Tag Archive for: St Senans

GAA Rounders Intermediate All-Star Nominees 2026

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Intermediate All-Star Nominations 2026

Safe to say there were some happy people in Roscommon, Galway, Wexford, Carlow and Limerick yesterday evening with our Junior All-Star nominee announcements. So let’s keep it going and shine a light on our Intermediate superstars for 2026. Again, statistics were taken for knockout games – semi-finals and finals – and again, four accolades are up for grabs with Intermediate Men, Intermediate Women, Intermediate Mixed (Male) and Intermediate Mixed (Female) all being awarded to the best of our best Intermediate grade players.

Intermediate Women

As the final was an all-Connacht affair, so the All-Star nominees are all Connacht cailiní. All five of them had great games in our All-Ireland decider matches and they rightly take their places among the top female Intermediate players of our game. All infielders, two Pitchers, a Catcher and two Short Stops – three from Galway and two from Roscommon – made the list.

Avril Coyne

Club – Elphin, Roscommon

Position – Short Stop

Sorcha Dowd

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Back Catcher

Katie Jessop

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Pitcher

Áine McDermott

Club – Elphin, Roscommon

Position – Pitcher

Clodagh Naughton

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Short Stop

Intermediate Men

Not surprisingly, All-Ireland winners St. Clare’s of Cavan and runners-up St. Senan’s of Limerick populate this list of nominees, all five of them playing a blinder in last month’s Intermediate Men’s final in Offaly.

Jason Cawley

Club – St. Clare’s, Cavan

Position – Back Catcher

Wayne Gerber

Club – St. Clare’s, Cavan

Position – Short Stop

Dean Hogan

Club – St. Senan’s, Limerick

Position – Centre Outfield

JP Mulvihill

Club – St. Senan’s, Limerick

Position – Pitcher

Niall Sheehy

Club – St. Senan’s, Limerick

Position – Back Catcher

Intermediate Mixed – Female

In a break with what we’ve seen with all our other Junior and Intermediate nominees, a semi-final player has made their way onto the list. These five women are a mix of infielders and outfielders and demonstrate all that is great about our Mixed game at Intermediate level.

Geraldine Goldrick

Club – Erne Eagles, Cavan

Position – Centre Outfield

Niamh Horgan

Club – Emo, Laois

Position – First Base

Clodagh Naughton

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Short Stop

Jessie Pereira

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Second Base

Alex Stewart

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Right Outfield

 

Intermediate Mixed – Male

Two Pitchers, two Catchers and a Baseminder, our top five all played in the Intermediate Mixed Final but, more than that, have shown all season just how skilled and talented they are at the game of Rounders. Any one of them could take the award – but only one will!

Cathal Creaven

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Back Catcher

Ryan Dennis

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Pitcher

Liam Horgan

Club – Emo, Laois

Position – Pitcher

Tomás Kenny

Club – Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Position – Third Base

Dan White

Club – Emo, Laois

Position – Back Catcher

All winners will be announced at our Black Tie All Stars night, 7 November, in the Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. Tickets are available from GAA Rounders All-Stars Night 2026 – Universe

Best value tickets are a table of ten at €650 so gather up your players, get everyone to Naas and let’s make this year’s All Stars even bigger and better than last year’s!

Connacht Club of the Year 2025 Winners Galway City Rapparees

Wednesday evening’s announcement will be our Senior Mixed All Star nominees and then on Thursday our Senior Single Gender All Star hopefuls – see you all tomorrow!

 

GAA Rounders Women’s All-Ireland Finals Preview

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Well that break didn’t last too long!! The support for the articles, the idea that we should be promoting our teams and our games, the fact that players and managers read them, discuss them and look forward to them – and the huge number of supportive comments on Facebook, texts, emails and calls to ask for them to come back just can’t be argued with (and are very much appreciated – thank you to everyone who took the time to contact me or comment, it was lovely to read them all!)! So the previews are back – I couldn’t be happier and I couldn’t have asked for them to return on a more exciting weekend – GAA Rounders first ever Women’s All-Ireland Finals Day.

The only thing that I’m changing for these three weeks is that I’m not going to predict a winner – not because of anything that anyone said, but because I can’t, for any of the nine Finals. Margins are so, so tight between teams that it would be just sticking a pin in a name to suggest who’ll take the title. And that’s not fair – every team is in their final because of hard work, determination, grit and ability. As we know, this is Rounders, and on the day, anything can happen – so let’s go into all nine games with that knowledge and one of my favourite mantras “she believed she could do it…and she did”!

Junior Women

Starting the day at 11am will be our Junior Women’s Final, contested by two Limerick teams – St. Kieran’s of Ardagh and St. Senan’s of Foynes.

St. Kieran’s Junior Women

St. Kieran’s had a great season at league stages. Winning their first four games with at least one – and twice with three – bats in hand, they cruised comfortably to their final group game against St. Senan’s. Losing that game 17(5)-5(5) meant that St. Kieran’s finished the group in second place, leading to a quarter-final game against Carrickmacross Emmets of Monaghan. That decider in Tymon Park at the end of July saw St. Kieran’s take the win comprehensively with the final score being 18(2)-10(5). Their next meeting was a semi-final against Group B toppers Kilmore of Roscommon and took place in Edenderry on 9 August. Once again, against the odds, St. Kieran’s won, with a bat in hand, 33(4)–18(5).

St. Senan’s Junior Women

St. Senan’s also had a relatively easy journey to quarter-finals with five wins from five games, none of them going to five innings until their final clash with St. Kieran’s. As group winners, they faced Myshall in Tymon Park and, while predicted to have a more difficult game, the final score of 15(5)–2(5) showed their ability to perform under pressure. Their semi-final, against another Carlow side, Leighlinbridge, was the tighter of the two games that day but determination and hard work saw them take the win 15(5)-11(5).

And now these two neighbouring teams and group opponents will meet again to decide which of these sides will be crowned All-Ireland Champions 2026.

GAA Rounders president Paula Doherty with Junior Women’s finalists Linda Clifford of St Kieran’s, Limerick, left, and Kyra Hogan of St Senan’s, Limerick

Both sides have excellent pitchers and catchers. Louise Kelly, 2025 Junior All-Star, is used to pitching for St. Senan’s Intermediate Mixed team from 12m and her accuracy and speed from 10m makes pitches hard to hit. Deirdre Ambrose for St. Kieran’s is similarly accurate and rarely throws bad balls. Walk ons in this game are unlikely to be an issue. Both Back Catchers had great semi-finals but St. Senan’s Dorothy Cullagh had an excellent game with catches, throws to assist and outs on home base. St. Kieran’s Siobhán Halligan impressed with her ability to throw to base fast and accurately.

Baseminders on both teams are strong, with St. Kieran’s Caitríona Hough responsible for multiple semi-final outs while Eimear O’Malley on First for St. Senan’s had the majority of their on-base outs that day.

St. Kieran’s outfielders were highly effective during the semi-final with Ellie Bucke and Sandra Walsh responsible for catches and outs on base. Shortstop, and Captain, Emma Galvin supported her teammates excellently that day covering bases, throwing for outs and tagging players on the running line. While less of Leighlinbridge’s hits went outfield, both Gráinne Noonan and Captain Kyra Hogan had outs on clean catches. St. Senan’s Shortstop Dympna O’Brien covered infield effectively and had two catches of her own.

From analysing the statistics over the season it’s clear that both teams are well matched. While St. Senan’s can rely on the accuracy of bowling, throwing and catching from their pitcher/catcher/First Base trio for outs, St. Kieran’s are stronger outfield and at bat. Both teams are managed by members of GAA Rounders Committees – St. Kieran’s by Ard Chomhairle’s Munster Representative Michael Sheahan and St. Senan’s by Munster Juvenile Committee Representative Ian Sheehy, a man well used to All-Ireland Finals, having won two last year with St. Senan’s and playing in the Intermediate Men’s final next week as well.

Many of the St. Senan’s ladies played in the 2025 Junior Mixed final and have that experience to help them, while this is St. Kieran’s first time to make it through to knock-out games. While they will undoubtedly be nervous, hopefully those jitters will be gone once the game starts and the action begins.

