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Club Focus: Kilmore – Family, Community and a Club That Thinks Big

GAA ROUNDERS • CLUB FOCUS

Kilmore

Family, Community and a Club That Thinks Big

One of the special privileges of these Club Focus articles is highlighting the clubs that encapsulate everything great about GAA Rounders.

Last week, we featured

Galway City Rapparees

– a club that has achieved meteoric success while keeping community and friendship front and centre.

This week, our focus shifts to another Connacht club where those same core values are immediately evident, with the added bonus of family being hugely important: Kilmore from Roscommon.

Club
Kilmore
County
Roscommon
Province
Connacht

“

Ask anyone in our organisation to name a club that is welcoming, fun, hard-working and highly competitive, and the “boys and girls in blue” will instantly come up.

In a remarkably short space of time, Kilmore has become an integral part of the national Rounders family.

Kilmore • Roscommon • GAA Rounders

It’s time to take a closer look at their story!

A Small Club With a Big Place in GAA History

Many of you may have made the trip to Leitrim’s Carrick-on-Shannon for a hen or stag weekend, but just 10km outside the town, across the border in north Roscommon, lies Kilmore GAA.

For a small rural club, Kilmore has already left a remarkable mark on Irish sport. It was Kilmore GAA that brought forward the historic motion to amend Rule 42, paving the way for rugby and soccer internationals to be played at Croke Park while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped.

That history of a small club being willing to think big feels particularly fitting when you look at what Kilmore Rounders has achieved in such a short space of time.

From Junior Day to National Contenders

Founded in 2023 by Nicola Craughwell and Clare Connellan – who sent a simple “who would be interested in joining a Rounders club?” text to their local group – it soon became evident that many people were! Their very first training session saw an incredible 40 interested players turn up.

Kilmore’s playing journey began that winter in the Connacht Winter League, where their first competitive games came against Galway City Rapparees. That off-season competition proved invaluable for a brand-new club. Game by game, they learned the sport, developed their fielding and batting and improved enormously over the winter months.

Their national debut came at the 2024 Junior Day in Fenagh, Co. Carlow – where they promptly went and won the Mixed competition! Anyone watching that day could see this was a club destined for big things, driven by genuine talent and exceptional team chemistry.

With Rounders firmly established in the parish, Kilmore prioritised youth development in that foundational first year, bringing an U14 Mixed team to Monaghan for the All-Ireland competition in Cloghan. Meanwhile, their adult Mixed team entered the Championship and went from strength to strength, qualifying from their group and storming into the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals in Tymon Park with a win over Wexford side Gusserane. Although their journey ended in the Semi-Finals against Inniskeen Grattans in Clonguish, reaching the final four in their inaugural Championship season was a massive achievement.

Rising Through the Ranks

Ambitious from the outset, Kilmore expanded in 2025 to field Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed teams in All-Ireland competitions. Building on their initial experience, all three setups performed brilliantly during the group stages, with both the Men’s and Women’s panels advancing.

While the Men earned a direct route to the Semi-Finals, the Women’s team faced Monaghan side Inniskeen Grattans in a hard-fought Quarter-Final in Clonguish. Inniskeen took the win and ultimately went on to claim the 2025 All-Ireland title.

Ironically, the following month in Galway, Kilmore’s Men’s team faced that very same team – Inniskeen Grattans – in the Semi-Finals. A tight, well-deserved victory provided sweet redemption, propelling Kilmore into their first Junior All-Ireland Final against Limerick’s St. Senan’s in Dunganny.

That final was an absolute classic that kept spectators on the edge of their seats for all five innings. Outstanding performances from Aidan Carr, Jamie Sharkey, Oisín Boland, and others kept Kilmore right in the mix, before St. Senan’s eventually edged out a 10-6 victory.

Junior Men’s All-Ireland Finalists 2025

The 2026 Campaign: Triple Threat

Kilmore’s powerful 2025 campaign earned their Men’s team promotion to the Intermediate grade for 2026 and they hit the ground running with an explosive 30-6 opening-day win over Dublin Metropolitans. Narrow losses against Emo and St. Senan’s followed, but Kilmore proved they could go toe-to-toe with established Intermediate opposition.

They bounced back in style with a 15-10 win over Mayo’s Kilmeena, followed by an impressive 21-14 victory over St. Clare’s in Cavan. Having found their rhythm, the Men now look ahead to this Saturday’s Intermediate Semi-Final – a rematch with St. Clare’s – where a place in the All-Ireland Final is on the line in their very first year at the grade!

Kilmore Junior Women

It has been an equally impressive 2026 for the Women’s team, who put together an unbeaten group campaign before defeating Wexford’s Gusserane 27-10 in the Quarter-Finals. Their run came to an end against a powerful St. Kieran’s side in the Semi-Finals on Sunday, 9 August. Despite the 33-18 defeat, Kilmore showed tremendous heart, with brilliant defensive catches from Nicola Craughwell (Back Catcher), Joann Sharkey (2nd Base) and Ruth McElhone (3rd Base), alongside sharp base-running from Clodagh Sheerin, Carmel Murphy and Sinéad Beirne.

Oisin Boland

Meanwhile, Kilmore’s Mixed team has produced a superb season – and their journey isn’t over yet! After topping their group with a perfect record, they defeated Carlow’s Myshall 30-12 in the Quarter-Finals. The sides were closely matched until the fourth innings, when Kilmore found another gear and brought an incredible 18 runners home in a single turn at bat.

They followed that with a dominant 16-1 Semi-Final victory over Na Piarsaigh in Edenderry, driven by standout performances from Mark Harrington, Nicola Craughwell, James Jamieson and an on-fire Oisín Boland, who recorded no fewer than five clean catches and assisted another two outs on base!

That sets up a mouth-watering All-Ireland Junior Mixed Final on 13 September in Mallow GAA. In another one of our sport’s great moments of showing how anything is possible with hard work and dedication, two clubs who first met less than three years ago playing in the Connacht Winter League will face each other again – this time with an All-Ireland title on the line.

