On this, our last Semi-finals weekend of 2026, we thought it would be a good idea to take a slightly different approach this week… for lots of different reasons!

Predictions

It was brought to my attention last week that some clubs have reportedly expressed frustration throughout the season regarding the preview articles. While no official complaints were submitted to our email or social media channels, I was told that concerns had been raised informally by clubs who felt that match predictions placed unnecessary pressure on their teams.

These articles were never intended to cause upset, single anyone out, or create negativity. If any club or player felt disadvantaged by what was written, I offer an unreserved apology. At the same time, it is worth remembering that predictions were wrong  as much as they were right! None of us has a crystal ball. We looked at the numbers, analysed recent form, and took a guess – it’s sport, and sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don’t!

In fact, the predictions were only ever a very small part of the reason why these articles existed in the first place.

Behind the Byline

Which brings me to the next point. “We” is actually me: Shirley, National Secretary.

I took over writing previews this year from Joe Naughton, our former Communications Officer. Before I did that, he explained to me why he had started them in the first place. It was a simple idea – but a genius one. With nine Championship divisions, most of us know plenty about the other teams and players we come up against, but very little about the other divisions. The previews were his way of trying to change that, to give people a little knowledge about players and teams they might never actually play against, to highlight good performances throughout the Championship and hopefully get people interested in what was happening outside their own division. Most importantly, the idea was to highlight everyone and every team – Junior, Intermediate and Senior, Women, Men and Mixed.

Following the massive popularity of the preview series in 2025, I stepped up to keep the momentum going this year. While I could never replicate Joe’s analytical depth and writing skills, I wanted to bring my own perspective to the previews: celebrating great play, highlighting club milestones, introducing readers to players and teams they might not otherwise know much about, and keeping it light hearted with a touch of good humour. Nobody knows our clubs and players better than I do, and I hope that some of that came across in what I wrote.

I know poor Joe has still been getting the “credit” for these pieces – and while I’m flattered anyone thought they were his, it’s time to set the record straight!

It was me!!

I have had an absolute ball writing these articles each week. It unlocked a creative side I didn’t know I had, and I hope they brought some joy to our players and supporters. To everyone who reached out over the season with kind words and encouragement – and to the people who sent me bits of information, corrected me when I got something wrong or wondered how on earth I knew something (mostly Joe by the way 😉) – thank you so much!

Given the recent feedback over something that takes the best part of a day per week to research and write, voluntarily, it is unlikely that weekly previews will return in 2027. While it is disappointing when a small minority dictates the outcome, sometimes you just have to pick your battles and channel your energy elsewhere!

So there will be no preview or predictions for this weekend’s Senior Mixed Semi-Finals or for our Women’s, Men’s or Mixed All-Ireland Finals. This, then, is my final preview article of 2026. And seeing as I’ve spent the season writing about everyone else, I think I’m allowed to use the rest of this one to say thank you!

Senior Mixed Semi-Finals

Our Senior Mixed Semi-finals will take place at the Monaghan GAA Centre of Excellence in Cloghan on Sunday, 23 August:

• 1pm Breaffy (Mayo) vs Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan)
• 3pm Cúchulainn (Carlow) vs Glynn Barntown (Wexford)

Best of luck to all four teams!

The winners will advance to the Senior Mixed All-Ireland Final in Mallow GAA on Sunday, 13 September at 3:30pm.

Thank You to Our Rounders Community

To every single team that entered the 2026 Championship: thank you for giving those of us who love this game an incredible season.

We have seen spectacular catches, amazing hits, lightning-fast base running, fearless fielding, injuries, tears, laughter, joy, and unforgettable celebrations. We have gathered every Sunday, countless Saturdays, and midweek evenings – and really, where else would any of us rather be than pitchside on a summer evening?

We have seen draws, runaway wins, nail-biting finishes, spirited debates, post-match handshakes, and warm hugs. We’ve brewed hundreds of cups of tea, eaten our weight in sandwiches and cakes, and made lifelong friends across every county border. We’ve driven miles, crisscrossed the country, travelled to places new and familiar, and played in rain, blistering sun, and freezing winds – sometimes all in the same afternoon!

We’ve celebrated brilliant wins and spent long journeys home wondering how on earth we managed to lose that one.

And then we got up the following week and did it all over again.

Because that’s Rounders!

Whether this was your club’s debut campaign or your twentieth, whether your journey ended in the group stages or you are heading into an All-Ireland Final – you are the heartbeat of GAA Rounders. This is our sport, our community, our game and I am immensely proud to play a small part in it.

2026 All-Ireland Finals Schedule

What we’ve been working towards all season is just around the corner and now we need everyone to come out and support our finalists and make those three Finals days as amazing as possible! And since I’m not allowed to predict them, you’ll just have to come along and find out who wins for yourselves! Tickets are available via the links below:

Sunday, 30 August – NGDC, Abbotstown, Dublin 15, D15 K4PP https://www.universe.com/events/gaa-rounders-womens-all-ireland-finals-2026-tickets-GP4DRF

• 11am – Junior Women: Kieran’s (Limerick) vs St. Senan’s (Limerick)
• 1pm – Intermediate Women: Galway City Rapparees (Galway) vs Elphin (Roscommon)
• 3:30pm – Senior Women: Breaffy (Mayo) vs Limekiln (Dublin)

Sunday, 6 September – Offaly GAA Centre of Excellence, Kilcormac, Co. Offaly, R42 FX97 https://www.universe.com/events/gaa-rounders-mens-all-ireland-finals-2026-tickets-3KJS9B

• 11am – Junior Men: Gusserane (Wexford) vs Myshall (Carlow)
• 1pm – Intermediate Men: Clare’s (Cavan) vs St. Senan’s (Limerick)
• 3:30pm – Senior Men: Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan) vs Erne Eagles (Cavan)

Sunday, 13 September – Mallow GAA, Mallow, Co. Cork, P51 XV58 https://www.universe.com/events/gaa-rounders-mixed-all-ireland-finals-2026-tickets-9S8MP1

• 11am – Junior Mixed: Galway City Rapparees (Galway) vs Kilmore (Roscommon)
• 1pm – Intermediate Mixed: Emo (Laois) vs Galway City Rapparees (Galway)
• 3:30pm – Senior Mixed: Finalists TBC

Nine All-Ireland Finals. Three Sundays. Plenty more tea and sandwiches. And a little sunshine wouldn’t go astray either!

To every player, coach, referee, volunteer, supporter and long-suffering family member who has spent their summer following us around the country – míle buíochas!

The previews might be finished, but thankfully the Rounders isn’t.

See you all at the Finals!