Our Junior Women’s final will be refereed by Galway City Rapparees’ Jay Hall and his umpires will be Justin Perrin (Erne Eagles) and Limekiln’s Áine McLaughlin and Ciarán Weldon.

St. Kieran’s player Máire Dinneen will sing the National Anthem before the final commences.

This is a landmark game in so many ways – two Limerick teams, our first live streamed All-Ireland Junior final, our first ever Women’s Finals Day and the first time a GAA Rounders All-Ireland Championship cup will be presented by a female President – and our hope is that both teams, and their supporters, managers and families can enjoy the entire experience, the historic nature of the occasion and the first of our three All-Ireland Women’s finals.

Ádh mór oraibh go léir

Intermediate Women

At 1pm, our two Intermediate teams will start their final and while the first game is an all-Munster affair, this game is an all-Connacht clash between Roscommon’s Elphin and Galway City Rapparees.

No strangers to finals, both teams have had their share of All-Ireland Sundays over the past few years with Elphin narrowly losing out to Inniskeen Grattans in last year’s Junior Women’s final. Rapparees shared the same fate, to Emo, in the 2024 Junior Women’s final but many of their women who play Intermediate Mixed were part of their Junior Mixed team which won the 2024 All-Ireland, and all Rapparees women will form part of either their Junior or Intermediate Mixed teams who will both contest All-Ireland finals in Mallow GAA on Sunday 13 September….that’s an awful lot of All-Ireland medals between two squads!!

Elphin ladies after their win.

Elphin ladies after their win.

Starting with Elphin, who would have thought this time last year that this group of women who were so disappointed to have missed out on winning their final in Dunganny, would regroup, turn things around and prove just how strong and committed they are by making their way through the group stages with only one defeat? Their first match at Intermediate level, a tough ask for any team, was away to Galway City Rapparees and I don’t think they will mind me saying that they struggled that day, losing 28(3)-6(5). But it is testament to the entire squad that they didn’t let that affect the rest of their season, beating Michael Glavey’s, Kilmeena and St. Clare’s with excellent displays of tactical rounders, showing their skill at bat and fielding. The two month wait between their final league game and their semi-final against Wexford’s Castletown Liam Mellows was well spent preparing and, in a rematch of their 2025 Junior Semi-final on the same pitch against the same opposition, they took the game 15(4)-3(5), sending them marching on to an All-Ireland final for the second time in two years.

Galway Rapparees women’s team

Galway Rapparees women’s team

Their opponents, Galway City Rapparees, are in their second year at Intermediate and while their first year was difficult and didn’t go as they would have liked, girl power and inner belief kicked in this season, and they smashed their second year at the grade. Undefeated all year they have fielded strongly, batted well and ran the bases smartly. Their semi-final, a home match as their club hosted this year’s Intermediate Semi-finals on 15 August, against Inniskeen Grattans was a masterclass in how to take a tight game and turn it on its head, with 16 players home in the final two innings. They took the win 22(5)-8(5) and set up an All-Ireland final against fellow Connacht side Elphin.

As with Junior Women, both finalists met in the group stages so they will be aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses but, let’s be honest, neither side really has a lot of weaknesses! One of Rapparees’ difficulties in 2025 was finding a pitcher with Edel Brennan unavailable and that has been resolved, and how!, this year with the discovery of Katie Jessop and her left-handed pitching skill. Responsible for ten outs in their semi-final against Inniskeen, Katie’s accurate pitching and amazing calmness at catching pop-ups is a huge asset for the Galway side. And it should be noted that this is a side with multiple skilled and talented players – Hazel Kilduff with her powerful throw, super catches and excellent batting, 2024 All-Star, lightening fast Clodagh Naughton, and cool under pressure Mel Mannion, Jenna O’Brien, Eimear Cuddy and Sorcha Dowd. Managed by Rory McGarvey, who understands both Intermediate and Senior level rounders, their ability to work together as a team should not be underrated – communication and their support for one another are visible in every game.

Elphin also have many talented players who can be relied upon to step up when the pressure is applied. Former Breaffy player Avril Coyne has given the team a level of tactical skill which helped them in their transition from Junior to intermediate. New signing for 2026, Gretta Davis has been consistently strong infield and her direction and guidance, along with that of Avril Coyne, has helped Elphin negotiate this year as well as they have. Pitcher Áine McDermott and Back Catcher Ciara Butler have been making a great team since Junior and continue to do so while Georgina McDermott on Second Base, responsible for five outs in Elphin’s semi-final against Castletown Liam Mellows, is dangerous when a ball comes her way. Kirstin Cronin outfield has a great catch and throw and both she, and twin Katie, are very fast around the bases. Pauline Tansey Brady must be credited with a lot of the success of this Elphin team – her dedication and hard work has brought them a long way in three years and her love of the game and her club are evident in all she does for Elphin.

On a similar point, Club Secretaries for all six club in this year’s Women’s Finals have been excellent all year and their professionalism and organisational skills have made my job so much easier. So go raibh míle maith agaibh Majella, Ian, Caitriona, Joe, Ciara and Eileen!

GAA Rounders president Paula Doherty with Intermediate Women’s finalists Georgina McDermott of Elphin, Roscommon, left, and Clodagh Naughton of Galway City Rapparees, Galway

Having had the pleasure of refereeing both Elphin and Galway City Rapparees this season, I can honestly say that both teams are two of the most sports(wo)manlike sides you can meet. Games are played competitively but fairly, with humour and good grace, appreciation for the opposition’s skill and good play but with a desire to win – and really could we look for more in an All-Ireland final? While only one team can claim the title on Sunday, both sides can be very proud of all they have achieved in the 2026 season, how far they have come since this time last year and what they have brought to the Intermediate Women’s competition and GAA rounders over their time playing our sport. Míle buíochas cailiní…agus go n-eirí an tádh libh go léir!

Our Intermediate Women’s final will be refereed by Erne Eagles’ Darryl Dolan and his umpires will be fellow Eagles Gerard Clerkin, Paul Mollaghan and Shane Sheridan.

The National Anthem will be performed by Galway City Rapparees’ Jay Hall.

Senior Women

Two exciting games over, our Senior Women will take to the pitch for a 3.30pm start and while, for one side this is familiar territory, having been in the same position for the past four years, for the other it’s been a while since they featured in a Senior Women’s Final. Enter Breaffy of Mayo, going for five in a row, and Limekiln of Dublin.

Unbeaten all year, Breaffy are heading into this match looking to win their fifth Senior All-Ireland Women’s Championship in a row. Both teams met already this year, in Athlone in May, and Breaffy took the win 11(5)-5(5) but a lot has changed for Limekiln in those three months. With new signings this year – Serena Costelloe, Erica Meslin, Marilin Neiland and Katarina Prazakova from Kevin’s and Colette McCaul from St. Clare’s – their team was just working out the dynamics of where the new additions would fit in. As the season progressed that became very clear and the newer and established players began to work together seamlessly and became stronger with every game.

Breaffy Senior Women

Breaffy’s team saw some new additions this year and they have also settled into the team well over the course of the season. GAA Rounders President Paula Doherty’s Third Base position was taken over in various games by Mikaela Foy, Treasa Fitzgibbon, Laura Williams and Moreblessing Ndlovu while Paula Lenehan returned to cover First Base at various times this year. Consistently excellent Michelle Hopkins, Katie Groonell, Helen Gallagher and the Gavin sisters – Gráinne and Aileen – continue to impress in every game.

Topping the group Breaffy played fourth place Erne Eagles in their semi-final on a wet day with challenging conditions in Monaghan GAA’s Centre of Excellence. Although Breaffy were expected to win comfortably, the Cavan ladies had other ideas and pushed the defending champions to the very last bat of the last innings, just narrowly missing out on bringing the game to extra innings with a 15(7)-13(7) result.

