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Successful International Rounders Event. 2005
Ulster Players Excel. 2005
Leinster Players in Superb Form. 2005
Grand Slam for Ireland. 2005
Ireland Survives Powerful Challenges in Extremely Sporting Exhibitions. 2005

Glorious sunshine contributed to the greatest display of Rounders in the history of the game in Ireland, last Saturday and Sunday, 2nd and 3rd. of July, at Ireland's newest public sports facility, the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.   The very early arrival of the International squads from England and Wales, and of Leinster Clubs for the Gary Kelly Cup tournament allowed for an early start to activities on the perfect, well marked, playing fields.
Initial welcomes were followed by exhibitions of the major rounders game played in England, Wales and Scotland, which was referred to as 'NRA' (National Rounders Association code).  Wales played England in a 'twenty ball' introduction to the visitors game, and, after a history of infrequent exchanges between Irish, Welsh and Scottish teams in 'junior' level NRA games, every spectator and player were pleasantly surprised at the standard of skills execution. Hitting was fast and effective, sprinting was explosive yet controlled, even the fielding was superb and the passing of the ball was perfection in itself, with target players being left with no fear of a throw being misdirected. Applause was frequent for the displays of athleticism and fielding strategies. Even more appreciated was the manner in which the Irish players adapted to the 'strange' code, which was played with a smaller ball, smaller bat, smaller infield playing area and use of 'posts' instead of mats for bases or 'corners'. The 'end' line was a straight line giving a 180 degree playing area, (that is; a large semicircular area centred on a normal playing field side line) compared with the Irish version of a large 90 degree 'V' (identical to Baseball or Softball). The field layout allowed that the nine fielders on a team had to defend a playing area twice the size of that of the local game.
The second demonstration match of the day was a friendly between visiting St. Helens, Liverpool, club, Canterbury Belles and the Irish All Stars who impressed with the first formal involvement in the game.    The      result of this match was an encouraging win for the Nation's best (the score was 3-3 but a technicality allowed the victory to be called by the English referee, in favour of the host nation). The fixture produced a match top scorer in the Ireland panel, namely Fionnuala Ní Thúatain, whose sporting commitment continued throughout the weekend of great sporting action.
The Saturday half of the event continued with qualifying matches in the annual Gary Kelly Memorial Cup Rounders Tournament, in which several players produced excellent personal performances on the field (defensive mode) and 'at bat' (offensive mode).    Two teams entered this club team competition for the first time on Saturday; Bagenalstown (Carlow) and Canterbury Belles (Liverpool), and another new name, Castlebar (Mayo),
appeared on Sunday.  The presence of an odd number of teams for the first day's play dictated that the format of the tournament had to change and the teams for the final were 'selected' after each team played several competitive matches.

Bagenalstown beat host club Naomh Mhichil (Lissan, Doire) 12-8. 

Bronagh Ni Thúatain was Lissan's best with a batting     average (Runs scored on her hits) of 1.000 (100 %  -  2 runs on 2 hits), a good fielding display and two successful tours of the bases to score two runs.   Mary Wright's average was 1.000 (2 for 2) and her fielding was very good.  Mary's niece Lisa Donnelly had a personal best average of 1.000.  Best hitter in the match was Bagenalstown's Jenny O Brien, with a batting average of 1.500; 3 runs earned on two strikes.
Teams and Scores:

Naomh Mhíchíl: Orlaith Quigley 1, Frances Bell 1, Nadine Mc Allister 2, Bronagh Ní Thúatain 2, Lisa Donnelly 1, Niamh Mc Ivor 0, Caroline Mc Elhone 1, Mary Wright 0, Laura Mc Cann 0.  

Bagenalstown:  Lynsey Mc Grath 2, Elaine Clarke 2, Jenny OBrien 2, Louise Clarke 2, Grace Doyle 0, Nicola Clarke 0, Jenny Creive 2, Tracey Egan 1, Tara Murphy 1.
 

Erne Eagles beat Canterbury Belles 10 - 7.  

Top scorer was Eagle's player, All Star Dympna Reilly, with three runs and no outs.   Among St. Helens's best was their number one Lisa Cooper with two runs.  Several of their scores were made on weak deliveries by the Cavan pitcher, with two runs made in this manner Belles's Claire Galloway, one of three Welsh players noted by the referee for excellent plays. The others were Daniel Galloway and Annie Fogarty.
Teams and Scores : 

Canterbury Belles: Lisa Cooper 2, Andrea Stubbs 0, Denise Kennedy 1, Carmel Brunt 1, Anne Fogarty 0, Claire Galloway 1, Sam 1, Jane 0, Daniel Galloway 1. 