A True Family Club

While training, tactics, and talent explain their rapid rise, they only tell half the story. What makes Kilmore truly special is the extraordinary personal bonds within the squad.

Team management is entirely player-led:

  • Women’s Team: Managed by Aidan Carr
  • Men’s Team: Managed by Ana Carr and Nicola Craughwell
  • Mixed Team: Managed by Seán Boland and Mark Harrington

Remarkably, the playing roster boasts no fewer than six married couples (Aidan & Ana Carr, John & Nicola Craughwell, Kevin & Irene White, Jamie & Joann Sharkey, Breian & Siobhán Carroll, and Oisín Boland & Clodagh Sheerin) and two parent-child combinations (Mark & Eli Harrington, and Seán & Oisín Boland), taking the concept of a “family club” to a whole new level! That togetherness shows on the pitch. Kilmore plays with seamless trust, genuine warmth, and a refusal to give up on a play – or a teammate.

 

Kilmore’s Jamie & Joann Sharkey, Barbara & JP Murray, Orla & Mark Harrington, Nicola & John Craughwell and Ana & Aidan Carr at the 2025 GAA Rounders All-Stars

While the whole club contributes to this unique culture, a few individuals deserve special mention:

  • Seán Boland (Chairman), Ruth McElhone (Secretary) & Nicola Craughwell (Communications): This trio is the cornerstone of the club. Ruth manages seamless administration and fixtures while anchoring 3rd Base, Seán leads with warmth and vision, and Nicola is always available to assist with queries and step in wherever needed. Together, they epitomise the spirit of GAA Rounders.
  • Aidan & Ana Carr: The unmistakable faces of Kilmore Rounders. Whether playing, managing, coaching underage teams, driving nationwide to support fixtures, or umpiring, their absolute devotion to promoting and supporting Rounders is inspiring. Everyone across GAA Rounders sends their best wishes to Ana for a speedy recovery following her injury in last Sunday’s Women’s Semi-final – we can’t wait to see you back on a pitch!

Kilmore’s special place in the hearts and minds of their fellow clubs was made official when they won the Junior Club of the Year Award at the 2025 All-Stars – an award voted for directly by their peers. Their hard work was further recognised when pitcher Aidan Carr was selected to represent GAA Rounders in the Men’s Exhibition Game at the GAA World Games on 16 July in Waterford.

The Next Chapter

Looking Ahead

A Club With Plenty to Play For

With an Intermediate Men’s Semi-Final this Saturday, an All-Ireland Junior Mixed Final awaiting on 13 September, underage training reintroduced this summer and 40 registered members, the future could not be brighter for the Roscommon club

Kilmore’s story is a reminder of what makes GAA Rounders special. You don’t need to come from a huge club or have decades of history behind you. Get good people together, make everyone feel welcome, put in the work and enjoy doing it, and remarkable things can happen.

For a small rural club that once helped change the course of Irish sporting history by thinking big, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Kilmore Rounders is doing exactly the same.

Whatever happens over the coming weeks, Kilmore has flown the flag for Roscommon, Connacht and GAA Rounders with immense pride, skill and joy

We wish Kilmore the very best of luck in Saturday’s Intermediate Men’s Semi-Final and September’s Junior Mixed All-Ireland Final

Family • Community • Ambition
Something tells us the Kilmore story
is only getting started

GAA Rounders Championship Preview – 9 August 2026

We’ve made it to the last Sunday of our league! Over 260 games played in 16 short weeks – take a bow all of you who have organised, played in, refereed or travelled to watch one of those matches. You are the lifeblood of GAA Rounders and what keeps our organisation such an amazing community and our sport so exciting and compelling to watch and play.

Sunday will see Senior and Intermediate league games and Junior semi-finals all take place, all in Leinster when Dublin, Offaly and Wexford play host to 12 promising games. Let’s have a look at who’ll be taking to the pitches.

Senior Games – Dublin & Wexford

Wexford’s Glynn Barntown will host Monaghan’s Carrickmacross Emmets who will have an early start to travel the 235km between both clubs. First up at 12.30pm will be the Women from both clubs, followed, at 2pm, by the Mixed teams and the day will close out with the Men at 3.30pm.

In the Women’s competition, Breaffy and Limekiln have already qualified for semi-finals. A win or draw for Carrickmacross will mean they will also go through, leaving Erne Eagles taking the final spot. If the Wexford side win, it will leave a three-way tie between Erne Eagles, Carrickmacross and Glynn Barntown, meaning that Run Rate will decide the final two spots in the semi-finals. We love these “couldn’t be closer” final matches of the league!!

In Mixed, Breaffy, Cúchulainn and Glynn Barntown are all through and a win, or loss, for Carrickmacross will see them join that list of qualifiers.

Men isn’t straightforward either! Erne Eagles, Breaffy and Galway City Rapparees have already booked their semi-final slots, but the final place will go to the winner of Sunday’s game so there’s absolutely everything to play for in all three games.

Referee: Cúchulainn’s AnnMarie Brennan

Predictions: Women & Men – Carrickmacross Emmets; Mixed – Glynn Barntown

In Dublin, Limekiln will host Raheen in their final league games and, while the Dublin Women have already qualified for semi-finals, both sides’ Men’s teams are out of contention for this year. Don’t expect that to make it any less exciting to watch though!

Referee: GAA Rounders Vice-President Michael Dowling

Predictions: Limekiln to win both

Tymon Park will host one final game on Sunday when Intermediate Men from Dublin Metropolitans play Cavan’s St. Clare’s in the very last Intermediate league game of the year. St. Clare’s need to win to join Emo, Kilmore and St. Senan’s in the semi-finals next Saturday in Galway. A win for Dublin Mets will leave a three-way tie between St. Clare’s, Kilmeena and Dublin Mets for fourth place and so the qualifier will come down to Run Rate. This make-or-break game starts at 3.30pm.

Referee: GAA Vice President Michael Dowling

Prediction: St. Clare’s

Junior Semi-Finals

Rapparees Junior mixed team

Rapparees Junior mixed team

Cracking Junior games will take place all day in Edenderry GAA when our top twelve teams take to the two pitches for our Junior Men’s, Women’s and Mixed semi-finals.