Screenshot

Limekiln had an easier semi-final, beating Carrickmacross Emmets 11(7)-5(7) to secure their spot in the final. Pitcher Serena Costelloe has played a blinder all year with excellent pitching, catching and throwing for outs on base. Assisted by Erica Meslin at Short Stop, Kate O’Reilly behind the batter and experienced and composed Base Minders like Amanda Kealy, Marion Hughes and Eileen Goggins, infield is well covered. Outfield Yvonne Healy, Captain Emma Hudson, Colette McCaul and Ellen Maguire are reliable and skilled at both catching and throwing back to home to prevent runs being scored.

GAA Rounders president Paula Doherty with Senior Women’s finalists Emma Hudson of Limekiln, Dublin, left, and Michelle Hopkins of Breaffy, Mayo

With a bit of history on the line here – if Breaffy win, they will match the five in a row record held by Castlebar and Rathdowney while Limekiln’s last Senior Women’s All-Ireland title was in 2005 and it has been 10 years since they appeared in a Women’s All-Ireland final – the winner of this game will add something to the statistic book. Whatever the result, we look forward to enjoying a closely contested, fast-paced game which will showcase our talented players and our exciting sport.

Beirigí bua!

The honour of refereeing this Senior Final will go to Cúchulainn’s AnnMarie Brennan and her umpires will be PJ Lalor (Myshall), Leah Mullins (Cúchulainn) and Justin Perrin (Erne Eagles).

Just a reminder for those of you unable to attend that all three finals will be live streamed on TG4 Sport’s YouTube channel with live commentary for all matches. Coverage will start at 10.50am.

Cluiche Corr – Cluichí Ceannais na mBan | St Kieran’s v St Senan’s

Cluiche Corr – Cluichí Ceannais na mBan | Galway City Rapparees v Elphin

Cluiche Corr – Cluichí Ceannais na mBan | Breaffy v Limekiln

For anyone who can attend, tickets are required and can be purchased at the following link

GAA Rounders Women’s All-Ireland Finals 2026 – Universe

Finally, the very best of luck to all players involved in Sunday’s finals. Be proud of your achievement and enjoy the experience – we know that you will all do yourselves, your clubs and GAA Rounders proud and we are all looking forward to a fantastic day of top quality Rounders in Abbotstown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch Live: TG4 to Show Three Weeks of GAA Rounders All-Ireland Finals

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Watch Live: TG4 to Show Three Weeks of GAA Rounders All-Ireland Finals

GAA Rounders is set for three huge weeks of national exposure, with TG4 providing live online coverage of the 2026 All-Ireland Finals across three consecutive Sundays.

Nine All-Ireland titles will be decided across the Women’s, Men’s and Mixed championships, with the action beginning at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Sunday, 30 August before moving to Offaly and finally Mallow.

Supporters unable to attend will be able to follow the action live online as the Junior, Intermediate and Senior championships are decided.

Sunday, 30 August – Women’s Finals, Abbotstown

The first of the three finals weekends takes place at the National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown, with three Women’s All-Ireland champions to be crowned.

11:00am – Junior Women: St Kieran’s (Limerick) v St Senan’s (Limerick)

Finals season begins with an all-Limerick encounter as St Kieran’s and St Senan’s battle for the Junior Women’s title.

WATCH LIVE: St Kieran’s v St Senan’s

1:00pm – Intermediate Women: Galway City Rapparees v Elphin (Roscommon)

 

Whatever happens at Abbotstown, history will be made in the Intermediate Final.

Both Galway City Rapparees and Elphin will be appearing in their first Women’s All-Ireland Final, guaranteeing a first national title for one of the two Connacht clubs.

For Rapparees, it continues a rapid rise for a club which played its first championship season in 2022, while Elphin will arrive from Roscommon with exactly the same ambition – to make their first final appearance a winning one.

WATCH LIVE: Galway City Rapparees v Elphin

3:30pm – Senior Women: Breaffy (Mayo) v Limekiln (Dublin)

The final game of the opening weekend brings one of the biggest stories of the entire championship.

Breaffy are going for an extraordinary fifth successive Senior Women’s All-Ireland title.

The Mayo side have established themselves as the dominant force in the grade and now stand just one victory away from completing five-in-a-row.

Limekiln travel from Dublin looking to end that remarkable sequence and take home the biggest prize in Women’s GAA Rounders.

WATCH LIVE: Breaffy v Limekiln

Sunday, 6 September – Men’s Finals, Offaly

The following Sunday, the focus switches to the Offaly GAA Centre of Excellence in Kilcormac for the Men’s All-Ireland Finals.

11:00am – Junior Men: Gusserane (Wexford) v Myshall (Carlow)

Leinster rivals Gusserane and Myshall open the second weekend as they compete for the Junior Men’s All-Ireland title.

1:00pm – Intermediate Men: St Clare’s (Cavan) v St Senan’s (Limerick)

Ulster meets Munster in the Intermediate decider, with St Clare’s taking on St Senan’s. It will be a first senior men’s campaign for one of these teams in 2027.

Senior Men: Erne Eagles (Cavan) v Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan)

The Senior Final will see two of the leading teams in the country go head-to-head as Erne Eagles and Carrickmacross Emmets battle for the 2026 Senior Men’s All-Ireland Championship. These have been a step ahead of everyone over the past few years. With Carrick wining in 2026 and Eagles in 2025.

It promises to provide a fitting conclusion to the second Sunday of live TG4 coverage.

Sunday, 13 September – Mixed Finals, Mallow

The championship concludes on Sunday, 13 September at Mallow GAA, Cork, with three Mixed All-Ireland Finals.

Galway City Rapparees will have a particularly significant day, with the club represented in two of the three Mixed finals.

11:00am – Junior Mixed: Galway City Rapparees v Kilmore (Roscommon)

Rapparees and Kilmore begin proceedings with an all-Connacht All-Ireland Final. This is a proper Galway v Roscommon derby, it should be a fantastic match.

1:00pm – Intermediate Mixed: Emo (Laois) v Galway City Rapparees

Just two hours later, Galway City Rapparees return to the field for the Intermediate Final against Emo.

It gives the Galway club the unusual opportunity to contest two national Mixed finals on the same afternoon.

Emo got beaten in last years final and will be hoping to go one better.

3:30pm – Senior Mixed: Breaffy (Mayo) v Glynn Barntown (Wexford)

The final game of the 2026 club championship sees Breaffy face Glynn Barntown for the Senior Mixed crown. Breaffy are going for three titles in a row.

After nine finals across three Sundays, the Senior Mixed decider will bring the curtain down on the championship season.

Nine GAA Rounders Finals Across Three Sundays

Sunday, 30 August
Women’s Finals – NGDC Abbotstown, Dublin

Sunday, 6 September
Men’s Finals – Offaly GAA Centre of Excellence, Kilcormac

Sunday, 13 September
Mixed Finals – Mallow GAA, Cork

From clubs appearing in their first All-Ireland Final to Breaffy chasing five Senior Women’s and theee mixed titles in succession, there will be no shortage of stories across the three weekends.

Most importantly, the live TG4 coverage gives GAA Rounders an opportunity to put its biggest games and best players in front of a much wider audience.

The road to nine All-Ireland titles begins at 11:00am this Sunday in Abbotstown, when St Kieran’s and St Senan’s throw the first pitch of three consecutive weekends of GAA Rounders All-Ireland Finals.

Junior Women’s Quarter-finals Previews – 25 July 2026

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Saturday, 25 July 2026 | Tymon Park, Dublin

Our Junior League games for 2026 have now concluded, with the results of 57 Junior Women’s matches collated and analysed. Group tables have been double-checked, and of the 22 teams that set out in May, we are now down to the final eight.

These eight teams – Carrickmacross Emmets, Gusserane, Kilmore, Leighlinbridge, Myshall, St. Kieran’s, St. Senan’s, and Skryne – will take to the pitches at Tymon Park in Dublin on Saturday morning, each giving their all in a bid to secure a place in the Junior Semi-finals on 9 August. We are very grateful to Limekiln Rounders for hosting all ten matches on Sunday and are looking forward to a wonderful day of Rounders!

Let’s take a closer look at how these four quarter-final pairings match up!