Erne Eagles:   Áine Brady 1, Dympna Reilly 3,
Rosaleen Reilly 2, Una Brady 1, Patricia Beglin 1, Andrea barber 1, Avolene Lynch 1, Aileen Smith 0.

N. Mhíchíl  22  Canterbury Belles  7 

One Derry player, Niamh Mc Ivor, stood out in this match for her excellent performance throughout the game and especially for the Home Run she scored late in the second innings. Niamh's batting average for the match was 1.5 (6 runs on four hits).   Jane, the Canterbury Belles' number 6,  and guest player Daniel Galloway, each scored two runs to become top scorers for St. Helens.  Their Captain Fred Crawford, an elder     performing as good as the youthful panel around
her, made a good RBI average with well placed hitting.
Teams and Scores:

Canterbury Belles: Lisa Cooper 1, Andrea Stubbs 0, Caroline Yoeman 0, Carmel Brunt 0, Sam 1, Jane 2, Daniel Galloway 2, Claire Galloway 0, Fred Crawford 1. 

N. Mhichil: Orlaith Quigley 1, Laura Murphy 2, Fionnuala Ní Thúatain 3, Niamh Mc Ivor 4, Nadine Mc Allister 3, Paula OConnor 3, Mary Wright 2, Frances Bell 2, Lisa Donnelly 2.
 

N. Mhichil   6   An Tinile (Limekiln, Átha Cliath 12) 18

Niamh Mc Ivor was to the fore again in this match, scoring twice as many as any of her team mates.  Mary Donnelly and Fionnuala Ní Thúatain got the hits but the Dublin nine were very sharp with their defensive plays and Lissan's ladies struggled to get their sixth run.   Four of the Leinster players scored three runs each, namely Carole Hughes, Linsey Healey, Christine Kelly and Jackie Donnelly.   The hard hitting city side scattered the Derry fielders in the first innings scoring thirteen runs to N. Mhichil's three.   Derry defence steadied for the remainder of the match and held the title holders to a 2-2 draw in the final innings.

Teams and Scores:

N. Mhichil: Niamh Mc Ivor 2, Lisa Donnelly 0, Edel Kelly 0, Mary Wright 1, Frances Bell 2, Nadine Mc Allister 1, Fionnuala Ní Thúatain 0, Laura Murphy 0, Orlaith Quigley 0.   

An Tinile: Jodie Mc Kendry 1, Carole Hughes 3, Lynsey Healey 3, Christine Kelly 3, Jacqueline Donnelly 3, Lizzy Maguire 2, Marion Hughes 0, Janet Donnelly 2 and Niamh Haverty 1.

Bagenalstown (Carlow)  7  Erne Eagles 2 

A great double play by Rosaleen Reilly helped keep Cavan spirits up, but the south Leinster team made good use of the spaces created by the absence of Eagles' number nine player.  Pitcher Patricia Beglin had a fault free match, an unusual statistic for    Senior Ladies games.   Carlow's strength came from their good fielding positions and a slight advantage in hitting efforts.  Elaine Clarke, new to the senior grade proved her abilities and assisted her side well.   Helen Foley and Tracey Egan fielded very well, being very sharp especially in the final      innings, which was a credit to both teams. The innings ended 0-0.
Teams  and Scores:

Erne Eagles: Áine Brady 1 Dympna Reilly 1, Rosaleen Reilly 0, Una Brady 0, Patricia Beglin 0, Andrea Barber 0, Avolene Lynch 0, Aileen Smith 0.  

Bagenalstown: Lindsey Mc Grath 1, Elaine Clarke 1, Jenny OBrien 2, Louise Clarke 0, Grace Doyle 1, Nicola Clarke 1, Helen Foley 0, Sarah Manning 1, Tracey Egan 0.
 

An Tinile  6  Bagenalstown  4

A mid match furious fielding flourish by Janet Donnelly and Niamh Haverty produced a great double play and a third out on a great catch, to curtail the Carlow offensive, and despite a great effort in batting by Louise Clarke and Grace Doyle, Bagenalstown couldn't recover.
Teams and Scores:

An Tinile: Jodie Mc Kendry 1, Carole Hughes 2, Lynsey Healey 1, Christine Kelly 0, Jacqie Donnelly 0, Lizzy Maguire 0, Marion Hughes 0, Janet Donnelly 1 & Niamh Haverty 1.

Bagenalstown: Lindsey Mc Grath 1, Elaine Clarke 0, Jenny OBrien 1, Louise Clarke 1, Grace Doyle 0, Nicola Clarke 0, Sarah Manning 0, Tracey Egan 0, Helen Foley 1.

