Tag Archive for: GAA Rounders 2026

Limekiln v Galway Rapparees

GAA Rounders Fixtures & Preview: All Games This Sunday (26 April 2026)

Preview – 26 April 2026

Opening weekend threw up a few surprises, but Weekend 2 promises to be an even more thrilling ride with four of our Senior clubs and four Intermediate clubs in action across two locations.

Senior Women, Mixed & Men – Breaffy vs Carrickmacross Emmets

Ballyheane, Castlebar

Action starts at 12:00 PM in Mayo, where three reigning All-Ireland Champion teams face off in what could be the definitive triple-header of the early season.

First up, Breaffy’s Women host Carrickmacross Emmets. Newly promoted following a dominant 2025 Intermediate season, Carrickmacross will have their work cut out facing the four-in-a-row All-Ireland winners, but the Monaghan ladies are never one to shy from a challenge. This tight squad has big hitters and brilliant fielders who are well able to play Rounders at the highest level.

While Breaffy have three current All-Stars in their squad, they are missing 3rd Base star and GAA Rounders President Paula Doherty, who isn’t playing this year. Their pitcher and catcher duo of Michelle Hopkins and Katie Groonell will be hard to beat, but Carrick’s core team has been working together since winning the Junior Women’s title in 2023 and will put up quite the fight.

At 1.30pm it’s the turn of both clubs’ Mixed teams to take to the pitch. Two-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Breaffy will be keen to get their season off to a winning start and, with home advantage, they will aim to get ahead quickly. Carrickmacross will want to start strong and contain the Mayo side by putting their own stamp on the game and not allowing Breaffy to dominate early. With multiple All-Stars and All-Ireland winners on both squads, this has the makings of the match of the day.

The final game of the day in the west is the clash of both sides’ Men’s teams. Breaffy reached the 2025 semi-finals and will be looking to go one better this year by reaching the All-Ireland Final. Carrickmacross are the current champions and will be hoping to retain their crown in 2026. Expect tight pitching, batting and fielding, with no quarter given by either side.

Colm Jordan

Colm Jordan

Stars like outfielder Colm Jordan and short stop Mark Jennings for Breaffy will be well matched against their Carrickmacross counterparts Oran Kiernan, Euan Matthews, Declan Finnegan and Paddy Bermingham. While the result could go either way, the road there will be anything but boring.

Referee: Dublin Metropolitans’ Jack Cheyne will referee all three games.
Predictions: Women – Breaffy; Mixed – Breaffy; Men – Carrickmacross Emmets

Senior Men, Mixed & Women – Limekiln vs Glynn Barntown

Tymon Park

Limekiln Rounders host a massive six-match schedule in Tymon Park, featuring three Senior and three Intermediate games.

In Senior, Limekiln will play Wexford’s Glynn Barntown in all three codes, starting at 1pm with Senior Men. Fresh from their impressive first match of the season last Sunday in Galway, Limekiln will be aiming to keep that momentum going and go one step better with a win over their old rivals. Limekiln’s new signing, Peter Salmon, had an outstanding match against Rapparees and, if he can continue that dominance at 1st Base, and 2025 All-Star Ciarán Weldon can keep up his superb batting record from last Sunday, the Dublin side will be hard to beat.

Eddie Healy with a phenomenal catch - Limekiln instagram

Eddie Healy with a phenomenal catch – Limekiln instagram

However, Glynn Barntown’s men can never be underestimated and, if Paul Cooper and Paul Delaney play at their best, as well as the excellent Garry Jordan at backcatcher having a good day, we could be in for a very exciting match.

Following their comprehensive win over Kilmeena last Sunday, Limekiln’s Mixed team will be full of confidence when they take on Glynn Barntown and, with the Dublin side’s newly boosted squad of transferred players from St. Clare’s, Emo and Kevin’s, they will have to be favourites to win. We can hopefully look forward to seeing some more contenders for Catch of the Year from Eddie Healy, but he will face strong competition from teammates Serena Costello and Colette McCaul, as well as Glynn Barntown’s trademark excellent outfield catches.

Last match of the day on Tymon Park’s Senior pitch is the clash of Limekiln and Glynn Barntown’s Senior Women, and this will be a game worth waiting for. Glynn Barntown were the 2025 finalists and will be determined to go one better this year, while Limekiln are returning to Senior ranks in 2026 and looking to make an immediate impact.

Limekiln’s win over The Heath will give them confidence and the signs are that they are settling quickly at this level. Glynn Barntown, though, have experience at the top grade and will be keen to put last season’s final disappointment behind them. With some of their Intermediate players newly promoted to Senior, the added depth and fresh energy could be a big help as they aim to start the 2026 season on a positive note.

