ALL-IRELAND FINALISTS The Breaffy senior rounders team who will play in next Sunday’s All-Ireland Final in Dublin. Back, from left: Helena McArdle, Gráinne Fahey, Katie Kenny, Paula Lenehan, Áine Basquille, Michelle Hopkins and Majella Haverty. Front, from left: Olivia Tolster, Karen O’Neill, Helen Gallagher, Avril Coyne, Laura Williams and Gráinne Gavin.
EXCITEMENT is building in Breaffy this week ahead of the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Rounders finals which take place next Sunday in Abbotstown, Dublin at 1.30pm.
The Breaffy women’s team are on the cusp of winning their first ever Senior Rounders title when they take on reigning four- in-a-row champions, Glynn/Barntown of Wexford.
Before Covid halted last season’s action before the final could be played, Breaffy were in fine form, winning three out of their four games in the group stages and booking a place in the semi-final against Adamstown of Wexford.
The Breaffy ladies had suffered heartbreak in their last three semi-finals, including in 2019 against Adamstown, but this time around they used those setbacks as motivation and overcame the Wexford side to confirm their place in the final.
Joint coach Colm Jordan took time out of his busy schedule to praise the Breaffy squad for the effort they have put in over the last few years, and admits he is hopeful about the final.
“Some of the group would have won an All-Ireland final before but not senior ladies, the most recent was in 2009, but most will be playing in their first senior final.
“We have a good mixture of experience with new members which is great. It’s great to have some of the old guard to help out with the rules, tactics etc.
“It’s been a long road getting to this final, losing out in the semi-final the past three years before finally getting over the line this year in a repeat of the 2019 semi-final against Adamstown.
“After the heartbreak in 2019, losing by one run we got the better of the same opposition last September showing great resilience coming back from the previous year’s heartbreaks.
“We look forward to the challenge of taking on Glynn/Barntown in the final. They have shown to be the best over the last few years so it will be a challenge, one we will do our best to overcome.”
- Jamie Dowling
