Teams of the Year

A new addition to our All-Stars night in 2025, Teams of the Year are three awards designed to showcase and recognise teams from clubs across the country who stood out to their peers. The point was to let all clubs nationwide cast a vote for the teams they met during their Championship journey that represented great play, excellent sportsmanship, warm hospitality, good craic and helpful support. Votes from your fellow players and teams are special and these awards meant a lot to last year’s winners – Kilmore (Junior); Emo (Intermediate) and Glynn Barntown (Senior).

 Senior Nominees

• Galway City Rapparees (Galway)
• Erne Eagles (Cavan)
• Limekiln (Dublin)

Senior Team of the Year – Limekiln (Dublin)

Our Senior Women’s All-Ireland Champions 2026, Limekiln from Dublin epitomises resilience and strength of character. From barely having enough players to form a team in March when their Championship entry went in with more hope than confidence, to lifting the CJ Haughey Cup on the last Sunday in August, these ladies fought all year to show just what they’re made of. Led by Captain Emma Hudson and made up of a mixture of players who have represented The Kiln all their lives as well as transfers from other clubs in Dublin, Wexford and Cavan over the years, they all worked together, seamlessly when it mattered, to show how a team can achieve amazing things when they’re determined and focused. Credit is also due to Chris Hughes and Eddie Healy as well as everyone else in Limekiln who supported the team. With Senior Men and Mixed teams playing in the Championship this year, Limekiln are, and have always been, one of our most supportive clubs when it comes to running competitions. Their home, Tymon Park, has been home to so many of our league matches, our Junior Quarter-finals, our Junior Women’s Blitz Day and, most importantly this year, it was Limekiln who saved the day when our InterPros had to be moved at insanely short notice! It’s that sort of commitment and willingness to help that really creates the level of goodwill that exists around Limekiln. While this award is for Team of the Year, it’s impossible to underestimate how their overall contribution at all levels has assisted the Championship in this, and many other, years.

 Intermediate Nominees

• Emo (Laois)
• Galway City Rapparees (Galway)
• Kilmore (Roscommon)

Intermediate Team of the Year – Kilmore (Roscommon)

Kilmore’s only Intermediate team is their men’s team who were promoted to the grade for the 2026 season, so this award is quite the honour for their first year playing at this level. What’s more, they were promoted as beaten finalists in the Junior Men’s 2025 All-Ireland final but absolutely hit the ground running and embraced their promotion with excellent performances all season. Qualifying out of the Intermediate Men’s group to semi-finals was a huge achievement and one that was well deserved but the experience of their opponents, eventual All-Ireland winners St. Clare’s of Cavan was just too strong for Kilmore that day and they bowed out of the Championship with their heads high after a super first Intermediate campaign. Undoubtedly talented and clearly hard-working these Roscommon lads are also great fun, on and off the pitch, and teams enjoyed playing them for their excellent sportsmanship and ability to regroup and get back on track even when games weren’t going their way. With their Mixed team set to join them in Intermediate in 2027, the future is bright for this Roscommon club and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve as their three teams progress through our Championships.

Junior Nominees

• Kilmore (Roscommon)
• Leighlinbridge (Carlow)
• Naomh Pól (Waterford)

Junior Team of the Year Winners – Kilmore (Roscommon)

And once again the Boys and Girls in Blue win a Team of the Year award! Not only have they won the 2026 Intermediate Team of the Year, but this is also their second year running to win the Junior Team of the Year award. And judging from the comments that accompanied the votes they received from other Junior teams, they are as well liked around the country as they are talented. Having won the Junior All-Ireland Mixed final last month, and received six Junior All Star nominations, the parish must be extremely proud of what they have achieved…but now they add two Teams of the Year awards to the trophy cabinet as well. A club that has only been playing competitively since 2024, the development in this team’s skills has been evident to anyone watching their journey. It’s evident they train hard, want to learn and spend time honing their skills. It’s also obvious how much they love the sport and how well they like each other. While their Mixed team had the more successful year in terms of silverware, Kilmore’s Junior Women’s team also had a great 2026 Championship season, reaching the semi-final stages and only losing out to eventual winners, St. Kieran’s of Limerick, and this award is as much for them as the Mixed team. As All-Ireland winners, the Mixed team will be promoted to Intermediate for next year so all the pressure will be on their Junior Women’s team to bring home a hattrick of Junior Team of the Year awards in 2027!

Provincial Clubs of the Year

Another new award for 2025, this award is based on points allocated to each club for contributions to GAA Rounders in categories such as teams fielded, number of members, underage competitions entered, Referees and National Committee members, social media presence

Connacht Club of the Year Nominees

• Athenry (Galway)
• Galway City Rapparees (Galway)
• Michael Glavey’s (Roscommon)

Connacht Club of the Year Winners – Galway City Rapparees (Galway)

For the second consecutive year, the club fielding the largest number of teams in Connacht has claimed the provincial title. With five teams competing in the 2026 Championship across three grades, it was a landmark summer for Galway City Rapparees.

Demonstrating impressive consistency throughout the season, all five teams progressed to the semi-finals in their respective categories: Junior Men, Junior Mixed, Intermediate Women, Intermediate Mixed, and Senior Men. The Junior Mixed and both Intermediate teams advanced to All-Ireland finals, with both Intermediate sides ultimately securing All-Ireland titles. Adding to their on-field achievements, the club earned 17 All-Star nominations across Junior, Intermediate, and Senior grades, as well as nominations for Senior and Intermediate Team of the Year—a remarkable trajectory for a club established in 2021.