We are very grateful to Edenderry GAA’s Committee for inviting GAA Rounders to their fantastic facility and for allowing us to host our Junior Semi-finals in Offaly.

At 11am Junior Women – Kilmore and St. Kieran’s – and Junior Men – Galway City Rapparees and Gusserane – will commence our day’s Rounders.

The Women’s match will see the unbeaten Roscommon side take on Limerick’s St. Kieran’s, runners-up in their league group. While Kilmore were favourites to win their quarter-final against Wexford’s Gusserane, St. Kieran’s were expected to have a harder time getting past Carrickmacross Emmets. Kilmore have demonstrated all year that they are excellent fielders – spectacular catches from Ruth McElhone, Clodagh Sheerin, Nicola Croughwell and Ana Carr in the quarter-final pay testament to that – and super base runners but they are also excellent batters, able to place balls outfield in the gaps between fielders. St. Kieran’s are also skilled batters and their pitcher, Deirdre Ambrose, is accurate and fast. With back catcher Siobhán Halligan, the two make a formidable team for getting outs. On the day, Kilmore’s experience, cool heads, calm fielding and strong batting should see them take the win.

Referee: National Secretary Shirley Lennon

Prediction: Kilmore

The Men’s match will also see unbeaten Galway City Rapparees take on Wexford’s Gusserane, runners-up in their league group. Topping their group and bypassing the quarter-finals, Rapparees will be rested and ready for this challenge while Gusserane had a tough fight on their hands in Tymon Park two weeks ago to get past Monaghan side Inniskeen Grattans. With pitcher Séamus Keegan and back catcher Colin O’Halloran working in sync to get outs on home and straight to first, Rapparees are a well-oiled fielding machine that also have the batting skills to get runs on the board. Gusserane, who played Intermediate Mixed this year, are also a tight outfit with a strong pitcher in Karel van der Merwe and excellent fielders in Conor Murphy and Morgan Nash Colfer. Expect neither side to give an inch in this potentially tight and super close game.

Referee: The Heath’s Danielle Keane

Prediction: Galway City Rapparees

After a short break, or not depending on how long the first games take, we’ll be back to action with two 1pm games – again one Women’s and one Men’s match.

In Men, Carlow’s Myshall will take on Dublin’s Na Gaeil Nua. Group toppers Myshall also skipped Quarter-finals, while Na Gaeil Nua beat Limerick side Na Piarsaigh to earn their place on Sunday. With an excellent pitching/catching combo in PJ Lalor and Matthew Roberts, Myshall have the potential to punish third good balls not hit or clips that go backwards. Newcomers to Rounders, Na Gaeil Nua have proved that experience isn’t everything and have shown all season that they can bat and catch like seasoned professionals. Shortstop Ryota Yamagochi and 2nd Base Javier Isern can both bat far and run fast and it will be containing them and their teammates that will cause Myshall problems.

Not the first time these sides have met, having played each other last month in the league, the victors that time were Myshall. Have Na Gaeil Nua learned from their mistakes that day or will Myshall be ready to win again?

Referee: The Heath’s Danielle Keane

Prediction: Myshall

Our lunchtime Women’s game is between unbeaten Carlow side Leighlinbridge and unbeaten Limerick team St. Senan’s so this really will be unchartered territory for the team on the wrong side of Sunday’s scoresheet.

Leighlinbridge Junior Women

St. Senan’s pitcher, Louise Kelly, has been their secret weapon all season and her ability to pitch fast and accurately has caused problems for all the sides they have met so far. Many of St. Senan’s women also play Intermediate Mixed and the skills honed at the higher grade have worked to their advantage in ensuring smart batting, fast fielding and quick outs. However, they have yet to come up against an opponent like Leighlinbridge who can also field and bat and have won several league games by more than double scores and with multiple bats in hand. Their quarter-final defeat of Skryne was clinical in its tactical efficiency with three up three out and no mercy given for any errors made. This will be both teams’ toughest battle to date – who will be strong enough to make it through?

Referee: The Heath’s Philip Keane

Prediction: St. Senan’s

And finally, at 3pm it will be time for our two Mixed semi-finals with repeat appearances from Kilmore and Galway City Rapparees, this time taking on Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh and Monaghan’s Inniskeen Grattans respectively.

The Galway side comprehensively beat strong Laois team Emo in their quarter-final with excellent performances from Ajay Kumar – scoring a Home Run, pitcher Séamus Keegan, back catcher Sorcha Dowd, Mel Mannion on 1st Base and 3rd Baseminder Cat Carty. Shortstop Greg Mannion missed nothing outfield and, at bat, had some great hits. While Inniskeen also had an excellent performance against Leighlinbridge to make their way into the semi-finals – shortstop Trevor Hilliard was a one-man wall past which few balls made it, it wasn’t quite as impressive or comprehensive. Their fielding was just a bit less tight and their batting not quite as sharp, but the intervening two weeks may have given them time to hone those skills and be ready for the Rapparees.

Referee: National Secretary Shirley Lennon

Prediction: Galway City Rapparees

Kilmore have impressed all season with their excellent fielding and clever batting and comprehensively won through their group, not losing a game. Their depth of squad is such that even on days when key players are not available, they can make it work and still get the runs in and outs needed to secure the win. Key to their success is pitcher Aidan Carr and his accurate, fast and smart bowling. His ability to catch short pop-ups and throw to base has caught many batters out. Outfield Mark Harrington is a powerhouse and has both an excellent catch and throw. Keeping it in the family Mark’s son, Eli, and Aidan’s wife, Ana, are both important infielders who can be relied upon to catch, throw and bat accurately. Jamie Sharkey at shortstop is dangerous if a ball is batted short and Oisin Boland is not an outfielder you want to direct a ball towards! Na Piarsaigh have their share of excellent fielders and Patrick Fitzgerald has been responsible for many outs. At shortstop Ian Jennings was formidable during their quarter-final defeat of Carrickmacross Emmets, while pitcher/catcher Alan Healy and Sarah Stanley were both responsible for multiple outs. Although Na Piarsaigh’s ability to keep calm during what was the most tense finish to any of the ten quarter-finals that day was seriously impressive and won them the match, they weren’t facing a team as collectively strong as Kilmore and it’s hard to see how they will have the batting power in particular to overcome the Roscommon side.

