Pride and hurt at the heart of Kilmore’s rounders run

There are few more powerful emotions in the GAA than pride and hurt.

Kilmore Rounders Club is aiming to use both of those feelings to secure national glory when its junior team compete in the All-Ireland Junior Men’s final against St. Senan’s at the Meath GAA Centre of Excellence on Sunday next (game begins at 12 p.m.).

It would be a remarkable achievement for a club that was only formed in October 2023. Their 2024 campaign ended at the semi-final stage to Dublin Metropolitans. As a result, Kilmore player Jamie Sharkey admits that last year’s last four defeat has fuelled his side’s motivation this year.

“Last year was our first year. We did very well in the group stages. We thought we were world beaters but we got taught a very important lesson. We came up against a very established opposition.

“The only difference between last year and this year is the experience of losing that semi-final. It made us realise that we needed to knuckle down. We don’t want to suffer that kind of defeat again,” he noted.

Although Kilmore have only been in operation for less than two years, Sharkey highlights that there is a proud tradition of rounders in the local area.

“Around here we played a bit of rounders when we were 10, 11, 12. I think Teresa Murray had a lot to do with that. We used to go over to the pitch on a Saturday to play rounders growing up. I think everyone who remembered playing it, enjoyed it.

“No more than anything, we have a few people who played hurling and golf, and there are a few who have played cricket in Australia. Everyone has a different sport where the skill set is adaptable.

“Personally, I have played a bit of golf, so I prefer the golf swing, while with hurling helps with catching. It is nice to have a friendly rivalry between the codes as to which transfers over better.

“I think the biggest rivalry we have is when we are training. There are a lot of married couples in the club and there is nothing like playing against your wife to motivate you to make the catch and get them out!

“Rounders has a unique skillset. Anyone can really play, and it appeals to a larger group,” Sharkey stated.

It has been a difficult time for Kilmore recently with the passing of Don Connellan. Sharkey hopes that the club’s rounders team can bring joy to the parish by achieving a momentous victory.

“You cannot appreciate how huge an achievement this would be for a club like Kilmore. We are a very small club in Roscommon. We have always prided ourselves on punching a little bit above our weight. Hopefully, now we can do the same once more.

“It would be immense. We need everyone to push us on to the next level. There are people there who have given their all. It would be huge to be able to give something back to them.

“We set up the Teresa Murray Cup that we play for every winter just in memory of her. Teresa introduced rounders to a lot of us. With the recent passing of Don Connellan, you would love to do something to bring a bit of joy and pride to the parish,” he concluded.

KILMORE: JP Murray, Sean Boland, Jamie Sharkey, Aidan Carr, Aidan Reynolds, Breian Carroll, Barry Freckmann, Derek Vesey, Gary Beirne, James Jamieson, John Craughwell, John Gilchrist, Kealan Reynolds, Kevin White, Mark Connellan, Mark Harrington, Oisín Boland, Steve Chapman