Referee: Emo’s Michael Slevin will be in charge for all three games.
Predictions: Women – Limekiln; Mixed – Limekiln; Men – Limekiln

Intermediate Women & Mixed – Tymon Park

Dublin Metropolitans vs Glynn Barntown; Emo vs Inniskeen

Tymon Park will also host three Intermediate matches on their second pitch, with two Women’s games and a Mixed match all up for decision.

First up is Dublin Metropolitans ladies vs Glynn Barntown’s ladies. Mets will be keen to bounce back from last Sunday’s defeat to Castletown Liam Mellows and will be hoping that shortstop Katie Flynn and Jessica Maddock on 2nd Base will continue their great form from last week, but Glynn Barntown’s Intermediate ladies can never be underestimated and have several years’ experience at this grade which will stand to them.

With no Junior Women’s team this year, Glynn Barntown’s Intermediate squad has been boosted with the introduction of many of last year’s Junior players, and a bigger squad means more competition for places and hungrier players.

The second Intermediate match will be the same teams playing Mixed. With the ladies possibly playing their second match of the day, the pressure will be on the fresh legs of the male players to impress and really show how much they want to start their 2026 campaigns by winning. Newly promoted to Intermediate this year, Dublin Mets will be eager to impress and show that they belong in this grade, but Glynn Barntown will equally be keen to prove their credentials as a long-time Intermediate team.

The final Intermediate match will be back to Women’s and will see Laois’ Emo taking on newly promoted, and 2025 Junior Women’s champions, Inniskeen of Monaghan. Emo struggled in Intermediate last year, their first year in the grade following their Junior All-Ireland win in 2024, but have they managed to get it together for a more successful season this year? Will Inniskeen suffer a similar fate in 2026, with the jump from Junior to Intermediate being a difficult one to navigate?

Pitching from Emo’s Claire Suda and Inniskeen’s Julianne Smith will be key, while Inniskeen’s skilled fielders like Carol McKeown and Layla McArdle will really need to shine if they are to stop Emo from dominating at bat.

Referee: Myshall’s PJ Lalor will take charge of all three Intermediate matches.
Predictions: Intermediate Women – Glynn Barntown and Inniskeen; Intermediate Mixed – Dublin Metropolitans
Aidan Carr - Kilmore

GAA Rounders Preview 19 April 2026: Senior and Intermediate Championship Opener

GAA Rounders Championship Preview

GAA Rounders Preview: 19 April 2026

The wait is nearly over as the 2026 All-Ireland Championship season gets underway with Senior and Intermediate action across Ballon, Galway, Wexford and Kilmore

The date we have all been waiting for is nearly here and the familiar question of “what will we do on Sunday?” won’t be an issue for the next 22 weeks, because the GAA Rounders All-Ireland Championship season is back!

Last season, the Friday Preview & Predictions article became a weekly talking point, so it returns for 2026. There is a new writer this year, remaining anonymous for what can only be described as “personal safety” reasons, along with a slightly different style of analysis and fewer statistics. The goal, however, remains exactly the same: to start conversations, spark debate and, ideally, give readers every chance to prove the previewer wrong.

Senior Championship Preview

Ballon and Galway host the opening Senior fixtures of the 2026 season, with heavyweight clashes, returning stars and one major milestone for Galway City Rapparees

Ballon hosts a blockbuster opening day

This Sunday, 19 April, the honour of pitching the first ball of the 2026 Senior season will go to either Irene Scanlon of Cavan’s Erne Eagles or Cúchulainn of Carlow’s as yet unrevealed pitcher when their women’s championship clash gets underway in Ballon at 12pm.

Both clubs reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Championship, so there is plenty on the line from the outset. With multiple All-Star winners and nominees from 2025 and previous seasons taking to the pitch for both teams, this promises to be an excellent curtain-raiser. The blend of youth and experience across both squads should produce skilful batting, composed fielding and no shortage of big moments.

At 1.30pm, the focus shifts to the Senior Mixed contest. As 2025 All-Ireland runners-up, Erne Eagles will be determined to show that they remain genuine title contenders in 2026. Cúchulainn, meanwhile, will be equally eager to prove that they can go one step further this year and reach the final themselves. Erne Eagles’ Senior Mixed panel has already thrown up a few surprises, so there will be keen interest in the side that eventually takes the field.

The final game in Ballon at 3pm sees the Men’s teams go head to head. Erne Eagles were also Men’s All-Ireland runners-up in 2025 and recent form suggests they may start as favourites, but underestimating the Carlow side on home soil would be a mistake. Rumour has it that Darryl Dolan is ready to return following his 2025 injury, which would be a significant boost for the visitors. With experienced figures on both sides, including Ard Chomhairle member and Cúchulainn pitcher Peadar Waters, this one has all the ingredients of a tense and closely fought battle.