Referee: The Heath’s Philip Keane

Prediction: Kilmore

And then there’ll be six – our six Junior Finalists. The best of the best who will bring their A game to Abbotstown, Kilcormac and Mallow and aim to be crowned All-Ireland Champions for 2026. All we can say is bring it on! Sunday will be some day of Rounders and we can’t wait to be there to see every bit of it.

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Junior Quarter-finals Review – 25 July 2026

Great Day for Connacht & Munster Clubs at Junior Quarter-finals

Saturday 25 July saw 20 Junior Rounders teams from all over Ireland descend on Dublin 12 to play quarter-finals in Tymon Park. Just think about that for a minute – 20 teams all playing on the same day, in the same venue. Before we go any further, we need to sincerely thank Chris, Christy, Eileen and all of the Limekiln Rounders team for hosting the event and for all their help with preparation and planning. GAA Rounders is very lucky to have a club like Limekiln and a facility like Tymon Park available to us.

Junior Women

Our four 11am matches were all Junior Women and were located in close proximity to each other to facilitate spectators making the most of all games.

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

First to start – and finish! – was Carrickmacross Emmets vs St. Kieran’s. With a clash of team colours, Carrickmacross very kindly agreed to wear white for this game. Unfortunately for them, white jerseys didn’t bring them the same luck they brought Mayo the following day. St. Kieran’s first batting innings saw three Home Runs and a total of 13 scored. Carrick were unable to come close to this, scoring just three. The Limerick side added to this in the second innings, with another Home Run and a total of five home, leaving them with 18 on the board. An under par Carrickmacross team struggled to get runners home and only managed a further one until the final innings, when they got six runners in. But it was too little too late and the final score was 18-10 to St. Kieran’s with three bats in hand.

St. Kieran’s Junior Women

Best for St. Kieran’s on the day were pitcher Deirdre Ambrose, involved in four outs, and Short Stop Emma Galvin and 3rd Base Caitríona Hough, both involved in five outs. Back Catcher Siobhán Halligan got home three times, twice on Home Runs.

The Monaghan side’s Pitcher and Catcher, Mary Lambe and Emma Fay, were each involved in two outs while Sinéad Murphy was the only Carrick player not to be put out while batting.

Referee Chris Hughes officiated this “under an hour” game which started with a minute’s silence to remember Carrickmacross Emmets’ GAA player Stephen Gallogly who passed away earlier in the week.

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

St. Senan’s Junior Women

On the other side of the same pitch, Limekiln’s Áine McLaughlin was taking charge of another Limerick side, St. Senan’s, as they took on Carlow’s Myshall. With their two recent Senior signings, eyes were on Myshall to see what difference this would make to their team dynamic and both Gillian Nolan and Margaret Simpson contributed to the game with three catches, two outs on base and four assists between them. Neither managed to get home while batting and this can largely be contributed to St. Senan’s pitcher, Louise Kelly, who, between foul outs, catches and throws to base, was involved in six outs. Other great plays from St. Senan’s included catches from Short Stop Dympna O’Brien and two outs from Back Catcher Catríona Hanlon. Low scoring until the fourth innings, St. Senan’s took off while batting, bringing 10 home to go into the fifth 12-1 up. Myshall had no answer and it ended 15-2 to the Limerick side.

Leighlinbridge (Carlow) vs Skryne (Meath)

Leighlinbridge Junior Women

Two Limerick wins in the bag on Pitch 1, the first match on Pitch 2 was always going to have a Leinster winner, being contested by Leighlinbridge of Carlow and Skryne of Meath and refereed by Galway City Rapparees’ Jay Hall. Leighlinbridge came into this match not having lost a game and were favourites to win. Batting first, they only got two home before Skryne came in but Leighlinbridge were text book perfect with three up, three out. In the second, the Carlow side’s batting power started to show with nine home. Skryne’s Back Catcher Noeleen Greally got two outs in succession with batters seven and eight. Skryne managed five home, leaving the score 11-5 going into the third. Both sides scored five this innings and after a low scoring fourth for both, the fifth started 18-11. Leighlinbridge brought four home, leaving Skryne needing 11 to bring the game to extra innings, or 12 to win. They only managed to get one home, so the final result was 22-12 to Leighlinbridge.

Best on the day for Skryne were Zita Harris who got home twice and caught one out and Caoimhe McKenna who was involved in six outs, three of them clean catches! Leighlinbridge notables were Tracy McNally with a Home Run, Louise Riddell involved in three outs and Tara Roche involved in five outs.

Gusserane (Wexford) vs Kilmore (Roscommon)

The fourth Women’s match of the morning was between Wexford’s Gusserane and Roscommon’s Kilmore. Both sides had teams involved in Junior Finals in 2025 and both have been ones to watch all season, so this had the makings of a great match and the honour of refereeing it was given to National Secretary Shirley Lennon. Both sides were slow to start, and nerves got the better on a few occasions, but it was Kilmore who made the most of their opportunities in the first innings, leading 8-1 going into the second. Gusserane had a much better showing here, bringing nine home, to Kilmore’s seven. However, in the third innings, Gusserane got nobody past 3rd base while Kilmore got 12 home. When Gusserane failed to bring anyone home in the fourth, they elected to bat on but unfortunately that was their lot for the day, and the match ended 27-10 with two bats in hand for Kilmore.

Kilmore Junior Women

Although on the wrong side of the scoresheet, Gusserane’s pitcher, Mairéad Tubritt, 3rd Base Amy Ryan, Back Catcher Jenny McNamara and 1st Base Joanne Whitty all had great games. Kilmore’s star was Ruth McElhone with involvement in five outs, two of them from excellent catches, as well as getting home four times. Irene Reynolds’ pitching was spot on, leading to several foul outs while Nicola Craughwell at Back Catcher had three spectacular catches and got home four times. Also home four times was Clodagh Sheerin, with involvement in three outs.

