Galway City Rapparees take on Emo of Laois in the All-Ireland Intermediate Rounders Final this Sunday, August 31 at the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence.
This will be the Rapparees' third successive year competing in an All-Ireland final.
The club has had a remarkable journey since its inception in late 2021. That year, 14 players turned up to a junior blitz. Fast forward almost four years and the Rapparees fields five adult teams and has over 50 active players.
This season, the club hosted the Junior All-Ireland semi-finals - the first time such an event had taken place in Galway. The Rapparees are hoping to contribute, in partnership with Galway Bay Rugby, to plans for the new sporting facilities in Kingston as they aim to secure a long-term home for rounders in Galway.
The Rapparees also take pride in their diversity, with players from across Galway and Ireland but also Samoa, New Zealand, India, Canada and the United States.
The club is driven by a core of committed leaders such as chairperson and sponsor Tomas Kenny. Player-coaches Gavin Mulhall, Rory McGarvey and Pakie Killilea have developed the Intermediate Men into finalists. Manager Joe Naughton, who also serves as national PRO for GAA Rounders, leads the team with the support of national Children’s Officer Craig Davis. Public relations officer Alex Stewart ensures the club’s story is told nationwide.
On the pitch, All-Star and captain Cathal Creaven sets the standard.
Throw-in is at 12pm in Dunganny at the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence this Sunday.
