn one so will be trying to avoid their first loss of the year.

Leinster Round-Up

Starting proceedings in Leinster at 11am will be the Senior Women of The Heath hosting Glynn Barntown. Having struggled in their first two matches of the season, will home advantage help the Laois side, or will the 2025 All-Ireland finalists manage to take their first win of the year?

Also at 11am, in Carlow, Wexford’s Kilanerin Ballyfad will play Leighlinbridge in their Junior Women’s match. Leighlinbridge’s Mixed team have been very strong so far this season and their Women will be hoping that they continue this in their first match of the year. Kilanerin have also started well with one win under their belt so they will be aiming to make things difficult for their hosts.

Also at 11am the Women of Raheen will travel to Ballon to take on Cúchulainn. Raheen struggled in 2025 in their first year at Senior but this is a new year and their first time out – have they got what it takes to beat the Cúchulainn side which held Erne Eagles to a draw but lost to reigning Champions, Breaffy?

Next up in Ballon will be the Men of the same clubs and again, for the first time this year, Raheen will be hoping to prove that they have what it takes to play against established Senior teams. Cúchulainn have yet to register a win in 2026 and they’ll be hoping that this is the day when that changes.

Finally, in Carlow, the grade changes to Intermediate and Raheen’s Mixed team will take on Dublin Metropolitans, who have beaten another Wexford side – Glynn Barntown – already this year, their first at Intermediate Mixed. The Wexford side’s experience at the higher levels should stand to them and make this their first win of the year but Dublin Mets are fighters and can’t be ruled out.

Our final Intermediate game of the day will take place in Emo where the hosts will welcome the men of Kilmore. Both sides have played once and won once – both by high scores – this year so both will be confident that they can do it. Will Emo’s combination of experience and youth be enough to defeat the Roscommon side’s batting and fielding prowess?

Pitching in at 4pm, Limekiln’s Amanda Hoxha will be in charge.

Finally, in Leinster on Sunday, at 11.30am, newly formed Meath side Dunsany will welcome Carlow’s Myshall for their Junior Mixed match. Myshall have proven how strong they are with their Men making it to 2025’s semi-final so they would look to be favourites to take this. Dunsany have some strong batters and fielders and won’t make it easy for Myshall.

Our only game in Connacht on Sunday will take place at 1pm in Athenry and will feature players from last year’s Junior Mixed and Minor Women’s All-Ireland winning teams when the Galway side welcome St. Senan’s of Limerick. Pitching for the first time from 10m, Louise Kelly of St. Senan’s is likely to make batting very difficult for the Athenry ladies, many of whom have been playing for years as part of the club’s very successful underage programme. Several of the St. Senan’s players are newly recruited this year so will their inexperience make beating these stalwarts of the game a big ask?

With some really exciting games, some first-time ever teams, some first-time this season teams, lots of new players and quite likely some predictions turned upside down, this looks like being another weekend of Rounders not to be missed. Keep an eye on our website and socials for results and up-to-date league tables.