St. Senan’s (Limerick) vs Myshall (Carlow)

  • Time: 11am
  • Referee: Áine McLaughlin (Dublin)

St. Senan’s topped Group A (consisting of Limerick and Galway sides) with a maximum 25 points. Myshall finished third in a highly competitive Group C featuring Carlow and Wexford teams. Although Myshall equalled Gusserane on 26 points, the Wexford side took second place owing to their head-to-head victory.

St. Senan’s hold a significant asset in pitcher Louise Kelly, who also plays Intermediate Mixed. Accustomed to the 12m pitching distance, her delivery from the 10m Junior Women’s mark comes in faster and harder than many batters are used to facing. Teammates Josephine Hickey, Kyra Hogan, Gráinne Noonan, and Dorothy Cullagh have also played Intermediate Mixed this season, giving St. Senan’s a battle-tested edge.

Myshall, meanwhile, recently secured the transfers of former Senior players Gillian Nolan and Margaret Simpson, whose expertise will inject huge confidence into the squad. Alongside established stalwarts like Alma Rae, Mya Farrell, Anita Donoghue, and Audrey Roberts, Myshall possess a wealth of big-game experience.

The key test for Myshall will be handling the pace and power coming off Louise Kelly’s pitches. Their fielding is strong and their base-minders remain calm under pressure. On the flip side, St. Senan’s have rarely had their fielding or batting fully tested this year – aside from close encounters with St. Kieran’s and Athenry, their wins were comprehensive. Despite an impressive Run Rate five times higher than Myshall’s, St. Senan’s have batted seven fewer innings overall, meaning their comfortable path to the last eight may leave them with something to prove when tested in a high-stakes knockout.

Prediction: Myshall

Kilmore (Roscommon) vs Gusserane (Wexford)

  • Time: 11am
  • Referee: Shirley Lennon (Meath)

Like St. Senan’s, Kilmore topped Group B with a perfect 30 points, defeating teams from Monaghan, Meath, and Longford. Gusserane edged past Myshall to secure second place in Group C.

Rather than relying on a single standout, Kilmore boast a well-balanced, cohesive squad whose players have built strong chemistry over several seasons. Pitcher Irene Reynolds and Catcher Nicola Craughwell form a dynamic duo, complemented by Ana Carr – an exceptional Short-stop who reads the game brilliantly and covers huge ground. Joann Sharkey is rock-solid on 2nd Base, while their outfielders attack long balls fearlessly and at bat the entire squad is able to place their hits smartly into outfield gaps.

Gusserane launched their 2026 season in style by winning at Junior Day before the Championship even began, followed by an opening win against Myshall. Defeats to group leaders Leighlinbridge and St. Martin’s slowed their momentum, but Gusserane responded strongly with victories over Kilanerin Ballyfad and Castletown Liam Mellows. While injuries have tested their squad depth this term, they will hope to be back at full strength for the weekend.

Several Gusserane players feature in Intermediate Mixed, which will stand to them in tense moments. However, Kilmore’s dugout is guided by Intermediate Men’s pitcher Aidan Carr, whose calm tactical leadership and ability to get the best out of his team cannot be underestimated.

Prediction: Kilmore

 

 

Leighlinbridge (Carlow) vs Skryne (Meath)

  • Time: 11am
  • Referee: Jay Hall (Galway)

Leighlinbridge, the second Carlow side in the last eight, became the third team to reach maximum league points, cruising through Group C with an outstanding Run Rate of 8.8.

Their opponents, Skryne, qualified from a contrasting Group B that featured a mix of seasoned contenders and new teams in their debut Championship season. Having competed in Junior Women since 2021, Skryne possess plenty of experience, though they had to battle hard in an opening match win over newcomers Nobber before reaching the knockout stages for the very first time.

Leighlinbridge reached this exact stage in 2025 before being halted by Dublin Metropolitans. However, their technical development and team cohesion over the past 12 months have been clear to see. They look every bit a side that learned from last year’s setback and is now primed to go further.

To disrupt Leighlinbridge’s momentum, Skryne’s outfielders must react quickly to get the sliotar back to home base rapidly and limit multi-run innings. They will also need clinical, aggressive display at the batting mat to keep pressure on the scoreboard.

Prediction: Leighlinbridge

 

 

St. Kieran’s (Limerick) vs Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan)

  • Time: 11am
  • Referee: Mary Roche (Wexford)

The second-placed side from Group A meets the third-placed finisher from Group B in what looks, on paper, to be the most evenly balanced tie of the round.

St. Kieran’s enjoyed a fantastic group campaign, dropping points only to group winners St. Senan’s. Carrickmacross Emmets similarly pushed hard, with their only setbacks coming against Kilmore and Skryne. Both clubs feature seasoned players, astute coaching, and the big-match temperament required when knockouts arrive—making this a strong candidate for game of the morning!

Carrickmacross can call on key game-changers in Rachel Boylan, Sinéad Murphy, Emma Fay, Mary Lambe, and Tracy McMahon. St. Kieran’s rely on a proven core – Deirdre Ambrose, Ellie Bucke, Caitriona Hough, and Steph Downes – who have driven their success all season long. Both management setups will be backing their leaders to produce their best performances when it matters most.

Prediction: Carrickmacross Emmets

By lunchtime on Saturday we’ll know who’s taken one step closer to becoming our 2026 Junior Women’s All-Ireland Champions. Best of luck to all eight teams – beir bua agus go mbuafaidh na foirne is fearr!

Tomorrow we’ll be looking at our Junior Men’s Quarter-finalists and on Thursday it will be the turn of our Junior Mixed qualifiers – you won’t want to miss either of those!

GAA Rounders World Games Exhibition Matches

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GAA World Games – 16 July 2026

No two days in the Rounders world are ever the same, but some days really are very special. They remind us why we do what we do and what makes the game we all love so wonderful. Thursday, 16 July was one of those days for everyone involved in the GAA Rounders Exhibition Games as part of the GAA World Games.

Back in January, GAA Rounders was invited to be involved in the 2026 GAA World Games, and we jumped at the opportunity to be part of this fantastic collaborative event involving GAA players from all over the world. Although we couldn’t be included in the competitive tournament proper, we submitted a proposal to showcase our sport through three high-calibre Exhibition Games featuring our best players from across the country.

Once the plan was accepted by the World Games Committee, we sent personal invitations to 100 of our 2025 All-Star winners, nominees, and players who narrowly missed out due to injury. An astonishing 70 players accepted, and the real planning began.

After months of hard work, Thursday, 16 July dawned sunny and warm. Fabulous new kits – including specially designed black or white jerseys, teal shorts, and white and teal socks – were generously sponsored by the GAA World Games Committee and gifted to all players. Those involved began arriving from 10.30am and very shortly Pitch 8 at the SETU Arena, Waterford, was buzzing with players looking sharp and ready for action.

Game 1: Women’s Exhibition Match (12pm)

  • Referee: AnnMarie Brennan (Cúchulainn)
  • Final Score: Celtic Crushers 25 – 13 Shamrock Sluggers

 The Teams

  • Shamrock Sluggers:
    • Captain: Emma Reddy (Glynn Barntown) | Vice-Captain: Katie Groonell (Breaffy) | Manager: PJ Lalor (Myshall)
    • Squad: Pamela Brennan (Glynn Barntown), Shirleen Burns (Erne Eagles), Geraldine Goldrick (Erne Eagles), Aileen Kelly (Glynn Barntown), Sheena King (Glynn Barntown), Alisha Reddy (Glynn Barntown), Mary Roche (Glynn Barntown), Irene Scanlon (Erne Eagles), Caroline Waters (Cúchulainn), Marie Whelan (Carrickmacross Emmets)
  • Celtic Crushers:
    • Captain: Kim Thornton (Carrickmacross Emmets) | Vice-Captain: Louise Kelly (St. Senan’s) | Manager: Mark Jennings (Breaffy)
    • Squad: Maggie Brady (Erne Eagles), Abbie Delaney (Glynn Barntown), Chloe Doyle (Glynn Barntown), Lisa Flood (Erne Eagles), Helen Gallagher (Breaffy), Aileen Gavin (Breaffy), Gráinne Gavin (Breaffy), Michelle Hopkins (Breaffy), Holly Kavanagh (The Heath)

 Match Highlights

First to bat were the Celtic Crushers, and right from the start, spectators were treated to impressive catches and sharp base outs from both sides. At the end of the first inning, the score was deadlocked at 2–2. In the second inning, the Crushers settled into a rhythm, bringing seven home to build a 9–2 lead, which they expanded to a 25–13 victory by the fifth inning.