Next up for the four winning teams is All-Ireland Semi-finals Day on 9 August in Edenderry GAA where the pairings will be

  • 11am – Kilmore vs St. Kieran’s
  • 1pm – St. Senan’s vs Leighlinbridge

Junior Men

With the top teams in each of the two Junior Men’s groups – Galway City Rapparees and Myshall – going straight to Semi-finals, there were only two Quarter-finals to be decided on Saturday. Yes, we know that mathematically that makes them not quite Quarter-finals but roll with it!

Na Gaeil Nua (Dublin) vs Na Piarsaigh (Limerick)

Both games were scheduled for 1pm and the ever-efficient Chris Hughes got his match started at 1.06pm and finished within an hour again! This featured Na Gaeil Nua from Dublin against Na Piarsaigh from Limerick in a test of experience vs enthusiasm.

With a scoreless first innings from both sides, Na Gaeil Nua got off the blocks with two home in the second while it took Na Piarsaigh until the third to get a score on the board, by which time Na Gaeil Nua were four ahead. The third innings saw the Dubliners bring 11 home, while Na Piarsaigh’s lone run in both the fourth and the fifth just weren’t enough to get them through and it ended 19-5 to Na Gaeil Nua with a bat in hand.

Na Piarsaigh Short Stop Ian Jennings and Pitcher Alan Healy both had a great game, being involved in four outs each. For Na Gaeil Nua, Javier Isern on 2nd Base, Emilio Piccione on 3rd and Short Stop Ryota Yamaguchi were each involved in multiple outs as well as making it home multiple times. Top run scorer was Robin Figueira who got home four times.

Gusserane (Wexford) vs Inniskeen Grattans (Monaghan)

The second Men’s game was between Wexford’s Gusserane and Monaghan’s Inniskeen Grattans. Gusserane’s Women had played earlier in the day while Inniskeen’s Mixed were playing at 3pm. The Heath’s Danielle Keane was in charge here and it got off to an impressive start with Gusserane leading 19-15 by the end of the second. Inniskeen had a great third and fourth innings and were behind by one going into the last. Batting first, they got one home in the fifth, leaving the score level and with all to do to make sure that Gusserane didn’t score in their final batting innings. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and with Mark Molloy and Conor Murphy both making it home, the game ended 31-29 to Gusserane, sending them through to the semi-finals.

Gusserane Junior Men

For Inniskeen, Short Stop Trevor Hilliard had five outs from clean catches while Back Catcher Ciarán McArdle was involved in four outs of his own. Gusserane’s Morgan Nash Colfer, Matthew Flynn and pitcher Carel van der Merwe had the lion’s share of their side’s outs while Conor Murphy got home an impressive six times.

Men’s Semi-finals will also be on 9 August in Edenderry GAA where Gusserane will meet Galway City Rapparees at 11am and Na Gaeil Nua will play Myshall at 1pm.

Junior Mixed

Eight of our Semi-finalists decided, it was time to turn attentions to Junior Mixed and fill the final four slots available in Offaly on 9 August.

Emo (Laois) vs Galway City Rapparees (Galway)

First up at 1pm was the clash of Emo and Galway City Rapparees. Both sides have Intermediate Mixed teams – so the coaching strength is there; Rapparees have Senior Men – so the depth of panel is there; and Emo have been outstanding at underage for years – so the fundamental training is there. This was another fascinating match with Shirley Lennon in charge for her second game of the day.

Galway City Rapparees Junior Mixed

Emo batted first and managed to get one home and bases loaded before Rapparees got their first out from a super catch by Back Catcher Sorcha Dowd. The next batter was fouled out and, the following caught out as well. Rapparees got two home from their first batting but a very impressive one-handed catch from Emo’s Barry Ryan as well as a great high ball catch from Back Catcher Padraig Langford kept the scores low. Innings two and three were similarly low scoring for both teams and the fourth started 5-3 to Rapparees. Emo didn’t get anyone home. With bases loaded, Rapparees’ Ajay Kumar came to bat, sent the ball way out over second, cleared the bases and scored a Home Run. From there, Rapparees kept the momentum going and scored 10 before their first out. Great work by Emo’s Darragh Meredith on 2nd Base saw him get an out on base and then a great catch to finish the innings. Emo managed to get three home from their final batting, leaving Rapparees not needing to bat their final innings. The game ended 15-3 to Galway Rapparees with a bat in hand.

Other notable performances from both sides were Greg Mannion with three great catches and two further assists. Not content with a Home Run, Ajay Kumar was also involved in three outs while Mel Mannion on 1st Base was super composed and got two great outs on base.

Emo’s Padraig Langford had the bulk of their outs with super catches and throws. Darragh Meredith on 2nd was impressive while Niamh Horgan on 1st Base was involved in two outs.

Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan) vs Na Piarsaigh (Limerick)

In his longest match of the day, Chris Hughes took charge of the next Mixed game between Monaghan’s Carrickmacross Emmets and Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh. Carrick’s ladies and Na Piarsaigh’s men were both playing their second game of the day. Na Piarsaigh started strong with a 5-2 lead after the first, but Carrick pulled back and were leading 10-9 going into the fourth. Both sides were evenly matched and Carrick went into their last bat needing at least one to draw or two to pull ahead. Pull ahead they did, by the narrowest of margins, giving themselves the task of getting three outs before Na Piarsaigh got anyone home. They almost managed it with three outs but before the ball made it back into home base from a super outfield catch by Val Wallace, Miriam Kearns just ran in to claim the victory 14-13 and put Na Piarsaigh into the Junior Mixed semi-final.

Na Piarsaigh Junior Mixed

Outstanding for Na Piarsaigh were Short Stop Ian Jennings, Pitcher Alan Healy, Patrick Fitzgerald outfield and Back Catcher Sarah Stanley. Carrickmacross had some brilliant play from Pitcher Paul Boylan, Catcher Darren Hughes and infielders Rachel Boylan and Sinéad Murphy but it just wasn’t to be their day. Still in the running in the Senior Championship, all three Junior sides are now out of the competition for 2026.

