Tag Archive for: Championship Preview

GAA Rounders Championship Preview: All the Key Games This Sunday (12 July 2026)

Sunday 12 July 2026

We’ve done it folks….we’ve reached our final Sunday of Junior league games for 2026! From Slaughtneil in Derry to Waterford City, from Castletown in Wexford to Coolcappagh in Limerick and almost everywhere in between, we’ve played Junior Women’s, Men’s and Mixed games.

We’ve played in sun, rain and hail, we’ve played during the day and into the evening, weekends and weekdays and we’ve had the best time. Brand new teams, established squads, Referees taking on epic journeys, hundreds of cups of tea made and a thousand sandwiches eaten…this is GAA Rounders Championship Sunday stuff and the Junior league is where it’s at its busiest.

While the end of the league is the beginning of the off-season for some clubs, for the qualifiers, the hard work is just beginning.

Next week, we’ll have all the information on the Junior quarter-final pairings but let’s not forget that Intermediate and Senior clubs still have another month to complete their league games. But that’s all ahead of us – for now, let’s dive right in and see who’s playing this Sunday.

Senior Championship

Senior action takes place in Dublin and Laois with six of our top teams braving the summer heat to try to take the points home.

The Heath, Laois

The Heath will host Cúchulainn for the day and start proceedings with a Senior Women’s game at 11.30am. Still chasing their first victory of the year, the Laois women gave Erne Eagles a good competitive game last Sunday and will be hoping for more of the same at home. Cúchulainn Ladies come into this weekend after facing Carrickmacross last week. Still a bit early to predict semi-final qualifiers but Cúchulainn know they need to secure wins from their last two games to put themselves in the best position to get to knockouts.

Next up will be Cúchulainn’s Mixed team taking on Mayo side Kilmeena. Both are sitting at the bottom of the table and, while qualification is still possible both teams will be heading into this game aiming for a win in this and their final league games of the season on 2 August. Cúchulainn’s win last Sunday over Carrickmacross Emmets will give them confidence. Kilmeena also beat the Monaghan side but it’s six weeks since that win – is it time to get another victory on the board?

Rounding off the day in Portlaoise will be the Senior Men’s meeting of Cúchulainn and Galway City Rapparees. Cúchulainn will fancy their chances of winning both of their final two league games while Rapparees know that they need to win this week as their final game against “yet to lose this season” Erne Eagles will be their toughest this year so far. Expect neither side to give an inch and say a prayer for the Referee!

Predictions

Senior Women: Cúchulainn
Senior Mixed: Cúchulainn
Senior Men: Galway City Rapparees

Referee: National Secretary Shirley Lennon

Tymon Park, Dublin

In Dublin’s Tymon Park, Wexford’s Raheen and Monaghan’s Carrickmacross Emmets will meet for Senior Men’s and Women’s games from 1pm.

Neither Raheen team has yet secured a win this year and, while Carrickmacross have had good days and bad days this season, their form would suggest that they will take both games without much trouble.

Predictions

Carrickmacross Emmets to win both

Referee: Glynn Barntown’s Sarah McGuinness

Intermediate Championship

On to Intermediate action, with key fixtures in Laois and Monaghan.

Emo, Laois

Also in Laois, Emo host Women’s, Men’s and Mixed matches when Glynn Barntown and St. Senan’s come to visit for a trio of games. Starting the day will be Men when Limerick side St. Senan’s come on a mission, knowing they must win or their Intermediate Men’s challenge for 2026 is over. A win will see them top the group, while a loss will see them finish bottom, or almost. Neither of these two teams can ever be written off and both will fight to the end, so this is guaranteed to be a cracking game.

Wexford side Glynn Barntown have had a slow season and are still seeking a win for either Intermediate team. Emo’s Women need to win to keep their hopes of qualifying alive. In Mixed, Emo will also want to win on Sunday to keep themselves well placed on the table going into their final game on 2 August.

Predictions

Men: St. Senan’s
Mixed: Emo
Women: Emo

Referee: The Heath’s Philip Keane

Inniskeen Grattans v Dublin Metropolitans

Also in Intermediate Women, Inniskeen Grattans welcome Dublin Metropolitans for both sides’ final league game of the year. Both teams moved to Intermediate in 2026 and both have acquitted themselves well, but this will be the end of the road for Mets for now. Inniskeen, however, can still qualify but will need to win convincingly on Sunday to keep that dream alive. With Emo and Castletown both expected to win, qualification could ultimately be decided on run difference.