However, the real winner of the match was Rounders itself. Impressive catches from Caroline Waters, Lisa Flood, Aileen Kelly, Katie Groonell, and Chloe Doyle secured key outs, while the teamwork, rock-solid catches, and sharp throws on base from Pamela Brennan, Alisha Reddy, Maggie Brady, and Louise Kelly were fantastic to watch. Pitchers rotated throughout, with Michelle Hopkins, Emma Reddy, Irene Scanlon, and Louise Kelly, all doing themselves and their clubs proud.

A special mention goes to Cúchulainn’s AnnMarie Brennan, who returned from maternity leave – brining baby Oisín along for his very first Rounders event! We were thrilled to have her experience and officiating skill on the pitch.

Player of the Match: Caroline Waters (Cúchulainn) — Chosen by the match officials for her impressive batting and calm, composed catching at Short-stop, which yielded two double outs.

Game 2: Men’s Exhibition Match (2pm)

  • Referee: PJ Lalor (Myshall)
  • Final Score: Turf Titans 17 – 13 Bog Warriors

The Teams

  • Bog Warriors:
    • Captain: Billy Connors (Cúchulainn) | Vice-Captain: Justin Burns (Carrickmacross Emmets) | Managers: Michael Slevin & JP Tynan (Emo)
    • Squad: Aidan Carr (Kilmore), Paul Cooper (Glynn Barntown), Declan Finnegan (Carrickmacross Emmets), Mark Jennings (Breaffy), Gary Jordan (Glynn Barntown), Aaron Keane (The Heath), Barry Lambe (Carrickmacross Emmets), Eddie O’Connor (Raheen), Ili Tuimauga (Galway City Rapparees)
  • Turf Titans:
    • Captain: Shane Sheridan (Erne Eagles) | Vice-Captain: Eddie Healy (Limekiln) | Manager: Emma Reddy (Glynn Barntown)
    • Squad: Paul Delaney (Glynn Barntown), John Gibbons (Breaffy), Colm Jordan (Breaffy), Ronan Kiernan (Carrickmacross Emmets), Euan Matthews (Carrickmacross Emmets), Aidan McDonald (Raheen), Owen Roe O’Reilly (Erne Eagles), Peadar Waters (Cúchulainn), Ciarán Weldon (Limekiln).

 Match Highlights

The Bog Warriors batted first, getting off to a flying start with two runners home, but three swift outs from both fielding teams kept the score tied 2–2 after the first inning. The Turf Titans pulled ahead with six runs in the second, leading 12–8 by the fifth inning. This thrilling contest went the full seven innings, with the Turf Titans eventually sealing a 17–13 win.

The quality of play was second to none: breathtaking one-handed catches from Billy Connors and Eddie O’Connor, lightning-fast reflexes from backcatchers Ciarán Weldon and Gary Jordan, and pinpoint pitching from Barry Lambe, Peadar Waters, and Aidan McDonald.

We have to mention Kilmore’s Aidan Carr, a late call-up and the only non-Senior player on either men’s panel. Nobody watching his quality at bat or on the pitch would ever have guessed – his contribution was equal to that of any senior veteran on the field!

Player of the Match: Barry Lambe (Carrickmacross Emmets) — Awarded for a stellar pitching performance, smart tactical batting throughout, and a fantastic Home Run.

 A big thank you to Myshall’s PJ Lalor for officiating a fast-moving, competitive game with great control!

The Skills Challenge

Following the Men’s match, the Skills Games took centre stage. Organised by Peadar Waters and PJ Lalor, five stations tested players’ running, throwing, and pitching accuracy. Station assistance was kindly provided by Caroline Waters, Marion Sheir, Louise Riddell, Lorraine Pugh, and Kamil Walczak.

Special thanks to StrikeZone (Dublin), who brought personnel and specialised equipment to measure the speed of the fastest pitches. The competitive rivalry was high, and the skills showcase proved to be a brilliant addition to the day’s entertainment.

Game 3: Mixed Exhibition Match (4.30pm)

  • Referee: Peadar Waters (Cúchulainn)
  • Teams: Celtic Chaos vs. Emerald Avengers

The Teams

  • Celtic Chaos:
    • Captain: Danielle Keane (The Heath) | Vice-Captain: Nakita O’Connor (Raheen) | Manager: Paul Cooper (Glynn Barntown)
    • Squad: Gary Boland (Glynn Barntown), Tyra Brennan (Glynn Barntown), Leanne Carroll (Cúchulainn), Aidan Jayne (Dublin Metropolitans), Dwayne Keane (The Heath), Mick Kelly (Glynn Barntown), PJ Lalor (Myshall), Leah Mullins (Cúchulainn), Kamil Walczak (Cúchulainn).
  • Emerald Avengers:
    • Captain: JP Tynan (Emo) | Vice-Captain: Tomás Kenny (Galway City Rapparees) | Manager: Ronan Kiernan (Carrickmacross Emmets)
    • Squad: Aoife Birney (Glynn Barntown), Danny Broderick (Cúchulainn), Ryan Dennis (Galway City Rapparees), Aisling Ginnitty (Carrickmacross Emmets), Michelle McDonnell (Carrickmacross Emmets), Justin Perrin (Erne Eagles), Niall Sheehy (St. Senan’s), Marion Sheir (Cúchulainn), Michael Slevin (Emo), Julianne Smith (Inniskeen Grattans).

Match Highlights

Our final game highlighted the unique mixed-gender element of adult GAA Rounders – and it certainly didn’t disappoint! Both teams gave their all in a display of speed, dexterity, tactical confidence, and teamwork.

Huge hits straight into outfielders’ hands, rapid infield bunts thrown accurately on the run to base, alert backcatchers pouncing on clips, and tricky pitching that forced hits to go foul: this game truly had it all. Despite being under the beating sun at SETU since early morning, the players brought incredible energy, keeping the pace fierce and competitive until the end.

Backcatchers included Tyra Brennan, Niall Sheehy, Leah Mullins, and Michelle McDonnell, while pitching duties were expertly handled by Ryan Dennis, Danielle Keane, PJ Lalor, and Michael Slevin. In the outfield, Mick Kelly, Kamil Walczak, Justin Perrin, Danny Broderick, and JP Tynan pulled down outstanding catches, backed by stellar infield work from Nakita O’Connor, Gary Boland, Aisling Ginnitty, and Aoife Birney.

Player of the Match: Tomás Kenny (Galway City Rapparees) – honoured for two magnificent catches for outs and excellent, timely batting that advanced teammates and brought runners home.

 Celebrations & Acknowledgments

After nine action-packed hours on Pitch 8 at SETU Arena, it was time to pack up the equipment, load the cars, and head to The Reg in Waterford City for a well-earned evening out. With finger food, great analysis of the day’s play, music provided by DJ Mick Kelly, and brilliant company, it was the perfect end to an unforgettable day.

