Adamstown Rounders Club on the ball
IT has been a strikingly good year for Admastown Rounders Club who recently had a celebration night in Foley’s pub, Newbawn.
Though only in the second year as an official GAA Rounders Club, Adamstown has a long running history with the game.
Parish club ‘Newbawn Raheen’ was at the forefront of National Community Games Rounders competitions since the late 70s and there is a long-standing local love of the game which has been passed down to the current generation.
This history, coupled with the national growth of GAA senior rounders competitions, inspired local woman Therese Kidd to form the first parish team. Merging players from the three parish villages of Adamstown, Newbawn and Raheen, Adamstown Rounders Club was begun.
The first year of the club consisted solely of a ladies senior team, managed by Therese and Lisa O’Sullivan. Although a club still in its first year, the ladies progressed well throughout their first competition, qualifying from the group stages. While ultimately exiting the competition at All Ireland quarter final stage, the seeds were set for growth within both the ladies team and the club as a whole. After an impressive first season, local interest in the sport grew and two new teams were formed within the club, Senior Mens and Senior Mixed, managed by Dylan Whitty. The newly formed teams followed suit from the success of the ladies the previous year, with the Senior Mens narrowly missing out on qualification from their group and the Senior Mixed only exiting the competition at the semi final stage.
The Senior Ladies team, also managed by Dylan Whitty, reaching the All Ireland Final in their second year has been a great source of celebration for both the club and the local area and has inspired further plans to grow the club with a number of underage teams hopeful to join the 2020 national rounders competitions.
The eagerly awaited All-Stars were announced in September and the club’s members were thrilled to hear that two of their ladies had won, namely Marie O’Sullivan from Carrigbyrne who took home the award for ‘Right Out Field’ and Joanne Murphy from Raheen who took home the award for ‘Roaming
Fielder’.
Both girls had a very impressive season and have set the bar very high for 2020. Club spokesperson Catriona O’Sullivan said: ‘In just our second year at senior level, the club was over the moon to bring two All Stars back to Adamstown, a great night was had by all in Dublin’s Green Isle Hotel.’
Catriona thanked Foley’s of Newbawn for generously sponsoring their much admired new club jersey, while Tristan White Construction and Delaney’s shop, Newbawn sponsored their Halfzips. ‘Many local businesses and individuals have been extremely generous with both sponsorship and ongoing support, to which we are extremely grateful. We have experienced overwhelming community involvement and support which has been the cornerstone of the clubs success to date.’
At the awards night the following presentations were made: Player of the Year: Women’s: Sandra White, Mens: Daithi White, Mixed: Ann Marie Dunphy, Most Improved Player: Women’s: Cait Foran, Mens: Kieran Guinan, Mixed: Tristan White, Most Committed
Player: Womens: Joanne Murphy, Mens: Eamonn Jones, Mixed: Paul Delaney, Special Award: Club Helpers, Catriona O’Sullivan, Elaine Guinan and MaryJoe Delaney.
Despite the club’s infancy, registration numbers have been impressive, with dozens of locals playing, supporting and assisting with the club on a daily basis. New members are always welcome and anyone who wishes to join next season should keep an eye on the club’s Facebook page for more details.