Connacht Cup 2025 Preview – Full Fixtures, Predictions & History
🏆 Connacht Cup 2025 Preview – Athlone Set for a Festival of Rounders
The 2025 Connacht Cup takes centre stage this Saturday, 18th October in Athlone, bringing together a brilliant mix of clubs from across the country for one of the most enjoyable and competitive days on the Rounders calendar.
With ten teams split into two groups, fans can expect a full day of action — from 10:00 am group games right through to the Connacht Cup Final at 4:00 pm. Each team will play four round-robin matches, ensuring everyone gets plenty of game time before the finals decide who takes home the silverware.
There will be some matches streamed on YouTube, we will post details on Friday.
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📍 Athlone GAA Grounds
Pairc Chiaráin, Ballymahon Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
🗺️ Use the map above for parking and entrance details on match day.
⚫ Group A (Pitches 1–2)
Teams: Kilmore Blue, Rapparees Black, Breaffy, Erne Eagles, Kilmeena
This looks the tougher group, featuring a repeat of the Senior Mixed All-Ireland Final between Breaffy and Erne Eagles. Adding in another senior outfit in Kilmeena makes this pool a real test for Kilmore Blue (Junior) and Galway Rapparees Black (Intermediate), who could be already stretched after splitting their squads to field two teams on the day.
🟡 Group B (Pitches 3–4)
Teams: Kevins, Kilmore White, Elphin, Rapparees Yellow, Leighlinbridge
It’s great to have Kevins back in action — they missed this year’s championship but were Senior semi-finalists in 2024, and there’s no doubt they’ll be highly competitive once again. Rapparees Yellow, Kilmore White, and Elphin all bring plenty of energy and experience at junior and intermediate level, while Leighlinbridge make their first appearance in mixed Rounders, adding further excitement to the lineup.
This may be the slightly easier group on paper, but with several evenly matched teams and plenty of attacking flair, it should still produce some cracking contests throughout the day.
🏁 Final Fixtures – 16:00
- 🏆 Connacht Cup Final: TBC
- ⚾ Plate Final: TBC
- 🛡️ Shield Final: TBC
🔮 Predictions
Here is our best guess at who might make it through the groups.
- Connacht Cup Final – Breaffy vs Kevins: Breaffy’s record is phenomenal, and while Kevins will push them hard, experience might just tell. Prediction: Breaffy by 3–4 runs.
- Plate Final – Erne Eagles vs Elphin: The Eagles’ power hitting should prove decisive. Prediction: Erne Eagles by 5–2.
- Shield Final – Kilmeena vs Kilmore Blue: Kilmeena’s senior experience gives them the edge. Prediction: Kilmeena by 6–3.
📜 Connacht Cup Final History
| Year | Final | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Breaffy vs Glynn Barntown | Breaffy | 10–5 |
| 2022 | Breaffy vs Galway Rapparees | Breaffy | 7-2 |
| 2023 | Kevins vs Breaffy | Kevins | 2–1 |
| 2024 | Breaffy vs Galway Rapparees | Breaffy | 6–5 |
Breaffy’s dominance over recent years is remarkable — four finals, three titles, and a reputation as the team to beat. St. Kevins remain the only club to dethrone them, setting up a fitting rematch in Athlone this weekend.
Special thanks to Connacht Representative Mark Jennings for organising this year’s event.
📅 Full Group Fixtures
⏰ Round 1 — 10:00 Group A (P1–P2) • P1: Kilmore Blue vs Rapparees Black • P2: Breaffy vs Erne Eagles Bye: Kilmeena Group B (P3–P4) • P3: Kevins vs Kilmore White • P4: Elphin vs Rapparees Yellow Bye: Leighlinbridge ⏰ Round 2 — 11:00 Group A (P1–P2) • P1: Kilmeena vs Rapparees Black • P2: Kilmore Blue vs Breaffy Bye: Erne Eagles Group B (P3–P4) • P3: Kilmore White vs Elphin • P4: Kevins vs Leighlinbridge Bye: Rapparees Yellow ⏰ Round 3 — 12:00 Group A (P1–P2) • P1: Kilmeena vs Erne Eagles • P2: Rapparees Black vs Breaffy Bye: Kilmore Blue Group B (P3–P4) • P3: Kilmore White vs Rapparees Yellow • P4: Elphin vs Leighlinbridge Bye: Kevins ⏰ Round 4 — 13:00 Group A (P1–P2) • P1: Kilmeena vs Breaffy • P2: Erne Eagles vs Kilmore Blue Bye: Rapparees Black Group B (P3–P4) • P3: Kilmore White vs Leighlinbridge • P4: Rapparees Yellow vs Kevins Bye: Elphin ⏰ Round 5 — 14:00 Group A (P1–P2) • P1: Kilmeena vs Kilmore Blue • P2: Erne Eagles vs Rapparees Black Bye: Breaffy Group B (P3–P4) • P3: Elphin vs Kevins • P4: Rapparees Yellow vs Leighlinbridge Bye: Kilmore White 🏁 Finals — 16:00 • Connacht Cup Final: 1st A vs 1st B • Plate Final: 2nd A vs 2nd B • Shield Final: 3rd A vs 3rd B
Connacht Cup 2025 – A Celebration of Rounders in the Heart of Ireland
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