Sheena King of Glynn Barntown bats during the Ladies Senior Rounders Final 2020 match between Breaffy and Glynn Barntown at GAA centre of Excellence, National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.
By Jamie Dowling
A day that had absolutely everything – It was an All-Ireland Senior Rounders finals day to savour and it lived up to all expectations. Eight months on since the semi-finals it was well worth the wait.
Glynn/Barntown of Wexford went in search of securing rounders history, but their challenge ended in despair as they were unfortunate enough to lose all three Finals.
Carrickmacross of Monaghan overcame the Wexford side in a thriller in the men's final, in the women's final Mayo side Breaffy toppled the four in a row champions, and in the last match of the day Erne Eagles of Cavan edged out the Wexford side in a closely fought contest.
From the very first ball of the first game the talent was really on show in front of the cameras as it was the first time the Rounders finals were live streamed.
The first game of the day pitted Carrickmacross men against Glynn/Barntown with both teams looking to win their first All-Ireland men’s title.
The theme of the day was some great fielding throughout the three games and this game was no different, especially three one hand catches from Oran Kiernan who led his side to victory.
Carrickmacross just had to much in the tank and overcame Glynn/Barntown and sealed their first title on a score-line of 11-8.
Adam Doyle of Glynn Barntown runs out Justin Burns of Carrickmacross during the 2020 Men’s Senior Rounders Final match between Carrickmacross and Glynn Barntown at the GAA centre of Excellence in Abbotstown, Dublin.
Next up was the ladies match which was contested by Glynn/Barntown and Breaffy of Mayo. It lived up to expectations as the game swung back and forwards, with Glynn/Barntown looking good in the early exchanges.
But the Mayo side didn’t panic and reeled them in with great fielding from Katie Kenny and bowler Michelle Hopkins.
The play of the day happened on 2nd base in the bottom of the 6th inning with Avril Coyne getting the batter out with a great catch and then firing a throw to home base to get another one out to leave Breaffy with one hand on the trophy.
The game came down to the wire as the game entered the last innings with the Wexford side needing two to draw and three to win in their last innings.
Breaffy closed out the game with a catch from Olivia Tolster and sealed their first ever ladies title.
Erne Eagles players celebrate with the trophy after the Mixed Senior Rounders Final 2020 match between Erne Eagles and Glynn Barntown at GAA centre of Excellence, National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.
The last game of the day was Glynn/Barntown against Erne Eagles. Glynn/Barntown reacted well to their two losses before this game and flew out of the traps and racked up 7 scores.
Erne Eagles didn’t panic much like Breaffy in the ladies and eventually turned the game around with brilliant batting by Darryl Dolan and Ollie Fitzsimons.
It came down to the 7th with Erne Eagles leading 14-12 as they edged closer to the trophy once again.
Dolan came to the fore with two great catches and another catch from Ollie Fitzsimons sealed the win and the Dympna Reilly Cup.
The win led to emotional celebrations as Erne Eagles' captain Maggie Brady paid tribute to their late club-mate Dympna Reilly in her winning speech. It was fitting end to a brilliant day of which Dympna would have been proud.