Referee: Emo stalwart Michael Slevin will take charge of all three games.

Ballon Predictions

Women: Cúchulainn
Mixed: Erne Eagles
Men: Erne Eagles

Galway City Rapparees step into the big time

Ryan Dennis - Galway Rapparees

Ryan Dennis – Galway Rapparees

There is early action in Galway too, with two Senior fixtures down for decision on the grounds of Coláiste Muire Máthair from 1pm. Dublin legends Limekiln travel west to face Mayo’s Kilmeena in Senior Mixed before taking on the newly promoted Galway City Rapparees in Senior Men.

After a difficult 2025 campaign, Limekiln have regrouped, brought in transferred players and assembled a bigger squad. They now look ready to remind everyone why they have been Rounders royalty for more than 20 years. Kilmeena, meanwhile, finished last season strongly after a slow start in Senior Mixed, so they will be determined to hit the ground running this time around.

This looks like a game that could be quick, sharp and highly competitive. Both pitchers will be desperate to give away as little as possible. Limekiln’s outfield will want to stay watertight, while Kilmeena will be eager to contain multi-position stars such as Ciarán Weldon both at bat and in the field. There may also be a few familiar faces in unfamiliar colours, with some players last seen in Kevin’s blue and white now sporting Limekiln jerseys.

At 2.45pm, Galway City Rapparees enter uncharted territory as they play their first ever Senior match. For a club whose men’s team won the Junior Day Blitz in 2021, this has been a remarkable rise. Sunday’s fixture already feels like a milestone moment and it has the makings of a hugely entertaining Senior debut.

Pitching should be fascinating, with the contrasting styles of Ryan Dennis and Chris Hughes presenting very different challenges for batters. Galway have runners and hitters capable of hurting any side and there will be plenty wondering whether Cathal Creaven might produce his first Senior home run. Limekiln’s challenge will be to shut down that running threat, while the Rapparees must stay calm and avoid being overawed by a side with an extraordinary haul of titles and All-Stars across the past two decades.

Referee: Seán Bailey of Michael Glavey’s will be behind the catcher for both Galway fixtures.

Galway Predictions

Mixed: Limekiln
Men: Galway City Rapparees

Intermediate Championship Preview

The Intermediate campaign also begins on Sunday, with Dublin Metropolitans on the road in both Men’s and Women’s action

Kilmore ready for Intermediate test

Aidan Carr - Kilmore

Aidan Carr – Kilmore

The Intermediate Championship begins with an early start on the road for Dublin Metropolitans, whose men travel to Roscommon to face local favourites Kilmore, last year’s Junior Men’s All-Ireland runners-up.

With a full year of Intermediate experience behind them, Dublin Mets may look like favourites on paper. Even so, Kilmore should not be underestimated. Both teams bring quality players into this opener. The Mets can call on the Carley brothers, Jack Cheyne and Leonard Looney, all selected for the Leinster Interprovincials side. Kilmore, meanwhile, are represented by Aidan Carr, Breian Carroll, Mark Harrington and James Jamieson, who fill four of the five Junior spots on the Connacht Interprovincial panel.

Nerves are inevitable for Kilmore in their first Intermediate game following promotion, but home advantage should help settle them. With first pitch at 11am, this has the feel of one of the most interesting games of the opening weekend.

Referee: Breaffy star and Ard Chomhairle Development Officer Mark Jennings

Prediction: Kilmore to settle early and take the win

Castletown Liam Mellows host key Women’s opener

Also throwing in at 1pm is the first Intermediate Women’s game of 2026, as Dublin Metropolitans head to the picturesque Castletown Liam Mellows pitch in Wexford to face the 2023 All-Ireland Junior Ladies finalists.

Both teams are newly promoted to Intermediate and both will be eager to make an immediate statement in their new grade. With talented and capable players on each side, this could be one of the tightest contests of the weekend and may come down to who handles the occasion best.

Referee: GAA Rounders Leinster Representative, PJ Lalor of Myshall

Prediction: Dublin Mets to just edge it

A season worth following begins again

Although soggy pitches and poor weather have threatened to derail the opening week of Championship action, the seven matches that are set to go ahead should still provide more than enough excitement and drama to whet the appetite for what promises to be another thrilling GAA Rounders season.

If you are near Ballon, Castletown, Galway or Kilmore, this is a weekend well worth supporting in person. For those who cannot make it, results will be uploaded to the website and social media channels as soon as they come in.

As always, thanks go to the players, coaches, managers and club secretaries who keep the show on the road and make sure these matches take place. Thanks too to our referees for officiating, and míle buíochas to everyone who supports our game.

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