In Sunday's series of three Gary Kelly Plate matches Castlebar (Mayo) defeated Naomh Mhichil, Canterbury Belles and, in the Plate Final, Erne Eagles.

Gary Kelly Memorial Cup Final
Bagenalstown  15  An Tinile  14

The final action on last Sunday evening was the Final of the Gary Kelly Cup, between holders from Dublin, An Tinile, Limekiln, and newcomers from south Carlow, Bagenalstown.  Sunshine  was fading as the rainclouds threatened, but the sides agreed to play a full five innings match.   The Carlow side looked the better in the first innings scoring five runs and conceding one.   Sisters Louise and Nicola Clarke fielded   superbly to snatch a couple of catches off the city girls.
The second innings allowed Louise and Elaine Clarke and Grace Doyle to snap three more catches but An Tinile were better organised and they took the innings 5-3.The third innings was almost a landslide for an Tinile who scored six to Bagenalstown's one run.  Carole Hughes and Niamh Haverty were the focus of most of the applause for their excellent fielding.   Star performances by Jenny OBrien and Nicola Clarke helped the
Carlow nine back into the game and when the sides lined up for the final innings the score was fourteen runs each side.Christine Kelly made a superb catch off first batter, number one, Lindsey McGrath, and received the referee's endorsement for a Star play.  
Elaine Clarke was eased to third base and she scored off a well placed hit by Grace Doyle, on two outs.    Louise Clarke pulled a good hit too much from centre field and Jacqueline Donnelly was under it for a good catch.   Nicola Clarke fouled out and the game was up for grabs.Janet Donnelly made first base.  Jodie Mc Kendry popped the sliotar into the infield, Carole Hughes went on base but when Lynsey Healey was called there were two out. Linsey was isolated off base and the game ended unchanged at 15 - 14 in favour of Bagenalstown.

Ann Kelly, mother of the late Gary Kelly, was on hand to present both sides with their medals and to hand over the Gary Kelly Cup, to new holders, Bagenalstown.   She in turn was presented with some flowers on behalf of the host club and on behalf of all of the players and officials involved in the tournament.
Teams and Scores:

An Tinile: Jodie Mc Kendry 2, Carole Hughes 1, Lynsey Healey 3, Christine Kelly 2, Jacqueline Donnelly 1, Lizzy Maguire 1, Marion Hughes 0, Janet Donnelly 2 and Niamh Haverty 2.

Bagenalstown: Lindsey Mc Grath 2, Elaine Clarke 3, Jenny OBrien 4, Louise Clarke 3, Grace Doyle 0, Nicola Clarke 1, Tracey Egan 0, Sarah Manning 1, Tara Murphy 1.

 

INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
(Irish Code)
England 4 runs  Wales  7

With all the introductions and demonstrations out of the way, the stage was set on Saturday for the first ever International (Irish) Rounders tournament involving the officials and players from more than two nations. 
Disappointment at the unavailability of Scotland's best was quickly forgotten in the weekends high standards of play in both NRA and Irish rules.  All sides were anxious to give their best efforts for the honour of their nations and to prove their adaptability in new codes.It was judged that the best pairing for the first International match would involve the two visiting sides in order to give each of match practice under the guidance of Irish coaches.
The hitting was  superb from the first pitch, and while the hurling ball required a little observation and practice both sides found the fielding effort easy enough to master.  The strategies of the game especially in defensive mode, took a while to develop and both sides struggled to find the most appropriate plays.   The first innings ended a low 3 runs to 2 in favour of Wales, Jo Andrews Wales number 2 earning a Star on her first hit.
Both sides concentrated on the skills they were best at the second innings ended 2-2, leaving Wales narrowly in the lead.   The final innings was a short one with Wales sneaking in two runners  to bring their total to seven runs.    England struggled with their hard hitting neighbours, but looked very efficient in defence. England couldn't find the spaces to earn enough time to reach the bases and the match ended with Wales three ahead.
A major feature of the Irish game was the running distance of twenty five metres between bases.  A run means a run of one hundred metres in four or fewer sprints.  The distance to each base was hard to judge for players used to twelve metre dashes.
Teams and Scores:

England: Jill Keyworth 0, Linsay Sayer 1, Claire Eckersley 1, Jane Uttley 0, Tracey Giles 0, Jan Griffiths 0, Helen Hawes 0, Alex Hall 1, Laura Peebles 1, (Rachel Hurst for Jill Keyworth 0, Lynne Harrison for Linsay Sayer 0, Tracey Kay for Jane Uttley 0, Jean Riley for Tracey Giles 0).  - 

Wales: Maz Tomkins 2, Jo Andrews 0, Amanda Phelan 1, Jane Hughes 1, Jill Williams 0, Irene Martin 0, Joanne Hutchings 1, Joanne Hackett 0, Jane Allen Roberts 2.  

