Breaffy rounders look for history making treble
Claire Burke of the Breaffy Rounders Ladies team in action. Pictures courtesy of Rounders GAA
The Breaffy Ladies team had an outstanding campaign leading to the All-Ireland Final. They kicked off their season with a commanding 11-4 win over Erne Eagles, followed by another 11-4 victory over Glynn Barntown, thanks to solid batting and fielding.
They continued their unbeaten streak in tough conditions against Cuchulainn Rounders, securing a 10-3 victory to stay top of the standings. A dominant 21-7 win over Kevins Hurling & Camogie highlighted their strong batting and teamwork. In a tight game against Limekiln, Breaffy broke away in the fifth inning to win 18-4.
The All-Ireland Semi-Final was their toughest challenge yet, but the ladies showed great resilience, securing a dramatic 18-17 win with a final run as daylight faded, clinching their spot in the final.
Ladies captain Majella Haverty said: “It’s been a great season so far and to have three teams in three All Ireland finals is a great privilege for the club. For the ladies team, we have gone unbeaten so far this season and hope to continue that run come Sunday. The team has done the work and is ready to go out and give it all in Sundays final.”
Ladies’ co-managers Colm Jordan, Seamus Lunn and JP Gibbons said about the final test: “Our ladies are back to defend their All-Ireland title, it’s been another amazing year for them. Their motivation and dedication is an asset to behold. The semi-final tested our ladies’ characters, a test they passed with flying colours.
“We are up against familiar opposition in Glyn Barntown, the games are always tight, and Sunday will be no different. The work is done, we go into Sunday with belief in our ability. We will enjoy the build-up, have fun and may the best team win.”
The Breaffy Men's team had a remarkable journey to the All-Ireland Final, showcasing resilience and determination.
Their campaign began with a tough defeat against Erne Eagles (21-7), but they bounced back with a solid win over Glynn Barntown (16-12). A crucial victory against reigning All Ireland champions Carrickmacross Emmets (15-14) followed, demonstrating their grit under pressure. They continued their winning streak with a narrow victory over Cuchulainn Rounders (18-17) and a hard-fought win against Limekiln (13-12). Against Michael Glavey's, Breaffy displayed excellent fielding to secure a comfortable 10-3 win.
In the All-Ireland Semi-Finals, Breaffy Men made their first final in nearly 30 years, sealing the victory with a clutch performance in the final innings, securing their place in the final.
Seamus Lunn, one of the men’s team managers, had this to say about the historic achievement. “2023 was a breakthrough year for Breaffy Senior Men’s team reaching the semi-final for the first time in years. 2024 brought the team one step forward reaching the men's final for the first time since 1995. Breaffy lost their first game of the year to Erne Eagles (their opponents in the final) but then went on to win their remaining 5 group game and their semi-final against Limekiln. The main characteristics of the Breaffy Seniors Men team this year have been composure and resilience.
“This was evident in abundance as the team came from behind on no less than four occasions to win matches with their last batting. These battling characteristics are likely to be called on again if they are to succeed against a very experienced, quality Erne Eagles side.” The captain, Victor del Rosal, expressed his pride in how the team have performed so far this year. "I'm very proud of the men's team. Players and managers have put in the work. We've won 7 out of 8 games so far, playing smart, giving it all on the pitch and staying calm under pressure. Now we hope to bring it home for Breaffy and Mayo."
The Breaffy Mixed team had a strong journey to the All-Ireland Final, overcoming various challenges along the way.
Their campaign began with a narrow loss to Erne Eagles (17-13) in a closely contested match. However, they bounced back with a tight 7-6 win over Glynn Barntown, holding firm in the final moments. Against Carrickmacross Emmets, Breaffy dominated, winning 11-6 with excellent fielding throughout.
They continued their form with a commanding 12-4 victory over Cuchulainn Rounders, highlighted by Jamie Murphy's impressive one-handed catch. Another solid performance saw them beat Kevins Hurling & Camogie Club 10-4. Despite a setback against Limekiln, where they struggled with batting and lost 12-4, they rebounded in style with a 21-4 win over Michael Glavey’s, driven by a 14-run first inning.
In the All-Ireland Semi-Finals, after a restart due to a technicality, Breaffy pushed through for a hard-fought 14-6 victory, securing their place in the final.
Colm Jordan, captain of the mixed team, is looking forward to the challenge ahead. “Our mixed team are where we wanted to be at the start of the year, in the final. It's been an exciting journey with some ups and downs along the way. But we’re where we want to be, we’re up against strong opposition on Sunday but know that if we bring our best, we’re a match for anyone. We will enjoy the build-up and give it our all.” Breaffy go onto meet unbeaten Dublin side Limekiln Rounders in the All-Ireland Final. In the round robin stages when the two teams met, Breaffy weren’t at the races, but if they perform to their abilities in the final, they are more than capable of reversing the result.
