Galway City Rapparees will have four players representing the club at the GAA World Games Rounders Exhibition Matches in Waterford on Thursday, 16 July, as some of the best players in the country come together to showcase the sport on the international stage.
The exhibition programme will feature Women’s, Men’s and Mixed matches, with each squad split into two evenly balanced teams on the day to ensure three highly competitive fixtures.
The event forms part of the wider GAA World Games celebrations and gives Rounders one of its biggest promotional opportunities to date, with players from 13 clubs across Ireland taking part.
John Mulligan spoke to National Secretary of GAA Rounders Shirley Lennon about the event and the Rapparees success to date.
The four Galway City Rapparees players are:
Ryan Dennis – Men’s Exhibition Match
Senior Men’s star Ryan Dennis has been selected in the Men’s Exhibition squad, which contains 22 players from nine clubs.
Dennis has established himself as one of the country’s leading bowlers and will line out alongside many of the top names in Irish Rounders when the Men’s Exhibition Match gets underway at 2:30pm in SETU Arena.
Ili Tuimauga – Men’s Exhibition Match
Joining Dennis is teammate Ili Tuimauga, another key figure in Galway City Rapparees’ senior side.
Tuimauga’s selection is recognition of his consistent performances since starting with the club last year and collecting an All-Star, he gives the Rapparees two representatives in one of the showcase games of the day.
Tomás Kenny – Mixed Exhibition Match
Club President Tomás Kenny has been selected in the 25-player Mixed Exhibition squad.
Kenny has played a major role both on and off the field in the continued growth of Galway City Rapparees and will now represent the club in what promises to be one of the highlights of the World Games programme. He plays 3rd base.
The Mixed Exhibition Match will take place at 5pm at Naomh Pól GAA.
Pakie Killilea – Mixed Exhibition Match
Completing the Galway City representation is Pakie Killilea, who also earns selection in the Mixed Exhibition squad. Killilea can bowl and play left field.
He has been a consistent performer for the Rapparees and joins Kenny as Galway’s representatives in the Mixed format, one of the defining features of GAA Rounders.
Cathal Creaven was selected, but will be representing Ireland at European Co-Ed Softball tournament in London the same week so he was unavailable. Hazel Kilduff and Katie Jessop will also be at the event representing Ireland & GB respectively.
A Showcase for the Sport
Players will collect their specially designed GAA World Games jerseys before the games, with each exhibition squad divided into two evenly balanced teams on the day.
Alongside the three matches, the event will feature skills competitions, Player of the Match awards, an All-Ireland trophy display and the official GAA Rounders World Games after-party in Waterford City.
The sport will also receive valuable national exposure when Virgin Media’s Ireland AM broadcasts live from Waterford on Tuesday, 14 July, with players and officials helping introduce GAA Rounders to a wider audience.
GAA World Games Rounders Exhibition Players by Club
Galway City Rapparees (Galway) – 4
Ryan Dennis – Men’s Exhibition
Ili Tuimauga – Men’s Exhibition
Tomás Kenny – Mixed Exhibition
Pakie Killilea – Mixed Exhibition
Breaffy (Mayo) – 9
Helen Gallagher – Women’s Exhibition
Aileen Gavin – Women’s Exhibition
Gráinne Gavin – Women’s Exhibition
Katie Groomell – Women’s Exhibition
Michelle Hopkins – Women’s Exhibition
John Gibbons – Men’s Exhibition
Mark Jennings – Men’s Exhibition
Colm Jordan – Men’s Exhibition
Patrick Heneghan – Mixed Exhibition
Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan) – 10
Justin Burns – Men’s Exhibition
Declan Finnegan – Men’s Exhibition
Ronan Kiernan – Men’s Exhibition
Barry Lambe – Men’s Exhibition
Euan Matthews – Men’s Exhibition
Louise Byrne – Mixed Exhibition
Aisling Ginnitty – Mixed Exhibition
Michelle McDonnell – Mixed Exhibition
Kim Thornton – Women’s Exhibition
Marie Whelan – Women’s Exhibition
Cúchulainn (Carlow) – 7
Billy Connors – Men’s Exhibition
Peadar Waters – Men’s Exhibition
Danny Broderick – Mixed Exhibition
Leanne Carroll – Mixed Exhibition
Leah Mullins – Mixed Exhibition
Marion Sheir – Women’s Exhibition
Caroline Waters – Women’s Exhibition
Dublin Metropolitans (Dublin) – 1
Aidan Jayne – Mixed Exhibition
Emo (Laois) – 2
Michael Slevin – Mixed Exhibition
JP Tynan – Mixed Exhibition
Erne Eagles (Cavan) – 9
Maggie Brady – Women’s Exhibition
Shirleen Burns – Women’s Exhibition
Lisa Flood – Women’s Exhibition
Irene Scanlon – Women’s Exhibition
Gerard Clerkin – Men’s Exhibition
Owen Roe O’Reilly – Men’s Exhibition
Shane Sheridan – Men’s Exhibition
Geraldine Goldrick – Mixed Exhibition
Justin Perrin – Mixed Exhibition
Glynn Barntown (Wexford) – 15
Pamela Brennan – Women’s Exhibition
Abbie Delaney – Women’s Exhibition
Chloe Doyle – Women’s Exhibition
Aileen Kelly – Women’s Exhibition
Sheena King – Women’s Exhibition
Alisha Reddy – Women’s Exhibition
Emma Reddy – Women’s Exhibition
Mary Roche – Women’s Exhibition
Paul Cooper – Men’s Exhibition
Paul Delaney – Men’s Exhibition
Garry Jordan – Men’s Exhibition
Aoife Birney – Mixed Exhibition
Gary Boland – Mixed Exhibition
Tyra Brennan – Mixed Exhibition
Mick Kelly – Mixed Exhibition
Innishkeen Grattans (Monaghan) – 1
Julianne Smith – Mixed Exhibition
Limekiln (Dublin) – 2
Eddie Healy – Men’s Exhibition
Ciarán Weldon – Men’s Exhibition
Raheen (Wexford) – 3
Eddie O’Connor – Men’s Exhibition
Aidan McDonald – Mixed Exhibition
Nakita O’Connor – Mixed Exhibition
St. Senan’s (Limerick) – 3
Louise Kelly – Women’s Exhibition
JP Mulvihill – Mixed Exhibition
Niall Sheehy – Mixed Exhibition
The Heath (Laois) – 4
Holly Kavanagh – Women’s Exhibition
Aaron Keane – Men’s Exhibition
Danielle Keane – Mixed Exhibition
Dwayne Keane – Mixed Exhibition