Great fielding by Amanda Phelan.  Jo Andrews caught everybody's' attention with one of  the longest hits of the day early in the match.

 

Ireland 10  England 5

This pairing had been made on the basis that the England side might have won their match against Wales, even though there was no modern criteria for making such a judgement.
England fielded first, and in retrospect they might have chosen to bat, to get another look at the fielding strategies in general and of the Ireland players.   One early 'walk on' (three bad pitches) was the only initiating error made by the visitors, but their perfect pitching action delivered the ball mostly where the Irish batters needed it, and they easily placed their hits in the outfield.   The opposing fielders were extremely quick to retrieve the ball and make sure that only minimum scoring chance would be presented.     By the third out Ireland had made the tour of the bases ten times.   In replay England were very unfortunate to make only one run, Alex Hall scoring on the final hit of the innings.
The second innings was a closer encounter, Ireland lucky to make three runs.   For England disaster struck, with Irish experience accounting for the first three batters called.
With the final innings looming the Irish conceded their 'at bat' and England 'batted on'.   Alex Hall scored again and resulting plays brought hope to the England nine.  Claire Eckersley scored, after being walked to first base, Rachel  Hurst finished the grand tour and behind her came Helen Hawes.  Two more batters went on base but the third out was made before either of them could complete the hundred metre trip.  The result was a fairly good one for England but they showed a potential for the game which suggested they might have done better, given a little experience.
Teams and Scores:

England: Alex Hall 2, Lynsay Sayer 0, Claire Eckersley 1, Laura Peebles 0, Rachel Hurst 1, Helen Hawes 1, Lynn Harrison 0, Tracey Giles 0, Tracey Kay 0. One feature of this observed was very good fielding
by Laura Peebles and Tracey Giles.

Ireland: Áine Brady 1, Pauline Ó Hagan 1, Louise Clarke 1, Christine Kelly 1, Grace Doyle 2, Andrea Barber 2, Chantelle Cole 2, Fionnuala Ní Thúatain 0, Dympna Reilly 0. Very good fielding by Pauline ÓHagan and Louise Clarke helped keep Ireland in front.

 

Ireland 11 Wales 1

Spectators and officials expected Wales to put up a great challenge to the Irish All Stars, after their excellent performances against England and in coaching and practice session earlier in the day.  They probably spent a lot of effort studying the positions of the opposing players and their reactions to Welsh hits.  Their fielding efforts were very good but their thinking time while in possession of the ball was well read by the Ireland nine scores were made with a little extra effort in the Irish sprints.
The first innings ended 8-0 Pauline OHagan making a second run to crown the first innings for the home team.  Wales hit hard in the second innings, and avoided outs by catching, but the twenty five metres proved a little too long on three occasions in a row.  No runs materialised.   Ireland were better shepherded in this innings, and were very lucky to get a third run, to bring the score to 11-0.
Wales batted their final innings with powerful strikes and they tried hard to take full advantage of these.  Marianne Tomkins got the first and only Welsh run and the game ended with the bases loaded and three out.
Teams & Scores:

Wales: Jo Andrews 0. Amanda Phelan 0. Jane A. Roberts 0, Irene Martin 0, Jill Williams 0, Jo Hutchings 0, Maz (Marianne) Tomkins 1, Jane hughes 0. Joanne Hackett 0.

Ireland: Niamh Haverty 0, Pauline Ó Hagan 2, Louise Clarke 1, Christine Kelly 1, Grace Doyle 1, Lizzy Maguire 2, Chantelle Cole 1, Fionnuala Ní Thúatain 2, Jenny Ó Brien 1.

 

International Final
Ireland 22  Wales  6

Wales and Ireland being the top two teams in the tournament results, the two sides met again on Sunday evening as the highlight of the day.Wales batted first and found the Irish pitcher Louise Clarke in very good form.  The first batter, Irene Martin, slipped the sliotar back for a quick catch by catcher Fionnuala Ní Thúatain.  Number two and number three failed to get a good strike and were beaten to first base, in near perfect fielding by Ireland.
Twelve Irish batters went to first base before the first out, a great catch by catcher Jo Andrews.  Two batters later centrefield Jane Allen Roberts caught a superb hit by Chantelle Cole.   Andrea Barber cheekily sneaked through all the bases on a middle distance strike to left of centre field, the visiting fielders taking just a little too long to think about where they should deliver the retrieved ball.   With two out and the bases loaded Christine Kelly in one of her typical right outfield drives was isolated off base for the third out and one runner coming home.  The score was now 15-0.
In the second innings Wales scored four very good runs, Marianne Tomkins leading the pack, and her team was unlucky not to squeeze in two more runs.
The other scorers were Jane Hughes, Amanda Phelan and Jill Williams.   

