St Finians rounders  took part in the inaugural Dublin GAA Rounders Winter league. 6 clubs entered and played group games Oct-Feb. St Finians finished 3rd on the table, earning a place in the B final at the end of league event yesterday In Crumlin. Limekiln won the A final 20-10 against Kevins. Na Fianna won the C final final against St Maurs. Maurs were short players so Aine Morris & Carol McDonald from St Finians played for them, Aine taking 3 outs on 3rd base. 

The B final of St Finians V Dublin Mets was  last game of the day and was played in horrible weather conditions. Previous games with the Mets were close encounters so it could have gone either way. Innings scores were 3-2 , 2-5, 6-3 with Finians taking the narrowest of wins- 11 runs to 10. Some brilliant catchers of batters hits by Brian May outfield were a big factor to our win as was Shane McQuillan’s near perfect pitching in less than perfect weather conditions. Niall McHugo, a new and welcome addition played his first game for the club. No home runs but a nice high hit from Helen Foley, although caught by Laura of Mets, did get two runners home for scores. Laura Mets was the refs player of the match. However for veteran GAA Rounders Referee Christy Hughes who umpired 2nd base the joint and stand out potm was Joanne Kearney. She got called to bat 6th in the final innings, with 2 already out, finians trailing 5-7, bases loaded. Her first two hits were foul so the pressure was on but she hit a beauty of a shot down the line way beyond 1st getting 2 base runners home and herself to second base. We got through 5 more batters after that and 4 more scores going into the bottom of the 3rd 11-7 up. 3 Mets runs or less was needed for the win. 3 runs scored and bases loaded so on the ropes but the 3rd out was achieved by Martin Mclaughlin efficiently blocking a batters hit in short stop, chasing down the runner leaving 3rd base to tag him on line and critically remembering to tag home base to prevent any further runs scored! 

11-10 victory and B Final Dublin GAA Rounders winners for Finians!!! 

St Finians Rounders team and in particular Aine McLaughlin was heavily involved in the setting up and running of the first Dublin GAA Rounders league. 

A post match team photo didn’t happen as the weather was horrendous so plan is to take one at the clubhouse after the parade on St Patrick’s day with the trophy & Joanne’s Potm award for any team members who can attend for some craic agus ceol! If any club members are thinking of joining rounders, chat to any of the team on Paddy’s day or drop Áine Mc a text on 0864087431. 

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