Kilmore (Roscommon) vs Myshall (Carlow)

Meanwhile, on Pitch 3 Danielle Keane was presiding over the third quarter-final between Kilmore and Myshall. Again, both sides’ ladies had played that morning, Kilmore’s taking the victory while Myshall’s weren’t successful. But this was a new game and a new start and there was all to play for. In another ‘uneventful until the fourth innings’ game, it was 12-9 to Kilmore after the third. And then Kilmore found their stride, getting an incredible 18 home in that innings. Myshall could only answer with two and so elected to bat on but their fifth only yielded one home so it ended 30-12 with a bat in hand for Kilmore.

Kilmore Junior Mixed

Despite the scoreline, Myshall had some great play and Matthew Roberts, at Back Catcher, had a great game with five outs and got home three times. Also strong at bat were Gillian Nolan and PJ Lalor.

Kilmore’s stars were the ever-reliable Mark Harrington at Short Stop with four outs and home five times. Pitcher, Aidan Carr, was involved in five outs and Ana Carr on 1st Base got home three times and got the first out of the match with a great catch. Eli Harrington as Back Catcher was also impressive and is certainly one to watch for the future.

Leighlinbridge (Carlow) vs Inniskeen Grattans (Monaghan)

The final match of the day started late due to the overrun of the Men’s game between Gusserane and Inniskeen Grattans but Leighlinbridge waited patiently and it got started late but was well worth the wait. Limekiln’s Áine McLaughlin refereed this and, from the start, it was a tense affair that could have gone either way. Leighlinbridge took an early lead, which Inniskeen closed down well in the second. Leighlinbridge pulled ahead again slightly but by the bottom of the fourth Inniskeen had increased their lead to four runs. With nobody getting home in their fifth batting, the Monaghan side took the game 21-17 with a bat in hand.

Leighlinbridge great plays came from multiple players. Back Catcher Drew Dedula got his name on five outs. Louise Riddell who started the game on 1st Base but moved to pitching was also involved in five outs while Jason Curran, Chiara Trench and Skylar Bryska also all caught some impressive balls to get outs.

Inniskeen’s Trevor Hilliard, not content with five outs in the earlier Men’s game, was involved in a further eight outs in this game! Sinéad Hilliard was responsible for three outs while JJ Smith got involved in four outs. Pitcher Seán O’Connor, pitching for the second game in a row, was impressive with just one walk-on in the entire match.

Our Junior Mixed games on 9 August will both be at 3pm and will feature

  • Kilmore vs Na Piarsiagh
  • Galway City Rapparees vs Inniskeen Grattans

Summary

We’re slightly biased but Saturday was an incredible day of Rounders. The skill, the sportsmanship, the batting and fielding, the craic that was had…and that was just the quarter-finals! The future is bright for our sport if this is what our Junior teams can produce.

Before we finish up, a few words of thanks

  • To our Referees – Chris, Áine, Danielle, Jay and Shirley – as always, super job and none of these days would run without you and your hard work
  • Our Umpires – Colin, Serena C, Serena L, Grace, Cat, Seán and Shirley – thank you for making our Referees’ jobs just a bit easier
  • Limekiln Rounders – for an excellent hosting job as always
  • Our President – Paula Doherty, who was there to watch matches and support our players
  • And especially to our Quarter-finalists – thank you for your dedication and commitment, for training all year, for organising and playing your league matches and for coming to Tymon Park last Saturday and giving it your all. To the players, managers, coaches and Club Secretaries, míle buíochas – we hope that, whatever the result, you enjoyed the day!

There will be Intermediate and Senior League games for the next two Sundays but for our Junior Semi-finalists the next stop is Edenderry in Offaly on Sunday 9 August. Keep an eye on our website for the previews for all those games 😉

 

 

 

Junior Men’s Quarter-final Previews – 25 July 2026

Saturday, 25 July 2026 | Tymon Park, Dublin

Our Junior Men’s competition began this year with ten teams split across two groups. Group A featured Carrickmacross Emmets, Gusserane, Inniskeen Grattans, Myshall, Na Gaeil Nua, and Castleknock (who unfortunately withdrew in May). Group B comprised Connacht and Munster sides Elphin, Galway City Rapparees, Na Piarsaigh, and Sporting Limerick (who also withdrew prior to the end of the league campaign).

With Group B consisting of only four teams, sides played each other twice in home-and-away fixtures. The group winners—Myshall and Galway City Rapparees—advance directly to the semi-finals on 9 August in Edenderry. Meanwhile, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th placed teams from Group A, along with the 2nd placed team from Group B, head to Tymon Park this Saturday to battle it out for those final two semi-final spots.

Here is how our two Junior Men’s quarter-finals shape up!

Quarter-final 1: Gusserane (Wexford) vs Inniskeen Grattans (Monaghan)

  • Time: 1pm
  • Referee: Danielle Keane (Laois)

Although Gusserane finished level on points with Myshall at the top of Group A, Myshall claimed top spot via their head-to-head victory. Nevertheless, Gusserane finished all three of their league wins with a bat in hand, boasting an impressive 2.5 Run Rate—by far the highest in their group. Having also captured the Junior Men’s title at Junior Day in May, there is no doubting the Wexford side’s pedigree.

Opposing them are Inniskeen Grattans—Junior Men’s semi-finalists in 2025 and finalists in 2024—who have been a consistent power at this grade for years. With their Women’s squad earning promotion to Intermediate this season, the Men will be eager to stake their own claim for 2027. Following a steady campaign of two wins and two losses, Inniskeen have been reliable, though perhaps not yet peaking. The combination of pitcher Seán O’Connor and catcher Ciarán McArdle works seamlessly to create opportunities for outs on first base and off foul tips, while Trevor Hilliard brings relentless work rate and lightning speed to the Short-stop position.

For Gusserane, pitcher Karel van der Merwe has been in fine form, while Morgan Nash Colfer in the outfield and Conor Murphy at Short-stop form an intimidating defensive barrier.