The Welsh defence improved tremendously and kept the Ireland offensive to seven scores.  The final innings might have brought better luck for the visitors.
With two out and two on base Jane Hughes found a space for a strategic hit and home came Jane Allen Roberts.  Joanne Hutchings  found the fourth twenty five metres dash easy enough and with Jill Williams going out there were only two more possible scorers running.  Ireland closed down home base and the match ended 22-6 in favour of the host nation.
Teams & Scores:

Wales: Irene Martin 0, Joanne Hackett 0. Jo Andrews 0, Maz Tomkins 1, Jane A. Roberts 1, Jo Hutchings 1, Jane Hughes 1, Amanda Phelan 1, Jill Williams 1.   Good fielding (catching) by Irene Martin, Jo Andrews and Joanne Hutchings.   Jane Allen roberts and Jill Williams each were awarded a Star by the referee.  

Ireland: Áine Brady 3, Christine Kelly 2, Fionnuala Ní Thúatain 3, Lizzy Maguire 2, Louise Clarke 3, Chantelle Cole 1, Andrea Barber 2, Pauline Ó Hagan 3, Grace Doyle 2.    A Home Run by Andrea Barber on her second 'at-bat' in the first innings helped Ireland establish a good lead.  Excellent catching by Lizzy Maguire and Chantelle Cole earned these two Star marks by the referee.
All round performances were well above expectations, with superb hitting and exemplary fielding by all sides.  Wales looked better than the score suggests, in the final, but they were extremely unlucky in the first innings, with the Irish nine taking every advantage of the few minor errors in the Welsh defence.
Referee for the Final was Sean Hughes, from Gowna in Cavan.

 

NRA Exhibition matches: National Rounders Association - The NRA looks after one of several rounders codes in England and Wales
Ireland 3  Wales 10
Ireland 4 England 13
Wales 9 England 9

 

Informal considerations about the future of such rounders events suggest that, with all sides very happy with the standard of play and the way each and every player adapted to the two codes, meetings will be arranged by the end of the season to explore all possibilities repeating the exercise in Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales, on a regular if not too frequent bases.   All sides will require a little time to hold debriefings on last weekend's activity.
The potential for development of joint games with the English and Welsh parties is fairly obvious and perhaps predictable.  The Scottish interest may be harder to nurse, but in Scotland the widespread promotion of Softball in secondary schools ought to provide for a strong foundation for a four nations' series.  Irish players and Scottish players have already sampled the Irish game as an International experience requiring next to no
preparation, the softball practised youngsters of Scotland having played the Irish game without any concessions on the use of gloves or mits, and the acceptance of  the hurling ball as the projectile for playing.
While there may still be technical and rule differences in NRA/Irish codes, last weekend's activities have proven the benefits of meetings on and off the field, in bringing together people from different parts, for social and cultural exchanges the games being only the 'excuse' to come together.

The following quotation from the England (north) Development Officer, Management and Referee indicates a willingness to keep the international potential to the fore.
"Your fellow officers and players were all very friendly and made us feel very welcome. The refreshments and hospitality were much appreciated.
Please pass on my thanks to all those concerned.

I believe the event was a great foundation on which to build and I look forward to meeting you all again next year on our side of the water."
Heather, David and Helen Hawes !

The Wales officials and players have expressed an enthusiastic willingness to repeat the experience again next year, hopefully in Ireland again.

The Canterbury Belles have on their departure repeatedly expressed their desire to come again to participate in the Gary Kelly Cup in 2006.

One big obstacle to overseas trips is the financial requirements.    Local promotion of the game attracts little or no financial support from without the organisation involved.  The England National Rounders Association receives in excess of £90,000 per annum for their efforts.
The local schools Rounders programme has been running for 35 years without state recognition, requiring coaching and administration for a non contact athletic activity suited to all ages.   Hope is now high that public bodies will soon 'discover' the benefits of minority sports with a local flavour, and also of potential International importance.

   This past weekend of Rounders, in two codes, demonstrates the need; even the demand as already expressed by many Schools in the country for moral and material support for the volunteer coaches and organisers who are working extremely hard, and 'above and beyond the call of duty', to give our children a another choice.