Prediction

Inniskeen Grattans

Referee: Erne Eagles’ Emma Perrin

Junior Championship

The final day of the Junior League promises drama across four counties, with quarter-final places still to be decided.

Myshall, Carlow

Myshall will host Dublin and Waterford sides in Men’s and Mixed clashes. First up at 12pm will be Na Gaeil Nua in, for them, a must-win game. For a new side, Na Gaeil Nua have been impressive all year. They have already secured qualification, at worst in fourth place, thanks to their head-to-head win over Carrick. A victory this weekend could lift them as high as third.

A Myshall win will put them top of the table (as they beat both Inniskeen and Gusserane), which will give them a better draw into the quarter-finals. As three from this group will progress it’s still all to play for. In the same group, at 1pm, Gusserane host Inniskeen Grattans and, whoever wins here will also be guaranteed to qualify, so again, another high-stakes match!

At 2pm in Myshall, Naomh Pól arrive in Carlow for even more high-stakes Rounders. Myshall have already qualified thanks to their superior run rate. If Naomh Pól beat Myshall, the final qualification order will come down to run rate between Naomh Pól and Emo. Some achievement for a club only formed at the end of 2025!

Predictions

Junior Men: Myshall & Gusserane
Junior Mixed: Another can’t-predict nail-biter, but for experience we’ll give it to Myshall

Referees: Myshall – Glynn Barntown’s Mary Roche
Gusserane – Glynn Barntown’s Emma Reddy

Na Piarsaigh, Limerick

Our final Limerick games of 2026 will take place in Na Piarsaigh’s new pitch from 1pm when Galway side Athenry travel to take on the hosts in Junior Women and Mixed. With the two Women’s group qualifiers decided, this game is being played for pride! In Mixed, if Athenry win, both teams will be identically matched on points, so there really is all to play for!

Qualification Watch

  • If Na Piarsaigh win, they will finish second and qualify
  • If Athenry win, depending on the number of runs they score, they could finish second

Predictions

Junior Women: Na Piarsaigh
Junior Mixed: Na Piarsaigh

Referee: Breaffy’s Mark Jennings

Clonguish v Drumhowan

Our final game of the day will be in Longford when Clonguish welcome Monaghan’s Drumhowan. Clonguish have been valiant all season with injuries and reduced player numbers, but they have shown up when they can and they’ve played some great games.

With additional numbers and continued hard work and training, we know these ladies can pull it together for 2027. Drumhowan have had a mixed year as well but will be hoping to end it on a high. This result will have no bearing on the table, but we hope both teams have an enjoyable game and the always excellent Clonguish post-match hospitality will be highly anticipated.

Prediction

Drumhowan

Referee: Erne Eagles’ Emma Perrin

League Table Reminder

Once a team has conceded three matches, they are eliminated from the championship

Clubs should also be reminded that run rate calculations differ depending on whether a walkover result affects a side with which you are on level points

So there we have it, the run-down on all 15 games taking place on Sunday. We’ll have a break for the following two Sundays – All-Ireland Hurling and Football Final Days – but Junior Quarter-finals will take place on Saturday 25 July in Tymon Park, Dublin, and league action will resume for Intermediate and Senior teams on 2 August.

So make the most of this Sunday, get out and support our players if you can.

Thank You

As always, thank you to the players, the Referees, the managers and the Club Secretaries – let’s continue to work together to make sure the remaining weeks of our 2026 season are competitive, fun, respectful and a credit to our brilliant sport!

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Games 5th July: GAA Rounders Championship Preview

July already! We’re into our fourth month of Rounders Championship fixtures for 2026 and this is Week 11 of our season

18 matches will take place this Sunday in six counties across three provinces and many of them promise to be crackers with quarter-final and semi-final places still up for grabs. Predictions have never been easy but this week, for some games, they’re almost impossible! Let’s preview the action nationwide.

Over half of Sunday’s action will take place in Ulster with six games in Monaghan and four in Cavan – with Senior, Intermediate and Junior teams all taking part.