An event of this scale does not happen without enormous dedication, time, and hard work. While the ultimate reward was a landmark day for our sport, special thanks must be extended to:

  • GAA World Games Organising Committee: Séamus Blake, David Britton, Paul Fitzpatrick, Shauna Fox, Charlie Harrison, Paul Morrissey, Nora Rahill, and Niamh Sauvage
  • Match Officials, Crowd Control, Skills Games & Event Support: Danny Broderick, Mag Doyle, Gráinne Gavin, Ciara Groonell, Eddie Healy, Mark Jennings, Nakita O’Connor, Lorraine Pugh, Louise Riddell, Mary Roche, Marion Sheir, Chiara Trench, Kamil Walczak, and Caroline Waters
  • Live Streaming Commentators: Shirley Lennon and Emma Perrin
  • Club Secretaries: From all 15 participating clubs – your administrative support in the buildup was invaluable!
  • GAA Rounders President: Paula Doherty
  • Event Sponsor: ID Pal, for your generous support which helped fund the event
  • Our Players & Managers: Without your commitment and passion, none of this would have been possible
  • The Organising Committee: Peadar Waters, PJ Lalor, and Shirley Lennon. This was a true labour of love – the countless hours spent planning, discussing, and organising were worth every second when we saw what was achieved on 16 July. We set out to show the world what GAA Rounders is all about, and anybody watching could not help but be impressed by the show put on by our community. Until 2029, our heartfelt thanks to you all!

 

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

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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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📱 @gaaroundersoff

GAA Rounders Preview: Full Fixtures and Predictions for 31 May 2026

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Preview – 31 May 2026

It’s the June Bank Holiday Weekend and, while the rest of the country’s thoughts are turning to barbeques and an extra day off work, true Rounders fans are planning how many matches we can take in and what’s the quickest way to get from Athlone GAA to Clann na nGael and back again to catch as much of the action as possible in the seven games taking place between both venues on Sunday afternoon.

With multiple matches in Monaghan and Carlow, and one each in Mayo and Wexford, there’s no excuse not to be on your nearest pitch watching Bank Holiday Rounders this weekend.

Before we dive in, just a reminder that our U14 Mixed All-Ireland Competition will take place in Clann na nGael, Athlone, on Saturday, 30 May, from 10am, with the promise of some excellent Rounders from the stars of the future.

Clubs from Ulster, Connacht and Leinster will be vying for the title of U14 Champion – will Cavan’s Erne Eagles retain their title, or will the cup be going home with underage superstars Emo, newly formed Galway club Clontuskert, Roscommon contenders Elphin, or recent U14 Girls’ All-Ireland title winners Cúchulainn of Carlow?

Midlands Medley

With two pitches – one each for Senior and Intermediate games – on the go in Athlone GAA for the day, it will be a busy afternoon.

Starting proceedings at 12pm will be last year’s Intermediate Mixed winners, Erne Eagles, taking on newly promoted Intermediate side and last year’s Junior Mixed winners, St. Senan’s.

With rumours that Darryl Dolan was hoping to play Intermediate this year firmly quashed after his substitution onto the Senior team last weekend, we’ll have to wait until Sunday to see who lines out for the Cavan side.

While St. Senan’s were powerfully impressive at Junior last year, will they find the jump to playing what should now be a Senior-standard side a step too far?

Prediction: Erne Eagles

Our second Intermediate match will feature St. Senan’s Men, this time taking on Roscommon side Kilmore, also in their first year at Intermediate.

Kilmore have performed strongly so far this year. Having beaten Dublin Metropolitans on opening weekend and narrowly losing 14-10 to last year’s Intermediate Men’s finalists, Emo, their move to Intermediate is going well.

St. Senan’s have also played twice this season – losing to Dublin Mets and beating St. Clare’s – and both sides will be keen to make their way into top position on the league table heading into June.

Prediction: Kilmore

Athlone’s Intermediate games will be refereed by Myshall’s PJ Lalor.

Also in Athlone, two Senior games – both involving Cavan’s Erne Eagles and Wexford’s Raheen – will take place from 1.30pm.

First up will be both sides’ Senior Men. Raheen played last Sunday and lost to Cúchulainn, while Erne Eagles also played last Sunday and beat reigning All-Ireland Champions Carrickmacross Emmets – no prizes for guessing who will go into the game more confident.

Prediction – Erne Eagles

Final game in Athlone, at 3pm, will be the two Senior teams’ Women. Raheen will be bruised following a comprehensive defeat to Cúchulainn, while Eagles, who also lost to Carrickmacross’ Women last weekend, will be keen to get back to winning ways and take the victory.

Prediction – Erne Eagles

Our Senior Referee in Athlone GAA will be Galway City Rapparees’ Craig Davis.

Still in Athlone, but moving from Co. Westmeath to Co. Roscommon, Clann na nGael will host three more Senior games, this time between Breaffy and Glynn Barntown.

Starting at 12.30pm with a replay of the 2025 Senior Women’s final, followed at 2pm by the Senior Mixed clash and ending the day at 3.30pm when the men of both clubs square up on the pitch.

So far this season, in all three grades, Breaffy are the team to beat, and Glynn Barntown will need to be at their best to upset the Mayo side in their quest to continue to top the groups and make three All-Ireland finals.

Prediction – Breaffy to win all three

Refereeing in Clann na nGael will be The Heath’s Danielle Keane.

Junior Games

Starting at 11am in Leighlinbridge is the first of three Junior matches being hosted by the Carlow club. To start, they will take on Emo. With neither side yet suffering a defeat in a Junior Mixed match in 2026, nobody will want to lose that perfect record.

Prediction – Emo

At 1pm, Leighlinbridge’s Women will take on Wexford side Castletown Liam Mellows.

As a newly formed team this year, Castletown are finding their feet and will be hoping this is the day they manage to get their first win. Leighlinbridge, who beat Kilanerin Ballyfad by 29 runs in their opening Women’s game, are aiming to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Prediction – Leighlinbridge

Finally in Leighlinbridge on Sunday, the hosts can take a break and watch Naomh Pól take on Oulart The Ballagh in a Junior Mixed game between two “new to the Championship” sides.

This is both teams’ third fixture of the season, but Oulart are ahead on points having received a walkover in their first game.

Oulart performed well on Junior Day, reaching a Shield Final, but Naomh Pól also showed great promise in the Munster Winter League. This should be an exciting game between two well-matched teams.

Prediction – Oulart The Ballagh

Our Leighlinbridge Referee for the day will be Glynn Barntown’s Sarah McGuinness.

Staying in the South East, Gusserane and Na Gaeil Nua’s Junior Men’s teams both start their Championship campaigns when they travel to Castletown Liam Mellows to play at 12pm.

At Junior Day, Gusserane’s Men’s team came away with the Cup, while Na Gaeil Nua, a brand-new team formed this year, played Mixed and showed that they have great potential.

Prediction – Gusserane

Cathy Kearns of Glynn Barntown will be in charge for this game.

Much further north, in Carrickmacross, three more exciting Junior games will take place in Platinum Tanks Park, starting at 11am when the hosts take on Slaughtneil.

After a few years away from Championship action, the Derry side have returned this year and played their first match last Sunday in Inniskeen. Although they lost, the experience gained will stand to them against this Carrick side, who will be keen to put their opening defeat by Kilmore behind them and get some winning points on the scoreboard.

Prediction – Carrickmacross Emmets

Next up, at 1pm, the hosts will welcome Elphin for another Junior Mixed game.

Elphin have played twice this season and lost both games – to Inniskeen and Kilmore – and will want to ensure they break the cycle. Will Carrick’s second game of the day mean they’re finely tuned and ready to win, or will Elphin’s fresh legs give them the advantage?

Prediction – Carrickmacross Emmets

The final Junior Mixed game in Monaghan on Sunday will be between Elphin and Antrim side Wolfe Tones.

For the second week in a row, Wolfe Tones will be making the journey to Monaghan, but will their narrow defeat to Inniskeen last Sunday have them ready to take it up a notch this week and win? Or will Elphin, with their Intermediate Women players, have the edge in their second match of the day?

Prediction – Elphin

Refereeing all three matches in Carrickmacross will be National Secretary Shirley Lennon.

Not far away, in Inniskeen, there will be another Junior Mixed game at 11am when Inniskeen Grattans once again welcome a Derry team, Naomh Trea, in Junior Mixed.

While Inniskeen have three wins already under their belt this season, Naomh Trea have yet to play a competitive match.

Prediction – Inniskeen Grattans

Longford’s Clonguish will take to the pitch at 1pm to play Inniskeen’s Junior Women.