While this tie could easily go either way on the day, Gusserane’s players gaining extra sharpness through Intermediate Mixed play, alongside their strong group form, gives them a razor-thin edge… though we are fully prepared to be proven wrong!

Prediction: Gusserane

Quarter-final 2: Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) vs Na Gaeil Nua (Dublin)

  • Time: 1pm
  • Referee: Chris Hughes (Dublin)

Group B was always expected to be a tussle between Galway City Rapparees and Na Piarsaigh for top spot. After the Rapparees took a convincing victory in the first leg and the sides drew their second encounter, the Connacht club secured automatic semi-final qualification. Na Piarsaigh defeated Elphin at home and were awarded a walkover in the reverse fixture, meaning they come into the knockouts with one played win under their belts.

Dublin newcomers Na Gaeil Nua also hold one win, having dramatically defeated Carrickmacross Emmets with a bat in hand. While both sides mirror each other in overall league wins, Na Piarsaigh bring vastly superior competitive experience. The Limerick club fields teams across all three Junior grades, with their Mixed squad also featuring at Tymon Park this Saturday.

Na Gaeil Nua boast plenty of athletic raw talent—hitting, catching, and batting with real power—though they are still navigating the finer tactical nuances of the game. Na Piarsaigh, on the other hand, feature game-smart veterans who know every inch of a Rounders pitch.

This match promises to be a thrilling battle of experience and tactical composure vs raw talent and enthusiasm—definitely one not to be missed!

Prediction: Na Piarsaigh

That wraps up our Junior Men’s preview! Our final piece—analysing the Junior Mixed Quarter-finalists—will be released tomorrow evening.

 

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

With nine exciting pairings on Sunday to keep spectators and competitors interested and engaged, we look forward to seeing how our reigning All-Ireland champions and contenders fare. If you can’t be in Castlebar or Tymon Park, keep a close eye on our socials and website for the latest scores and winners.

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Crunch Time: Key Fixtures Set to Shape the Championship This Sunday

📅 Sunday’s Championship Action

All eyes turn to Athlone, Tymon Park, and Mullahoran this Sunday as the Rounders Championship edges closer to the knockout stages.
 
With games running out, every result now carries weight — whether it’s for top spot, survival, or momentum. Breaffy’s Senior squads return to action aiming to extend their unbeaten runs, while Cuchulainn, Kilmeena, and Erne Eagles look to shake up the standings. It’s also a big day for the intermediate championship in Galway. Run rates, head-to-heads, and weather could all come into play.
 

Senior Ladies

Breaffy vs Cuchulainn 📍Athlone GAA | 🕧 12:30pm | 🧍‍♂️Ref: Jack All eyes will be on Athlone as defending All-Ireland champions Breaffy return to action for just their second match of the campaign. The Mayo side have lifted the last three national titles and opened their 2025 account with a dominant 15–1 win over Raheen, showcasing their depth, power, and ruthless streak.

Cuchulainn, meanwhile, have already played three matches, narrowly beating Raheen and losing tight encounters to both Erne Eagles (30–34) and Glynn Barntown (7–15). Despite sitting second in the table, their run rate is negative—an issue they’ll need to address quickly. Last year’s meeting between these two sides was a cracker, and Cuchulainn pushed Breaffy hard before ultimately falling short.

With scoring difference and final placings still on the line, Cuchulainn will be desperate to cause an upset. But they’ll need to produce their most disciplined performance yet to overcome a Breaffy team that knows how to finish games with precision.
🔮 Verdict: Breaffy by 6



Senior Mixed

Breaffy vs Cuchulainn 📍Athlone GAA | 🕑 2:00pm | 🧍‍♂️Ref: Jack

 

It’s a heavyweight clash as reigning All-Ireland champions Breaffy face high-flying Cuchulainn in a game that could define the top of the table. Breaffy may be sitting in sixth due to games in hand, but with a perfect 3–0 record and the best run rate in the group (+2.7), they’re still the team to beat.

Cuchulainn, meanwhile, have racked up some serious scores and sit second with three wins from five. Their recent 24–21 victory over The Heath showed their threat with the bat, but their defence will be tested by a ruthless Breaffy side. A win here for Breaffy keeps their title defence firmly on track. Cuchulainn will be out to prove they belong in that top bracket.
🔮 Verdict: Breaffy by 3 ⸻

 

Erne Eagles vs The Heath 📍Mullahoran | 🕚 11:00am | 🧍‍♂️Ref: Philip

 

Quietly effective, Erne Eagles are sitting third with a game in hand and a strong run rate of +1.0. Their dominant wins over Limekiln and Kilmeena have underlined their status as serious semi-final contenders.

The Heath have had a patchy campaign, with one win and three defeats. They’ve shown glimpses of promise but conceded 68 runs in four matches—far too many at this level. Erne Eagles look sharper, more consistent, and better equipped to handle pressure. The Heath will need to pull something special out of the bag to avoid slipping further down the table.

🔮 Verdict: Erne Eagles by 7 ⸻

 

Limekiln vs Kilmeena 📍Tymon Park | 🕚 11:00am | 🧍‍♀️Ref: Sarah

Two teams with 1–4 records, 17 points each, and almost nothing between them. This is make-or-break. Limekiln have been involved in multiple close games but struggled to close them out.

Kilmeena, meanwhile, got a huge morale boost last round with a shock 9–7 win over Glynn Barntown. This is the first time the two sides meet in senior championship action—and it’s a true knockout scenario. The winner stays alive in the semi-final hunt. The loser almost certainly exits.

🔮 Verdict: Draw 

 

Carrickmacross Emmets vs Kilmeena 📍Tymon Park | 🕧 12:30pm | 🧍‍♀️Ref: Aine

 

Carrickmacross are bottom of the table but showed huge improvement in their last outing with a 22–16 win over The Heath. They’ll be hoping to carry that form into this one and pull off another upset.