Kicking off the day’s action at 10.30am, the Senior Women of The Heath will travel north to Mullahoran to take on Erne Eagles.

This is Eagles’ final league match while The Heath still have three more games after Sunday. Eagles have had a mixed season with two wins, two losses and two draws but The Heath are still after their first win of the year. With the top four teams in the group making it to semi-finals on 16 August, there’s still all to play for.

Next up in Mullahoran will be Erne Eagles’ Intermediate Mixed team who will take on another Cavan team – St. Clare’s. This will be St. Clare’s final league game and a win will leave them on the top of the table with 18 points. A win in this game, and in their final game against Galway Rapparees in August, will also give Eagles 18 points to top the table. Favourites Galway Rapparees have only played once this year so it’s difficult yet to predict who will qualify from this group.

The Intermediate Mixed game over, St. Clare’s men will be straight back onto the pitch to play Roscommon’s Kilmore, newly promoted to Intermediate in 2026 and proving they deserve their place in the higher grade with some excellent performances all year against more established teams. This is their final league game and they’ll be hoping to make it count. St. Clare’s will be looking to get to semi-finals and go one step further this year and make it to the final.

The final match of a long, brilliant day of Rounders in Mullahoran will be the Junior Women’s clash between Kilmore and Nobber. Kilmore have taken no prisoners all year and are well established on the top of the table. For a brand-new side in their first year in the Championship, Nobber have proved that hard work, determination, good leadership and a positive attitude can move mountains. Currently lying fourth in the table, we honestly expect them to give Kilmore a great game and make them work for their win!

Predictions: Senior Women – Erne Eagles; Intermediate Mixed – St. Clare’s; Intermediate Men – honestly can’t predict this one, on the day either team could just inch this…but possibly the experience of St. Clare’s should just push them through; Junior Women – Kilmore

Referee: National Secretary Shirley Lennon is setting up camp in Mullahoran for the day!

In the next county, Carrickmacross will have two Rounders venues on the go all day. Senior action will take place in Platinum Tanks Park when Carlow side Cúchulainn travel north to play three games in Monaghan.

At 12pm both sides’ Men’s teams will start the day’s proceedings. With both teams having played four times this season, only one point separates them and a win for Cúchulainn would see them edging up into the top half of the table. Fresh from a comprehensive defeat of Glynn Barntown three weeks ago, confidence should be high for the Carlow men.

Next up will be the Mixed teams. Cúchulainn have yet to win a Mixed game this year while Carrickmacross, after a slow start, have been building momentum. With no other Senior Mixed games taking place this weekend, a win for Carrickmacross would have them sitting nicely on the top half of the table, with only one game left to play before semi-finals.

The day will close with the Women’s teams. Again, just one point separates them on the table with four games played each. Carrickmacross will be hoping that home advantage will give them the edge and that a win will move them to within a point of Limekiln and fourth in the table with a shot at semi-finals in August.

Predictions: Men & Mixed – Carrickmacross Emmets; Women – Cúchulainn

Referee: GAA Rounders Vice President Michael Dowling will take charge of all three games.

Around the corner in the grounds of Inver College, three exciting Junior matches will take place from 11am.

Hosts Carrickmacross Emmets will take on their near neighbours Inniskeen Grattans and Belfast side Wolfe Tones in what will be all three clubs’ final league matches in Junior Mixed Group B. The results of these games will give a fairly clear picture of who will be moving on to quarter-finals on 25 July. With Kilmore likely to top the group, Carrickmacross will want to win both games to be secure of one of the three places on offer. If Carrick lose to Wolfe Tones but beat Inniskeen, we could have three teams on 26 points, so it will come down to run rate to decide who will qualify – exciting times ahead in Inver College on Sunday!

Later in the afternoon, the Junior Women of Drumhowan and Skryne will play at 3pm. This will be Skryne’s last game of the league and Drumhowan’s penultimate outing. Kilmore have already secured top spot in the group thanks to their head-to-head victory over Skryne, so first place is settled. However, there is still plenty to play for with Skryne and Carrickmacross battling for second place. A Skryne win would strengthen their position, while a Drumhowan victory would make the final standings even more interesting. Another exciting Sunday evening is in store!