Clonguish lost to Skryne midweek in their first game of the season and will be aiming to reverse the result for this match. Inniskeen’s Junior Women are a newly formed side with lots of potential and, if they can get their fielding in order, this could be an interesting game.

Prediction – Inniskeen Grattans

Local legend, Carrickmacross Emmets’ Colm Birdy, will referee this match.

Our final venue for the day will be our most westerly when Athenry travel to Garrymore in Mayo to play a Junior Mixed game.

This will be Garrymore’s first time to play this season, while Athenry lost narrowly to Galway City Rapparees in their first outing.

Prediction – Garrymore

Galway City Rapparees’ Jay Hall will be in charge of this match.

With all except one of last week’s predictions correct – and the very surprising revelation that people actually read these articles! – the pressure is on to see if all 16 of this week’s winners will have been revealed in advance!

You know what you have to do to prove us wrong!! Final scores will be on our website and socials on Sunday evening.

Enjoy the long weekend and go out and support our players if you can.

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facebook.com/GaaRounders/
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InterProvincial GAA Rounders Returns as Panels, Fixtures and Referees Confirmed

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InterProvincial GAA Rounders Returns

The victorious Leinster Rounders team in 2023

The victorious Leinster Rounders team in 2023

Some of the best Rounders players in the country will be on show in Athlone GAA on Sunday 29 March

This year’s tournament will look a little different. The last InterProvincials were played as a mixed competition, but this time the format changes with separate Men’s and Women’s tournaments being played across the same afternoon.

Across the extended panels announced this week, players from around 30 clubs have been nominated from across the four provinces.

Match Schedule

Time Match Referee
12:00 Munster vs Connacht – Women Danielle Keane
12:15 Leinster vs Ulster – Men Áine McLaughlin
1:45 Leinster vs Ulster – Women Danielle Keane
2:15 Munster vs Connacht – Men Áine McLaughlin
3:30 Women’s Final Michael Dowling
4:15 Men’s Final Paula Doherty

Final Squads

The lists released this week are extended panels. Each province will now cut those squads down to a final 15 players before the tournament.

Teams must include players from each championship grade:

  • 3 Senior players + 2 Senior substitutes
  • 3 Intermediate players + 2 Intermediate substitutes
  • 3 Junior players + 2 Junior substitutes

The finals should be a bit special too, with Rounders President Paula Doherty set to referee the men’s final, while former President Michael Dowling will take charge of the women’s final — a nice touch to round off the day.

With six matches across the afternoon and players travelling from clubs across the country, the InterProvincials promise to be a great showcase for the game and a brilliant chance to see some of the top Rounders players in Ireland on the same pitch.

Connacht Interpros Panels

Connacht GAA Rounders interprovincial squad in 2023

Connacht GAA Rounders interprovincial squad in 2023

Connacht Women

Senior
Player Club
Noleen Coghlan Kilmeena
Catriona Cox Kilmeena
Irene Kaye Kilmeena
Catriona Olsen Kilmeena
Helen Gallagher Breaffy
Intermediate
Assumpta Feeney Athenry
Lisa Guilfoyle Athenry
Priscilla Heffernan Athenry
Tara Reapy Athenry
Gretta Davis Elphin
Cat Carty Galway City Rapparees
Hazel Kilduff Galway City Rapparees
Clodagh Naughton Galway City Rapparees
Jessie Pereira Galway City Rapparees
Gwen Redmond Galway City Rapparees
Laura Salvatore Galway City Rapparees
Alex Stewart Galway City Rapparees
Sadie Hunt Kilmeena
Junior
Ciara Butler Elphin
Avril Coyne Elphin
Barbora Novobilska Elphin
Joanne Forde Garrymore
Sarah Tierney Garrymore
Ana Carr Kilmore
Nicola Craughwell Kilmore
Clodagh Sheerin Kilmore

Connacht Men

Senior
Player Club
Victor Del Rosal Breaffy
Mark Jennings Breaffy
Jamie Murphy Breaffy
Richie Vaz Breaffy
Ben Golden Kilmeena
Tommy Hoban Kilmeena
Darragh McDonnell Kilmeena
Ollie Conway Michael Glaveys
Micheal McGreal Michael Glaveys
John Nolan Michael Glaveys
Intermediate
Sean Maher Athenry
Kieran Shaughnessy Athenry
Cathal Creavan Galway City Rapparees
Ryan Dennis Galway City Rapparees
Stewart Hagen Galway City Rapparees
Jay Hall Galway City Rapparees
Tomas Kenny Galway City Rapparees
Ajay Kumar Galway City Rapparees
Rory McGarvey Galway City Rapparees
Vishal Pathare Galway City Rapparees
Ili Tuimauga Galway City Rapparees
Junior
Conor Gunn Elphin
Luke Gunn Elphin
Filip Novobilska Elphin
Pawel Szawernoga Elphin
Colin Flannery Galway City Rapparees
Seamus Keegan Galway City Rapparees
Matt Kelly Galway City Rapparees
Colin O’Halloran Galway City Rapparees
Fintan Hession Garrymore
Frankie Durcan Kilmeena
Frank McNicholas Kilmeena
Will Powell Kilmeena
Aidan Carr Kilmore
Breian Carroll Kilmore
Mark Harrington Kilmore
Jamie Sharkey Kilmore
Kevin White Kilmore

2026 InterProvincials – Munster Panels

Munster Men

Intermediate
Name Club
John Hanlon St. Senan’s
Dean Hogan St. Senan’s
Dean McCarthy St. Senan’s
Ian Sheehy St. Senan’s
Niall Sheehy St. Senan’s
Junior
John Cleary Na Piarsaigh
Gerard Kearns Na Piarsaigh
Leo McKenna Na Piarsaigh
Andrew Cusack Sporting Limerick

Munster Women

Intermediate
Name Club
Grainne Noonan St. Senan’s
Aoife O’Carroll St. Senan’s
Junior
Colette Butler Knockainey
Jacki Hehir Knockainey
Olivia McNamara Knockainey
Miranda O’Brien Knockainey
Emma Walsh Knockainey
Aideen Hogg Na Piarsaigh
Michelle Lambe Na Piarsaigh
Sarah Stanley Na Piarsaigh
Stephanie Downes St. Kieran’s
Caitriona Hough St. Kieran’s
Majella O’Connor St. Kieran’s
Ashling O’Sullivan St. Kieran’s
Diane Curran Sporting Limerick
Eleanor O’Brien Sporting Limerick

2026 InterProvincials – Leinster Panels

The victorious Leinster Rounders team in 2023

The victorious Leinster Rounders team in 2023

Leinster Men

Senior
Name Club
Pierce Ryan Cuchulainn
Peadar Waters Cuchulainn
Paul Cooper Glynn Barntown
Garry Jordan Glynn Barntown
Ian White Glynn Barntown
Eoin Johnson Limekiln
Aidan McDonald Raheen
Eunan Furlong Raheen
Austin O’Meara The Heath
Intermediate
Asa Carley Dublin Metropolitans
Beau Carley Dublin Metropolitans
Jack Cheyne Dublin Metropolitans
André Cruz Dublin Metropolitans
Leonard Looney Dublin Metropolitans
Michael Slevin Emo
JP Tynan Emo
Junior
Conor Murphy Gusserane
Shane Coburn Myshall
PJ Lalor Myshall
James Nolan Myshall
Eoin Rea Myshall
Matthew Roberts Myshall

Leinster Women

Senior
Name Club
Amy Kelly Cuchulainn
Amy Moloney Cuchulainn
Leah Mullins Cuchulainn
Sheena King Glynn Barntown
Alisha Reddy Glynn Barntown
Mary Roche Glynn Barntown
Intermediate
Pamela Brennan Glynn Barntown
Stephanie Kelly Glynn Barntown
Liz Fitzgerald Kilanerin
Junior
Laura Cuddihy Dublin Metropolitans
Jessica Maddock Dublin Metropolitans
Gráinne Martin Dublin Metropolitans
Claire Mulry Dublin Metropolitans
Karen Byrne Glynn Barntown
Jen Kelly Leighlinbridge
Tracy McNally Leighlinbridge
Louise Riddell Leighlinbridge
Jenny Jugessur St. Martin’s
Deborah Roche St. Martin’s
Christine Stone St. Martin’s
Hazel Costello Skryne
Noeleen Greally Skryne
Karen Lynch Skryne
Lauren Smith Skryne

