Elphin pitching for rounders glory

Pain can be a powerful teacher.

After losing last year’s All-Ireland Junior Women’s final, Elphin Rounders Club, once more, stand on the cusp of its greatest day.

The County Roscommon club will be represented in the All-Ireland Intermediate Women’s final on Sunday as they square off against the powerhouse that is Galway City Rapparees at NGDC Abbotstown (game begins at 1 p.m.).

After losing last year’s decider, team captain Georgina McDermott, who also helps out with coaching the adult teams within the club, feels that her side can take lessons from last year’s final reversal to Iniskeen Grattans.

“I think we were nearly in shock that we were in a final so quickly. Then I just think that while we thought it was a 50/50 game, deep down we probably didn’t believe enough in ourselves individually. We also let pre-match nerves get in the way.

“We were devastated after losing the final because we knew we had the capability of winning but, on the day, none of us played the way we are able to play.

“I think there is an element of believing in ourselves and each of the girls believing they are capable, and that we have just as much right to be there as any other team,” she noted.

Elphin’s men’s mixed and women’s teams have combined resources. Conor Gunn, Adrian Kielty and Avril Coyne have helped to coach all three teams while Pauline Tansey Brady has been instrumental in allowing the underage structures to flourish.

The club has sought to develop the correct structures, since forming in October 2023. After notable Community Games successes in the recent past, Elphin progressed through to the U-15 National Féile Mixed final back in June.

For McDermott, seeing the underage system flourish is a source of pride.

“There are quite a few of our players who have children playing at underage. You hear them shouting ‘come on Mammy’ or ‘oh Mammy you didn’t hit that well’. They are still looking up to their parents and other team members. We have a huge support locally. The whole area is very supportive.

“There are still men coming to the training sessions, which helps us bring on our game. The group, as a whole, is so supportive and every one of the girls — all 19 of them — have worked extremely hard. We support each other 100 per cent,” she noted.

After four teams were promoted from the junior to the intermediate ranks last year, McDermott admits there was an initial sense of trepidation among the group as they sought to compete in the higher tier.

However, despite losing to Galway City Rapparees earlier in the campaign, the team captain believes that the North Roscommon outfit can learn from last year and embrace the occasion.

“The work the entire 19 girls have put in to make all the improvement, we have come a long way from the first round game against Rapparees. We know it is not going to be an easy feat. We are going in as the underdogs, which is fine with us.

“We are going to take the game as a normal game and enjoy it. We will give it our best shot, and I don’t think we can ask much more of the girls,” she concluded.

ELPHIN: Áine McDermott, Aleksandra Szawernoga, Avril Coyne, Barbora Novobilska, Chloe O’Connor, Ciara Butler, Deirdre Darcy, Georgina McDermott, Gretta Davis, Jackie Neary, Katie Cronin, Kirstin Cronin, Lorraine Beirne, Lorraine O’Connor, Marie Neary, Mary T Madden, Michelle Dockery, Michelle Shiel, Pauline Tansey Brady.