Historic All-Ireland Success For Bunninadden Rounders Club

A landmark Connacht Rounders achievement remembered

Bunninadden Rounders, GAA Rounders, Sligo Rounders

Bunninadden Rounders Club etched their name into Connacht sporting history in 2000 when they became the first club from the province to capture the Comhairle Cluiche Corr Féile competition in Mosney, Co. Meath.

For a small rural Sligo club, competing against some of the strongest Rounders teams in Ireland, it was a remarkable breakthrough and one of the great early success stories for the sport in Connacht.

Historic All-Ireland success for Bunninadden Rounders Club

BUNNINADDEN Rounders club made history last weekend by becoming the first club in Connacht to win the Comhairle Cluiche Corr Féile competition in Mosney, Co. Meath.

Last year they were the first Sligo team to enter in its 10 year existence. This is a competition whereby the best clubs in the country are asked to attend. Bunninadden were invited to participate in this competition in 1999 for the first time due to the excellent display by their U-13 girls and U-15 boys at Connaught Community Games finals in Galway.

The U-15 boys took part that year and ended up runners-up. This was only their second year competing and on this occasion they became the All-Ireland champions beating Limekiln of Dublin in the final.

There are only a few clubs in the county taking part in Rounders competition and some of these were interested in participating in Féile. Because they felt Rounders in Sligo was not up to National standard. So Bunninadden decided to go it alone, and they got their reward.

Throughout the groups Bunninadden competed against sometimes county teams rather than individual clubs. Bunninadden entered three teams this year – U-15 boys, U-15 girls and U-16 mixed. Both the U-15 boys and girls got to the final stages of their groups.

U-16 Mixed Team Results

Bunninadden 17–16 Erne Eagles
St. Michaels 12–5 Bunninadden
Bunninadden 7–6 Limekiln
Semi-final: Bunninadden defeated Breaffy/Castlebar
Final: Bunninadden defeated Limekiln

The U-16 mixed team surprisingly came out of a group that consisted of the Ulster champions, Erne Eagles (Cavan) and Leinster runners-up Limekiln. They started the group games against Erne Eagles (Cavan) and beat them on a scoreline of 17-16.

They went on then to meet St. Michaels (Derry) and were defeated in this match 12-05.

The next game was then vital and in order to remain in contention Bunninadden had to win. They took on the might of Dublin (Limekiln) and won by the narrowest of margins 7-6.

Bunninadden then qualified for the semi-finals and here they were to meet old rivals Breaffy/Castlebar whom they never previously were able to overcome. Bunninadden stayed in touch as is always the case for the first 2 innings but on this weekend they fielded excellently and batted to precision scoring 4 in the last inning and getting Breaffy/Castlebar all the heartache of losing Connaught titles, at Community games level.

They then faced All-Ireland success for the first time and entered the final against Limekiln (Dublin) with confidence as they had already beaten them in the group stages.

Bunninadden, although confident of success, could hardly believe it when they were crowned All-Ireland champions for the first time in the club’s short history. This is something Sligo teams are not familiar with and Bunninadden was no different due to the fact that their club is one of the smallest in the county.

“The endless hours of training over the past five months paid off for this team.”

The “endless” hours of training over the past five months paid off for this team. Due credit goes to their Manager and player Kenneth Kerins for his commitment and dedication.

The victorious team were met on their return home at 2.30a.m. Tuesday morning by bonfires which blazed into the morning. Further celebrations are to be held in the near future.

Bunninadden Rounders Club etched their name into Connacht sporting history in 2000 when they became the first club from the province to capture an All-Ireland Féile Rounders title at Mosney

Winning Team

Kenneth Kerins (player/manager), Alan Hannon (captain), Shane Kerins, Conor Gormley, Shane Kilcoyne, Niamh McGetrick, Aileen Hannon, Niamh O’Flaherty, Aishling Frizzell (subbed in), Noelle Gormley.

Other Panel Members

Kelly Sonery, Sandra Scanlon, Sarah Perry, Anne Leamy, Rhona Gilhooly, Tara Murray, Amanda Keenan, Breege McManamy, Patrick Rogers, Kevin Doohan, Tom Doohan, Cathal Scanlon, Ronan Killoran, Patrick Coen, Thomas McLoughlin, Michael Gormley, Donal Gallagher, Tadhg Brennan, Stephen Anderson, Damien Flannery and Eamonn Coen.

The team and coach would like to sincerely thank the three parents who travelled with the team Helen Hannon, Joe Doohan and Seamus Anderson. Also to the bus driver Michael Kielty.

Bunninadden Rounders club thank the people who sponsored them over the previous months.

They participated in three competitions, the U-15 boys and girls and the U-16 mixed in which we became All-Ireland champions for the first time.

They would also like to thank anyone who in any way helped to make the trip the success it was and the parents who travelled with the team – Joe Doohan, Helen Hannon and Seamus Anderson.