2026 InterProvincials – Ulster Panels

Ulster Men

Senior
Name Club
Paddy Bermingham Carrickmacross
Declan Finnegan Carrickmacross
Ronan Kiernan Carrickmacross
Barry Lambe Carrickmacross
Gerard Clerkin Erne Eagles
Fionn Higgins Erne Eagles
Nathan Loughnane Erne Eagles
Justin Perrin Erne Eagles
Shane Sheridan Erne Eagles
Intermediate
Bryan Dolan St. Clare’s
PJ Kelly St. Clare’s
Chaz Solomons St. Clare’s
Barry Walsh St. Clare’s
Junior
Philip Brooks Inniskeen
Trevor Hilliard Inniskeen
Sean O’Connor Inniskeen
Sachin Krishnan Wolfe Tones
David Mallon Wolfe Tones
Matthew Mallon Wolfe Tones

Ulster Women

Senior
Name Club
Louise Byrne Carrickmacross
Aisling Ginnity Carrickmacross
Olive Hanratty Carrickmacross
Laura Hughes Carrickmacross
Marie Whelan Carrickmacross
Margaret Brady Erne Eagles
Lisa Flood Erne Eagles
Geraldine Goldrick Erne Eagles
Lindsey O’Reilly Erne Eagles
Emma Perrin Erne Eagles
Intermediate
Aoife Byrne Carrickmacross
Aine Cahill St. Clare’s
Laura Lynch St. Clare’s
Lisa Lynch St. Clare’s
Louise McAndrew St. Clare’s
Junior
Aisling McDermott Carrickmacross
Siobhan Cunningham Inniskeen
Catherine Deery Inniskeen
Julianne Smith Inniskeen
Arleen Ramsey Wolfe Tones

Munster Winter League Returns as Rapid Growth Transforms the Province

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Munster Winter League Returns as Rapid Growth Transforms the Province

The Munster Winter League is back for its second year, and even in such a short space of time it has already become a cornerstone of Rounders in the province. What makes this season stand out isn’t just the fixtures — it’s the extraordinary rate of growth happening across Munster. Only a few years ago, the province had three championship clubs competing nationally. Today, that picture has changed completely.

This weekend marks the opening round of the 2025/26 competition, and the line-up reflects a province expanding faster than anyone could have predicted.

Naomh Pol Enter the Scene

A major talking point is the competitive debut of Naomh Pol, a brand-new club from Waterford who will play their first ever matches this weekend. Their opening test is a tough one: a full set of games against St Senan’s, the reigning All-Ireland Junior champions, on Saturday morning.

It’s a challenging start, but a historic occasion too — the beginning of Waterford’s involvement in Munster Rounders and the first steps for a club determined to establish itself in the sport.

St Senan’s Continue to Grow

St Senan’s themselves arrive into the winter league with renewed strength. Already one of Munster’s leading clubs, they now field a new Ladies team, adding depth and competition to the women’s grade. Their expansion reflects the broader trend — established clubs growing stronger while new ones form around them.

A Surge of New Clubs Across the Province

Perhaps the most exciting sign of Munster’s progress is the number of clubs currently forming across the south. A few seasons ago, Rounders struggled for numbers in the province. Now, interest is spreading county by county.

  • In Cork, both Glenville and Kildorrery are laying strong foundations.
  • In Tipperary, Moneygall have begun attracting players from across the parish.
  • Mungret St Paul’s in Limerick are assembling coaching teams and structures for their launch.
  • A new club is forming in South Kerry, marking the county’s first serious involvement in the sport.
  • And in Clare, three separate groups are taking steps towards full club status.

If even the majority of these developing teams reach competitive level, Munster could soon boast over 12 clubs and more than 20 teams — a remarkable rise from the days of just three championship clubs.

Leadership Driving Expansion

Behind much of this rapid development is the tireless work of Michael Sheahan of St Kieran’s, the Munster provincial representative. His support for new clubs, combined with strong backing from the national administration, has accelerated the sport’s growth.

“Loads of Rounders in Limerick city and county this weekend! We start on Saturday with a most historic day for one of our new clubs, Waterford’s Naomh Pol, who make their Rounders debut in men’s, women’s and mixed in Shanagolden as guests of All-Ireland junior champions St Senan’s on Saturday morning. In the late afternoon they travel back to the city as guests of Na Piarsaigh’s men’s, women’s and mixed teams. We wish them a most enjoyable day of Rounders in Limerick.”

Michael also praised the cooperation behind the scenes:

“On Sunday morning, Kildimo-Pallaskenry and St Kieran’s women’s teams start their respective winter league campaigns with a 12.30 first pitch-in in Kildimo, and the second game between both clubs starting no later than 3pm — a record weekend of Rounders activity in Limerick!”

He added sincere appreciation for national support:

“We’ve had brilliant support locally in every county, and the enthusiasm from new clubs has been unreal. I have to thank our national secretary, Shirley Lennon. Anytime we needed help getting new clubs affiliated or needed guidance on the process, she was there straight away. That kind of support has made a massive difference to Munster Rounders and to clubs like my own, St Kieran’s.”


A Province on the Rise

As the 2024/25 Munster Winter League begins, the province finds itself in a new era — one defined by energy, expansion, and unprecedented momentum. Between Naomh Pol’s debut, St Senan’s continued growth, and the emergence of clubs across six counties, Munster is becoming one of the most vibrant regions in Irish Rounders.

This weekend is more than the start of a competition. It’s the next chapter in one of the fastest-growing stories in Irish GAA.

Weekend Fixtures

Saturday – 22 November

Naomh Pol vs St Senan’s

  • Men – 3 innings
  • Mixed – 3 innings
  • Ladies – 3 innings

Naomh Pol vs Sporting Limerick

  • Men – 3 innings
  • Mixed – 3 innings
  • Ladies – 3 innings

Sunday – 23 November

  • Na Piarsaigh vs Sporting Limerick – Mixed – 3 innings
  • Kildimo Pallaskenry 1 vs St Kieran’s – Ladies – 3 innings
  • Kildimo Pallaskenry 2 vs St Kieran’s – Ladies – 3 innings

🌟 2025 Junior All-Star Nominees Announced

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🌟 2025 Junior All-Star Nominees Announced

The nominees for the 2025 GAA Rounders Junior All-Star Awards have been revealed, recognising the top performers from the closing stages of this year’s Junior Championships.

Selections are based on performance across the final few games of the season, highlighting players who stood out when it mattered most.

🏆 Winners will be announced next Monday at 7:30pm, with all trophies presented at the All-Stars Night on Saturday, 1st November.

🏆 Junior Mixed (Male)

  • Matthew Flynn – Gusserane
  • Conor Murphy – Gusserane
  • Morgan Nash Colfer – Gusserane
  • John Hanlon – St Senan’s
  • Niall Sheehy – St Senan’s

🏆 Junior Mixed (Female)

  • Josephine Hickey – St Senan’s
  • Louise Kelly – St Senan’s
  • Aoife O’Carroll – St Senan’s
  • Cat Carty – Galway City Rapparees
  • Breda Rossiter – Gusserane

🏆 Junior Men’s

  • John Paul Mulvihill – St Senan’s
  • Euan Sheehy – St Senan’s
  • Niall Sheehy – St Senan’s
  • Philip Brooks – Inniskeen Grattans
  • Eoin Rea – Myshall

🏆 Junior Ladies

  • Kathrina Byrne – Inniskeen Grattans
  • Layla McArdle – Inniskeen Grattans
  • Carol McKeown – Inniskeen Grattans
  • Julianne Smith – Inniskeen Grattans
  • Áine McDermott – Elphin

👏 Congratulations to all nominees on being recognised among the top Junior performers of the 2025 season — an achievement that reflects strong finishes, consistency, and impact in the final stages of competition.