Emo GAA Rounders team chasing All-Ireland glory in Mallow

Emo GAA Rounders will be hoping to go one step further this Sunday when their Mixed Adult team takes on Galway City Rapparees in the All-Ireland Intermediate Mixed Championship final.

The Laois side will line out at Mallow GAA in Cork at 1pm on Sunday, September 13, with the game bringing together two teams who will be determined to finish the championship season with national honours.

Emo are back in the All-Ireland final after narrowly missing out on the title last year, when they were beaten by just one run. They have once again put together an impressive championship campaign and will now have the opportunity to go one better when they face Galway City Rapparees.

The Mixed All-Ireland finals are taking place in Mallow this Sunday, with Emo’s Intermediate final part of a full day of GAA Rounders action at the venue. The Intermediate final is sandwiched between the Junior Mixed decider at 11am and the Senior Mixed final at 3.30pm.

Galway City Rapparees have also enjoyed a strong run through the championship and will provide a serious test for the Laois side. They won all four of their group games before defeating Dublin Metropolitans in their semi-final to book their place in Sunday’s decider.

Emo also went unbeaten through their Intermediate Mixed group, defeating Dublin Metropolitans, Glynn Barntown, Gusserane and Raheen before facing Erne Eagles in their semi-final. They produced another impressive performance to win 17-10 and secure their place in the final.

There is also a historic element to this year’s GAA Rounders finals, with the Mixed finals being held together at the same venue for the first time. The sport is the only GAA code played at adult level by mixed teams, making Sunday’s programme a significant showcase for the game.

Emo players JP Tynan and Claire Hyland were also part of a special occasion at Croke Park on August 26 when they attended the historic first GAA Rounders Championship launch at headquarters.

The pair were photographed alongside GAA Rounders President Paula Doherty and GAA President Jarlath Burns as the countdown to this year’s All-Ireland finals got underway.

Now the focus turns to Mallow, where Tynan, Hyland and their Emo teammates will be hoping to bring the Intermediate Mixed All-Ireland title back to Laois.

The game will be broadcast on TG4 on Sunday, giving the Emo team the chance to showcase their talents to a national audience.

With last year’s narrow defeat still fresh in the memory, Emo will be determined to make the most of another opportunity on the All-Ireland stage and finish their campaign by going one better.