Mayo club travel to Dublin in search of double delight
On what will be another big weekend for the club, Breaffy will have two teams going for All-Ireland senior rounders glory at the finals on Saturday (September 6) in Abbotstown.
The Breaffy ladies are going for their fourth title in a row and the mixed team is looking to defend their title for the first time.
The ladies' final against Glynn Barntown of Wexford starts at 1 p.m. and the mixed decider against Cavan's Erne Eagles commences at 3.15 p.m.
Both contests at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown will be broadcast live on TG4’s YouTube channel, giving great exposure to a sport that falls under the GAA umbrella in Ireland.
Rounders has been streamed online in the past but this partnership marks the first time the finals will benefit from full TG4 production, with commentary and national promotion. With over 75,000 YouTube subscribers and TG4’s extensive social media reach, the finals will be showcased to thousands of new fans both at home and abroad.
Rounders has been part of the GAA since its foundation in 1884, but in recent years it has entered a new era of growth. Already this season, more than 600 adult games have been played nationwide — the busiest calendar in the game’s modern history.
Uniquely within the GAA, rounders is the only code where men and women line out together on the same team, with the senior mixed final a highlight of the championship calendar.
Fans can look forward to seeing some of the country’s top players and multiple All-Stars on show, as Breaffy, Erne Eagles, Carrickmacross and Glynn Barntown battle it out for national honours across three thrilling finals.
NEXT GENERATION
The growth is not just confined to the adult game. Juvenile rounders is thriving too, with Go Games, Féile and schools competitions ensuring the next generation is already taking to the field in record numbers.
Joseph Naughton, head of communications for GAA Rounders, told gaa.ie: “This partnership will hopefully open the door to more national media coverage. We’ve already had fantastic support from local newspapers and great radio coverage this season, and to now see the finals streamed live with commentary on TG4 is another huge step forward for our game.”
Iain Cheyne, GAA Rounders president, added: “I want to thank GAA headquarters for their huge support in helping us reach this point, and also pay tribute to the incredible volunteers whose hard work has driven the growth of Rounders nationwide. None of this would be possible without them.”
Supporters are encouraged to attend in person at Abbotstown or tune in live on Spórt TG4’s YouTube channel to be part of a historic day for GAA Rounders. For more information on the sport, visit www.gaarounders.ie.