All-Ireland Senior Semi-Finals – Men’s, Mixed & Ladies
The road to the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Rounders Finals in Abbotstown reaches boiling point this Sunday in Dunganny, with six
semi‑finals stacked across the Men’s, Mixed and Ladies grades.
In the Men’s, Erne Eagles face
Breaffy after their free‑scoring group clash, while Carrickmacross Emmets bring the grade’s most consistent attack into a tactical duel with Glynn Barntown.
The Mixed line‑up pairs top‑seeded Eagles with the unpredictable Cuchulainn, and renews a tight rivalry between
Breaffy and Glynn Barntown.
In the Senior Ladies, unbeaten‑looking
Breaffy meet the dangerous Cuchulainn, while Glynn Barntown test their composure against the high‑ceiling Erne Eagles. Form points one way, history another — and with one win
separating every team from the showpiece, expect sharp fielding, cool pitching and some thunderous hitting.
📊 Senior Men’s Semi-Final Previews – 24 August, Dunganny
Erne Eagles (1st) vs Breaffy (4th) –
Erne have looked the complete package across the group phase: six wins from seven, scoring a shade over
eleven per game while allowing just under six. That balance produced the second‑stingiest defence in the grade and
kept them on the front foot in most contests. There is, however, one smudge on the copybook — a breathless meeting with
Breaffy earlier this month that finished 19–15 against them.
Breaffy arrive with a more boom‑or‑bust profile. They matched Eagles for wins but did it by swinging big:
the joint‑best scoring rate in the league — roughly seventeen a game — but also the loosest defence of the top four,
shipping close to twelve on average. In a semi‑final, that can be terrifying in the best possible way, especially when
you’ve already outslugged the top seeds.
Key stat: Breaffy’s healthy positive differential is powered by bursts of heavy scoring; Erne’s similar margin comes
from constant pressure at the plate backed by tidy fielding and pitching.
Prediction: If Breaffy catch fire early it could be a repeat of the league upset, but Erne’s depth and control late on still make them narrow favourites.
Carrickmacross Emmets (2nd) vs Glynn Barntown (3rd)
Few teams have hit the ball as relentlessly as Carrickmacross. Over seven games they piled up well over a century of
runs — about seventeen a game — while keeping opponents to a touch over six. That combination delivers the best
differential in the grade and explains their calm march to second.
Glynn Barntown aren’t far off the pace. They’ve been in double figures most days (around twelve to thirteen per outing)
and defend capably (roughly eight conceded). The earlier meeting matters, though: Carrick were comfortable winners,
bossing a 22–9 encounter where they controlled both the strike zone and the diamond.
Key stat: Across the run‑in, Carrick have been scoring about a full inning’s worth more per game than Glynn — a sign of late‑season momentum as well as depth through the order.
Prediction: Glynn will need near‑perfect catching and clean bases to stem the Emmets’ power. Form says Carrick, but expect it to tighten if Glynn turn it into a five‑innings chess match.
📊 Senior Mixed Semi-Final Previews — Dunganny
Erne Eagles (1st) vs Cuchulainn (4th)
The Eagles’ mixed side has flown just as high: six wins from seven with scoring close to fifteen a game and only a little
over seven conceded. They’ve ended contests early too — the 21–1 against Carrickmacross was wrapped after just
two innings, and they beat The Heath 9–1 while batting three. When these two met in May, Erne had the answers in a
five‑innings 23–12.
Cuchulainn have been the league’s great entertainers: three wins, four defeats, and almost as many scored as conceded.
They can trade punches with anyone — that 24–21 shootout against The Heath (five innings) proves it — but tight finishes
have gone the other way against Carrickmacross and Breaffy.
Key stat: Erne Eagles already own two wins this summer while batting three innings or fewer; Cuchulainn tend to be drawn into
high‑scoring games that ask a lot of their defence.
Prediction: Erne Eagles to control the tempo. If they hit the front early they will be hard stopped.
Breaffy (2nd) vs Glynn Barntown (3rd)
Breaffy have mirrored the men with six wins and a calm assurance: around thirteen‑plus per game scored and just over
seven allowed. They’ve posted statement victories — 28–13 over Kilmeena in four innings and 21–6 versus Carrick in
four — and, crucially, edged Glynn in their latest meeting, 9–7 with both sides batting the full five.
Glynn Barntown are live contenders. They’ve kept opponents to roughly eight a game and already clipped the top seeds,
out‑thinking Erne 10–6 (four vs five). There’s firepower too: 22–17 at Cuchulainn and a ruthless day at The Heath where
they won 19–2 while batting only two innings.
Key stat: Over the last fortnight Glynn’s run‑rate trend is slightly sharper than Breaffy’s, thanks to that two‑innings rout,
but Breaffy have banked the head‑to‑head.
Prediction: Breaffy by a whisker if it becomes a fielding battle; if Glynn open the taps early, expect a classic that goes the distance.
🏆 Senior Ladies Semi-Finals – Preview
Two places in the All-Ireland final are up for grabs. Form guides point one way, but the numbers hint at a lively afternoon.
Breaffy (1st) vs Cuchulainn (4th)
Breaffy arrive unbeaten, winning four from four with the most balanced profile in the grade — scoring a little under
fourteen runs a game and allowing just over five. That blend of calm batting and tidy fielding has been their hallmark all summer.
Cuchulainn are the wildcards. They’ve been one of the division’s liveliest batting groups — right around fifteen per game — but they’ve also leaked heavily, closer to
eighteen-and-a-half per outing. When the tempo rises, they can trade blows with anyone; when it slows, their defense gets asked hard questions. This was a nail biting semi-final last year.
Key thread: If Breaffy keep innings short and traffic off the bases, their control usually tells. If Cuchulainn turn it into a shoot‑out, this could swing.
Prediction: Breaffy, unless Cuchulainn land an early big inning.
Glynn Barntown (2nd) vs Erne Eagles (3rd)
Glynn Barntown have been steady and composed — about nine runs scored per game and conceding just under seven. They’re comfortable in tighter contests and typically win the small margins with clean catching and reliable pitching.
Erne Eagles are the volatility play. They score on a similar clip to the top seed — roughly thirteen to fourteen per game — but they’ve also been hit the other way more than anyone in the top four. That profile screams danger: when the bats click, they can overwhelm; when the game slows, they’ve given opponents chances.
Key thread: Pace of the game. A tidy, chance‑light semi suits Glynn; an open, base‑busy contest drags the Eagles right into their sweet spot.
Prediction: Glynn Barntown in a controlled game — flip a coin if it breaks into a slugfest.
Respect the Game – Respect Each Other
- 👏 Cheer great catches – no shouting while a player is attempting to catch the Sliotar
- ⚾ Respect pitchers – tough job, big skill.
- 🫡 Back the refs – no arguing calls.
Play hard. Play fair. Keep it positive.
