GAA Rounders - Meet the Referees - Mixed All-Ireland Finals

Our last day of Finals for 2026 will be Sunday 13 September and Mallow GAA will host our Mixed deciders. As the only GAA code played at adult level by Mixed teams, this will be a showcase for our sport and a day not to be missed. Starting at 11am with our Junior Final, Intermediate teams will take to the pitch at 1pm and our Senior clash will take place at 3.30pm, closing out three amazing weekends of All-Ireland Finals.

Junior Mixed

Contested by two Connacht clubs – Galway City Rapparees and Roscommon’s Kilmore – our Junior Mixed final will be refereed by GAA Rounders National Secretary, Shirley Lennon.

Shirley Lennon

Refereeing since 2024, Shirley has taken on Senior reffing duties this year but really enjoys travelling the country to cover games at whatever level is being played. With one of the highest mileage counts of any Referee this season, Shirley has reffed matches in 11 different counties, and three provinces, since April. Cork will complete the full set of provinces!

This will be Shirley’s first time to referee an All-Ireland final, an honour she is delighted to have been given, and she will bring her knowledge of the game, her love of the sport and her sense of humour to the day!

Fun Fact: Shirley played in the first ever GAA Rounders Junior Mixed All-Ireland final in 2021, so this is a competition very close to her heart!

Intermediate Mixed

Featuring in their third All-Ireland final of the season, Galway City Rapparees will take on Laois side Emo in this eagerly anticipated game and the man behind Home Base will be Myshall’s PJ Lalor.

PJ Lalor

Refereeing since 2025, PJ quickly proved that his calm manner, knowledge of the rules and ability to control a game makes him a great Referee. Stepping up to cover Senior games this year, he has been a regular at fixtures of all grades all over south Leinster and the midlands and is delighted to be appointed to his first All-Ireland final.

Fun Fact: PJ will feature in two All-Ireland finals this year – as well as refereeing the Intermediate Mixed game, he will captain, and play with, the Myshall Men’s team in their Junior final against Gusserane on 6 September.

Senior Mixed

Although the teams who will contest this game have yet to be decided – Senior Semi-finals will take place on Sunday 23 August and the final will be between Breaffy/Carrickmacross Emmets and Cúchulainn/Glynn Barntown – the Referee has been chosen and will be none other than GAA Rounders Vice President Michael Dowling.

Michael Dowling

Within our community, nobody knows our game better, has dedicated more time to the organisation, both at club level and nationally, or loves our sport more than Michael and his years of experience make him an excellent choice to referee this, our final Final of 2026.

Fun Fact: Although involved with GAA Rounders for more years than most of us can remember, this is Michael’s first time to referee a Senior All-Ireland Final. We’re very glad we got the chance to rectify that this year.

And there you have it, all nine All-Ireland Finals Referees revealed. With a blend of experience and enthusiasm, long-time veterans and first-time appointees, the two things all our Referees have in common are a love of our game and a great knowledge of our rules! We wish them all the very best and hope they enjoy their games.