Predictions: Inniskeen Grattans, Carrickmacross Emmets and Skryne

Referee: Limekiln’s Amanda Hoxha will take charge of all three games.

More Senior games take place in Athlone from 1pm when on-a-roll Breaffy take on Raheen in both Men’s and Women’s. With the form that Breaffy have been showing all year, it’s hard to believe that anyone will give them much trouble and they’re likely to continue their winning ways on Sunday. For anyone spectating, it would be great to see Raheen giving them two great matches and making those wins just a bit harder to achieve!

Predictions: Breaffy to win both

Referee: Michael Glavey’s Seán Bailey will take charge in Athlone.

From Athlone we move west to Galway where Galway City Rapparees will take on Roscommon and Mayo in Junior Men and Mixed.

At 1pm Elphin’s Men will challenge the Rapparees, who remain unbeaten this year and have already secured top spot in the group thanks to their head-to-head victory over Na Piarsaigh. That result has already booked their place in the semi-finals, so Sunday’s game is all about maintaining their unbeaten record. With several squad players expected to feature, Rapparees will still be confident of finishing the league campaign with another win, but Elphin may feel this is a game they can take. It should be a very entertaining match.

Following this, at 3pm, Garrymore take on Rapparees’ Mixed team. Again, Rapparees are unbeaten this year and, unless all the stars majorly unalign this weekend, they look set to top the group and progress to the quarter-finals as winners of Junior Mixed Group A. Garrymore, meanwhile, need to win by a good few runs to move ahead on run rate and keep their hopes of qualification alive, adding another layer of intrigue to what should be an excellent contest.

Predictions: Galway City Rapparees to win both

Referee: Galway City Rapparees’ Jay Hall will take charge in Galway.

Finally, back to Leinster for four Junior matches in Carlow and Laois. In Myshall, the home side will take on Leighlinbridge in Mixed and Wexford team Gusserane in Men and Women.

The Men’s clash should be one of the games of the day with both sides well matched. Gusserane are unbeaten and Myshall only narrowly lost to Carrickmacross. With this being the penultimate game for both teams, the winner here will be well placed to qualify from the group to semi-finals next month.

Gusserane’s Women started the year strong but have struggled with injury and player availability. Myshall have only lost to table toppers Leighlinbridge and look strong to finish in second place.

Finally, those Leighlinbridge table toppers who are also flying high in the Mixed group will take on the hosts and this should be another cracking game. This is Leighlinbridge’s final game while Myshall still have to play Emo and while two wins for them will see them top the group, less than that will see run rate coming into play if Emo and Naomh Pól win their remaining games.

Predictions: Mixed – Myshall; Men – Gusserane; Women – Myshall

Referee: Our Myshall Referee will be Glynn Barntown’s Sarah McGuinness

And last, but certainly not least, will be the clash between Emo and Oulart The Ballagh at 11am in Emo. Only having lost to Myshall and Leighlinbridge, Emo’s newly formed Junior Mixed team are playing really well this year. For a new team in this year’s Championship, Oulart The Ballagh have also done themselves very proud with good displays against more established teams.

Prediction: Emo

That’s some line-up of impressive and must-win games for a summer Sunday and we’d be encouraging anyone in the vicinity of any of those venues to head out and watch some games and support our players. By Sunday evening, some of our quarter and semi-finalists will be revealed and we can start looking forward to knockout games and analysing who’ll be playing who.

Finally, just a reminder: GAA Rounders has always prided itself on being a welcoming, family-friendly sport built on respect, and we’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the following:

  • Respect Referees: Match officials are essential to our game and deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. Their decisions must be accepted without abuse or intimidation.
  • Respect your Opponents: Personal insults, foul language, threatening behaviour or attempts to provoke players or mentors have no place in GAA Rounders.
  • Lead by Example: Managers, coaches and team officials set the standard for their players and supporters and are expected to ensure their sidelines remain respectful throughout every match.
  • Know the consequences: Abusive or intimidating behaviour towards referees, players or officials is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the GAA Rounders Constitution. Clubs are asked to ensure that everyone representing them understands this.

Let’s all work together to ensure that the remainder of the 2026 season is remembered for the quality of the competition and the respect shown by everyone involved.

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