The Michael Glaveys team that won the Intermediate Mixed Rounders All-Ireland Final.
By Jamie Dowling
Abbottstown played host to the first ever rounders Intermediate mixed and Intermediate Ladies final on Saturday with Michael Glaveys of Roscommon coming out on top in the mixed and Athenry clinching the ladies title.
The day produced brilliant rounders by all 4 teams who participated in the finals.
The first game of the day down for decision was the ladies final contested by Skryne of Meath and Athenry of Galway.
Kiara Collins produced a stunning display and was the cornerstone to the Galway ladies victory, She was backed up with team mates Lisa Guilfoyle and Sarah Gaughran who ultimately led them to victory.
In fairness to the Skryne ladies they battled hard all the way through putting it up to Athenry with Treasa Sheridan and Maggie Smith standing out for the Meath side.
Athenry’s batting was very accurate all the way through the game and hit a purple patch in the 5th innings when they ran in 5 scores and that ultimately proved vital for their win.
The game was still in the melting pot going into the 5th innings with Athenry just ahead by two with the score-line of 8-6.
Athenry then found another gear and ran 5 runs with a great hit from Sarah Gaughran getting two home as Athenry moved closer to the title.
The Athenry team that won the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Rounders Final.
Skryne chipped away at the lead but as the game was reaching a close, they ran out of time as Athenry clinched the first ever Intermediate title on a score-line of 15-10.
The second and final game pitted Michael Glaveys and Na Fianna from Dublin in the mixed final. Again, this game produced great batting and fielding with brilliant catches from Na Fianna’s Aodhaghan O’Deasmunaigh and Ronan Gately with Dylan Trindle and Sean Bailey starring for the Roscommon outfit.
It was an outstanding opening to a game that was littered with great fielding throughout from both sides leaving the game in the balance with Na Fianna leading 5-4 after the 3rd inning.
Michael Glaveys then produced an amazing 4th inning with an exhibition of how to bat with John Nolan and Anna Gallagher getting great hits. They ran in 11 scores and it was the turning point of the game.
Na Fianna tried to respond but they had no answer to the magnificent fielding of the Glaveys fielders.
Fittingly, man of the match Dylan Trindle short stop and Eamonn Carty on 3rd base combined to get the last Na Fianna player out and clinched the Intermediate title with Michael Glaveys winning 36-11