While on-field success forms a key part of the Provincial Club of the Year criteria, Galway City Rapparees’ contribution to GAA Rounders extends well beyond competition. Off the pitch, members actively support the broader administration of the sport, including two active Referees, two Ard Chomhairle members, two Juvenile Committee members, and a vibrant Go Games initiative. The club also stepped up to host the Intermediate All-Ireland semi-finals in August and consistently promotes the game across local radio, print, and digital channels.

With three teams set to compete in the Senior grade in 2027, Galway City Rapparees continue to establish a strong foundation for the future.

Leinster Club of the Year Nominees

• Cúchulainn (Carlow)
• Emo (Laois)
• Limekiln (Dublin)
• Myshall (Carlow)
• The Heath (Laois)

Leinster Club of the Year Winners – Emo (Laois)

The province with the largest number of Rounders clubs gets five nominees for Club of the Year and it is from this group of amazing Rounders clubs that Emo has emerged the Leinster Club of the Year. As one of the country’s strongest underage Rounders clubs, the Laois side has been training and developing young Rounders players for years and their contribution to juvenile Rounders has been nothing short of phenomenal. With teams entered in most underage competitions most years, the red and white taking home silverware is a familiar sight at the end of most juvenile days! Their adult teams this year – three in Intermediate and one in Junior Mixed – were similarly impressive with great performances all year leading to semi-final appearances for the Intermediate Mixed and Men’s teams. While their Men narrowly lost out on a final place to St. Senan’s, the Mixed team went all the way to the Final showing great tenacity and skill to give Galway City Rapparees a great final which was tense and exciting for those in the stands, although maybe less so for those on the pitch. With three All Star nominees, members on the Juvenile Committee, an active Referee and regular social media updates on their teams’ performances, the Laois side are deserving winners of the Leinster Club of the Year award.

Munster Club of the Year Nominees

• Na Piarsaigh (Limerick)
• St. Kieran’s (Limerick)
• St. Senan’s (Limerick)

Munster Club of the Year Winners – St. Senan’s (Limerick)

As in Connacht, the Munster Club of the Year is staying with the same winners as in 2025, Foynes club St. Senan’s. Fresh from winning both Junior Men and Junior Mixed in 2025, those two teams moved up to our Intermediate Championship. In addition, they brought in a brand-new Junior Women’s team who took the competition by storm, losing no games until the All-Ireland final where they were defeated by fellow Limerick side St. Kieran’s. While the Intermediate Mixed team had a good first year at their new grade, they didn’t quite make it to knock-out games but the Men’s team did, defeating Emo in their semi-final and setting themselves up for an All-Ireland final in Offaly against St. Clare’s. While the result didn’t go their way on the day, their performance was strong and sporting and we have no doubt they’ll be back stronger and better for 2027. With all three teams managed by Club Secretary Ian Sheehy his commitment to the club is exemplary and his hard work, along with that of all the players and Club Officers, is the reason for this award two years running.

Ulster Club of the Year Nominees

• Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan)
• Erne Eagles (Cavan)
• St. Clare’s (Cavan)

Ulster Club of the Year Winners – Erne Eagles (Cavan)

And the third province where last year’s winners retain their title is Ulster with reigning Senior Men’s All-Ireland Champions club Erne Eagles taking the honours again for 2026. Another club with both underage and adult representation, Erne Eagles have shown this year how players can successfully transition from playing at juvenile level to adult teams with the right level of support and training.

While Eagles’ Senior Men took home silverware this year, and had some campaign all year where they showed their skill and mastery of our game, their Senior Women proved in their semi-final against Breaffy that they can really play their best when their backs are to the wall. On a miserable, wet day in Monaghan they pulled together and played for each other, making Breaffy fight for their win. At underage level, their U15s were so exciting to watch in the National Féile while their Go Games blitzes brought children from far and wide to experience the fun of playing our game in a non-competitive environment. Again, a club who contributes on a national stage with members on the Juvenile Committee, the CCC, the Hearings Committee and with several active Referees, Erne Eagles are truly deserving winners of the Ulster Club of the Year 2026 title.

Communications Award

And our final award of this evening, and the last one to be revealed before our sold out Black Tie All Stars event on 7 November in the Osprey Hotel, Naas is our Communications Award which, very deservedly, goes to Carrickmacross Emmets in Monaghan. Anyone following Carrick’s social media channels knows that their content is second to none with regular and varied videos and posts. The brainchild of Junior Women’s team Back Catcher Emma Fay, Carrick’s Communications are original, well put together, entertaining and fun to watch – comhghairdeas Emma, maith thú!

And that’s all the awards we’re announcing before All Stars night on 7 November. Congratulations to all clubs nominated for an award. While we know everyone would like to win, to be nominated is an honour in itself – either to be chosen by your peers as a stand-out team for whatever reason or to come in the top three in terms of points earned for your club’s overall contribution to Rounders is very special and we hope that you all rightly feel very proud of your clubs, your players and your volunteers who made it happen. GAA Rounders couldn’t be the amazing community, the growing sport and the fantastic success story it is without every one of you and you all deserve a massive bualadh bos for all you do.

Our All-Stars event is now completely sold out and we cannot wait to welcome you all to the Osprey Hotel, Naas on 7 November for what is set to be a fantastic night of celebrations and craic!