GAA Rounders: Projected Grades and Promotions for the 2026 Season

With registration now open, the broad shape of the 2026 GAA Rounders adult championships is beginning to emerge, even if final team entries are still a few months away. Based on that, I’ve taken some educated guesses at what the Senior and Intermediate grades could look like next season.

The most significant movement is expected in the Ladies competitions, where both Senior and Intermediate are set to operate with eight teams each, driving the bulk of the reshuffling across the grades.

Senior Ladies – Expected Line-Up (8 teams)

Senior Ladies expands to an eight-team competition, with three promotions implied to bring the grade up to full strength.

  • Breaffy – retained
  • Carrickmacross – promoted to Senior
  • Cuchulainn – retained
  • Erne Eagles – retained
  • Glynn Barntown – retained
  • Kilmeena – promoted to Senior
  • Raheen – retained
  • The Heath – promoted to Senior

Intermediate Ladies – Expected Line-Up (8 teams)

Intermediate Ladies absorbs the knock-on effect of Senior expansion and sees the largest intake from Junior.

  • Elphin – promoted from Junior
  • Emo – retained
  • Galway Rapparees – retained
  • Glynn Barntown (2nd team) – retained
  • Inniskeen – promoted from Junior
  • Leighlinbridge – promoted from Junior
  • Michael Glaveys – retained
  • St Senan’s – straight to Inter

Senior Men – Expected Line-Up (8 teams)

Senior Men sees a single, notable change with one promotion completing the grade.

  • Breaffy – retained
  • Carrickmacross – retained
  • Cuchulainn – retained
  • Erne Eagles – retained
  • Galway Rapparees – promoted from Intermediate
  • Glynn Barntown – retained
  • Limekiln – retained
  • Raheen – retained

Intermediate Men – Expected Line-Up (8 teams)

Intermediate Men remains unchanged based on the current groupings and continues to act as a holding grade.

  • Dublin Metropolitans – retained
  • Emo – retained
  • Kilmeena – retained
  • Kilmore –up from Junior
  • Michael Glaveys – relegated from senior
  • Myshall –up from Junior
  • St Clare’s – retained
  • St Senan’s – up from Junior

Senior Mixed – Expected Line-Up (8 teams)

Senior Mixed shows no expected movement and appears settled.

  • Breaffy – retained
  • Carrickmacross – retained
  • Cuchulainn – retained
  • Erne Eagles – retained
  • Glynn Barntown – retained
  • Kilmeena – retained
  • Limekiln – retained
  • The Heath – retained

Intermediate Mixed – Expected Line-Up (8 teams)

Intermediate Mixed remains the most fluid grade but shows no confirmed promotions or relegations at this stage.

  • Emo – retained
  • Erne Eagles (2nd team) – retained
  • Galway Rapparees – retained
  • Gusserane –up from Junior
  • Michael Glaveys – retained
  • Raheen – retained
  • St Clare’s – retained
  • St Senan’s –up from Junior

Summary

  • Senior Ladies expands to eight teams following three promotions.
  • Intermediate Ladies sees the biggest movement, with four teams stepping up.
  • Galway Rapparees move up to Senior Men, completing that grade.
  • Senior Mixed remains unchanged, with Erne Eagles 2nd team winning intermediate leaves no relegation/promotion likely

While team entries will no doubt alter the landscape, the suggested groupings will be better for the game long term, it’s a far more clearly tiered adult championship structure and lots of clubs moving from junior.