Kilmeena play earlier in the day against Limekiln, and the quick turnaround could challenge their depth and stamina. If they win the first, this becomes a must-win. If they lose it, this becomes a lifeline. Carrickmacross are fresh and finally finding their rhythm—Kilmeena could be caught cold late in the day.

🔮 Verdict: Carrickmacross by 1  

 

Senior Men

Breaffy vs Cuchulainn 📍Athlone GAA | 🕞 3:30pm | 🧍‍♂️Ref: Jack

Last year’s beaten finalists Breaffy are on a mission—and they’re doing it with style. Unbeaten in three, they boast a staggering +4.3 run rate, having brushed aside the likes of Michael Glavey’s (31–6) and Limekiln (21–11). Sitting just outside the top four due to games played, a win here would put them firmly back in the picture for top spot.

Cuchulainn are fourth, but their path is anything but secure. With losses to Erne Eagles and Glynn Barntown on their record, they’ll need something special to hold off the chasing pack. Their 2-run win over The Heath earlier in the season showed grit, but they’ll need much more to stop a Breaffy side in full flow. Cuchulainn are fighting to stay in the hunt so expect intensity.
🔮 Verdict: Breaffy by 5  

 

Limekiln vs Michael Glavey’s 📍Tymon Park | 🕧 12:30pm | 🧍‍♀️Ref: Sarah After conceding two walkovers in a row, Michael Glavey’s are set to line out again—but they’ll need to rediscover their form quickly. Bottom of the table with –9 points and a –4.2 run rate, their season has unravelled fast. But if they can put in a full performance, they could at least restore some pride. Limekiln haven’t had the season they hoped for either. Just one win from five has them stuck on 17 points, and while qualification nearly is now out of reach, a win here would ensure they finish the campaign on a high. Both sides are wounded. One will leave with a much-needed boost.
🔮 Verdict: Limekiln by 9  



Intermediate Mixed

Galway City Rapparees vs St. Clare’s 📍Galway | 🕧 12:30pm | 🧍‍♀️Ref: Shirley

 

Last year’s Junior champions Galway City Rapparees have stormed into Intermediate mixed with real intent, boasting two wins from two and the best run rate in the group (+2.4). A third win here would seal qualification and set up a winner-takes-all clash with Erne Eagles for top spot in early August.

St. Clare’s were unbeaten until they ran into an on-fire Erne Eagles side. They still sit second on 13 points, but their fate now hinges on this trip to Galway. A big win could book their place in the semis. A loss, and they will most likely be leapfrogged by both Galway and Erne. This is effectively a knockout game for St Clare’s . Expect fireworks in Galway.

🔮 Verdict: Galway City Rapparees by 4

 

Athenry vs Erne Eagles 📍Athenry | 🕛 12:00pm | 🧍‍♂️Ref: Peter

After a slow start, Erne Eagles are suddenly back in the mix. A commanding win over St. Clare’s has boosted their confidence and run rate—and if they beat Athenry here, they’ll leap to 14 points and set up a massive final game with Galway.

Athenry have been competitive, but a leaky defence (conceding 62 runs) has cost them. Even with three games played, they’re out of the running—but they’d love to spoil Erne’s charge and grab a statement win at home. Erne need this to stay alive. Expect them to show up.
🔮 Verdict: Erne Eagles by 6

 

Intermediate men 

🔵 Galway City Rapparees vs St Clare’s 📍 Galway | 🕑 2:00pm | 🧍‍♀️ Referee: Shirley

It’s a high-stakes finish in the Intermediate Men’s group as Galway City Rapparees take on St Clare’s, with top spot and semi-final pairings hanging in the balance. The Rapparees have turned things around brilliantly in 2025. After failing to win a single game last year—including a heavy defeat to St Clare’s in this corresponding fixture—they’ve emerged as one of the form teams of this season. A statement win over Kilmeena and a dominant performance against the Dublin Mets show just how far they’ve come. Their only blemish was a one-run loss to Emo in a thriller.

St Clare’s have also secured their semi-final place after seeing off the Mets and holding a valuable head-to-head edge over them. However, inconsistency has been an issue, with defeats to both Kilmeena and Emo. A win here could lift them as high as second depending on run rate, while a loss would likely see them finish fourth.

For Galway, it’s simple: win and they top the group. Lose, and they risk dropping to third—setting up a rematch with Clare’s in the semi-final. A full-circle showdown either way.

🔮 Verdict: Galway by 3

Junior Men

Galway City Rapparees vs St Senans 📍 Galway | 🕜 Throw-in 11am Junior Men – Group A

It all comes down to this for Galway City Rapparees, who host St Senans in the final game of Group A. But despite still being mathematically alive, the odds are stacked against them in a brutal run rate scenario that may yet punish one of the form teams of the group.

Galway come into this clash with 16 points and a run rate of –0.4, having won two of their four matches and received a walkover win against Elphin—crucially, walkovers carry no run rate gain.

St Senans, by contrast, sit on 18 points with a run rate of 2.1, and have already beaten Na Piarsaigh and Sporting Limerick convincingly. Even in last week’s narrow defeat to Kilmore (16–15), they showed they could mix it with the best. The Rapparees are now in the unenviable position of needing to beat St Senans by around 30 runs to leapfrog them and Na Pairsaigh on run rate. A win by 9 or 10 would have been enough in a normal situation, but the lack of a run rate boost from their walkover against Elphin means Galway are carrying a deficit both mathematically and psychologically.

To make matters even more frustrating, Galway already beat Kilmore, who are top finishers in the group, earlier in the campaign. If they manage to beat St Senans here, they could beat both of the group’s top qualifiers—but could still finish fourth and miss out on the semis. That would be an extraordinary and rare outcome in a six-team group format in rounders.

St Senans, with their current run rate cushion, can afford a close loss and still go through. Their 18(2)-10(5) win over Elphin earlier in the campaign did wonders for their run rate.

Expect Galway to come out swinging—they’ve no choice. For St Senans, this is all about scoreboard management. Even a loss could be enough… just as long as it’s not historic.

🔮 Verdict: St Senans by 4

Thanks to all the referees officiating this weekend.   It’s never an easy task, without refs we have no games.