From UK Rounders to European Softball Glory – Now Katie Jessop Is Chasing an All-Ireland

Katie Jessop has played Rounders at a high level in Britain, represented Great Britain in Slowpitch Softball and this summer became a European champion. Now, in her first season playing GAA Rounders, she is preparing for an All-Ireland Final with Galway City Rapparees.

Eleven outs. Six catches. Four foul outs. One throw to base.

Even Katie Jessop was taken aback when she was told just how significant a part she had played in Galway City Rapparees’ All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final victory over Inniskeen.

“Honestly, I was blown away when I was told that stat.”

For someone playing her first season of GAA Rounders, it was quite a performance on one of the biggest days of the season. Katie, though, is quick to share the credit.

“As a bowler you are uniquely placed in a position where there are more opportunities to get outs. I’m super confident in my team behind me to make the catches and plays, so it means I can focus on bowling.”

That confidence has helped the Rapparees go through the season unbeaten and book their place in the All-Ireland Intermediate Women’s Final.

For Katie, it is the latest chapter in a sporting journey through three similar — but very different — games.

It all started with Hazel

The person responsible for this particular part of Katie’s sporting journey was her fiancée, Hazel Kilduff.

Hazel had played with the Rapparees in 2025 and when she suggested Katie give GAA Rounders a go the following year, there wasn’t exactly a prolonged recruitment campaign.

“Hazel did not need to do much convincing at all. I’m up for most sports, especially if it celebrates women’s sport and achievements.”

Katie had already gone along to watch Hazel trial for the Connacht Interpros and remembers thinking: “I’d love to give this a go!”

There was just one slight complication. Katie thought she already knew how to play Rounders.

Same name, very different game

Having played Rounders to a high level in Britain, Katie naturally assumed GAA Rounders would be more or less the same sport.

“When Hazel first told me that she was playing GAA Rounders I immediately assumed it was the same as the Rounders I played in the UK.

“I even went into explaining how the scoring works and making sure you run around every post so you don’t get called out.

“I think it made Hazel have a shock to the system when she turned up to her first training session!

“I was very wrong… but there are still some similarities.”

For Irish readers unfamiliar with the British game, the differences are substantial.

“There are some obvious visual differences such as a smaller bat used with one hand, posts instead of bases and the posts are laid out in more of a pentagon-style shape than a diamond.

“All scoring in Rounders in the UK is done on your hit, so you have to get around as many bases as you can each time — half for getting to second and one Rounder for getting to fourth.

“It therefore makes the tactical defence slightly different as you don’t need to lock bases either. You also have to run on a good ball even if you don’t hit it.”

Different equipment, scoring and tactics — but the basic idea remains familiar.

“So it’s very different, but the premise of it is the same: score as much as you can and get the ball in or players out to stop them from scoring.”

The right-handed, left-handed bowler

Katie’s position in the Galway team has provided another surprise.

Having generally played in the outfield in British Rounders before moving into the infield in Softball, she has established herself as a bowler in GAA Rounders.

And there is another unusual detail.

Katie is right-handed. She bowls left-handed.

“I interestingly find bowling easier with my left hand despite being right-handed.

“I think this is because when I taught Rounders in school I was more accurate bowling left-handed when demonstrating the skill.”

And when a batter does connect, there is a particularly familiar face among those waiting behind her.

Hazel is in the outfield.

Having an Irish international Softball player — who also happens to be your fiancée — waiting for anything sent into the air can’t be a bad feeling for a bowler.

Between GAA Rounders and international Softball, it has also been an exceptionally busy summer for the pair. Matches, tournaments and international duty have all had to be juggled — along with the regular messages from Rapparees secretary Joe Naughton checking their availability for the next game.

Somehow, they have managed to fit it all in.

Katie batting for Galway City Rapparees

A team building towards this since 2024

The story of this Rapparees women’s team began before Katie arrived.

The team first came together in 2024 and immediately reached the Junior All-Ireland Final, only to finish on the losing side.

Jenna O’Brien has put a huge amount of work into the group since those early days, helping to build a team that stayed together through that disappointment and the challenge of stepping up to Intermediate level.

Their first Intermediate season in 2025 was a learning curve, with teams like Carrickmacross — who reached this year’s Senior semi-final — competing at that level.

This year has been better.

Under manager Rory McGarvey, the Rapparees have reached the All-Ireland Final unbeaten.

For the players who have been on that journey since 2024, there would be something particularly special about finally collecting their winning Celtic Cross medals.

Katie may be one of the newest additions, but it hasn’t taken her long to recognise what has kept the group together.

“What I do know is this year I have loved playing with this women’s team.

“It is a wonderful group of people who are super supportive of each other and work hard on every play.

“Communication and positivity is crucial and this team has an abundance of it.”

The season hasn’t just been about results either. Katie has enjoyed the social side of GAA Rounders — spending time with teammates and becoming part of a sporting community that was completely new to her at the beginning of the year.

European champion – and Hazel on the other side

As if reaching an All-Ireland Final wasn’t enough for one summer, Katie has already collected a major honour.

Representing Great Britain in Slowpitch Softball, she helped GB defend their European title.

“This has definitely been the highlight of my sporting career so far.

“It was my second Euros competition and we defended our title as European champions. What made this one so special was that it was the first home games in London since 2008.”

There was another twist.

While Katie was representing Great Britain, Hazel was playing for Ireland.

Fiancées away from the field. International opponents on it.

“It’s really great. I am super proud of all her achievements, so it’s great to share the field together.

“We tend to end up not physically playing against each other at the same time, but we do try and work it so we can give each other the pre-game pin at the start.”

And which of them is more competitive?

“I’d say we are both as competitive as each other. We’re very good at leaving Softball on the field.

“The competition comes home when we play things like mini golf, which Hazel actually beat me at for the first time this week.

“5–1 to me!”

Some sporting records clearly matter more than others.

One game away

As a PE teacher, Katie says she now hopes to incorporate more Rounders into her classes, describing it as an “inclusive sport and fun to play.”

Her introduction to the GAA itself has also made an impression.

“There is real pride in representing your club and working towards achieving an All-Ireland medal.

“No matter what sport you participate in, in the GAA the All-Ireland medal holds the same prestige.”

And now she has the chance to win one.

It is quite a journey for someone who began the season with considerably simpler expectations.

“All I was hoping to do was have fun, learn a new sport and make some new friends.

“All of which came true, with a lovely bonus of qualifying for an All-Ireland Final.”

For Katie, victory would mean an All-Ireland medal in her first season to go alongside her European Softball success.

For some of her teammates, it would be the culmination of a journey that began with that Junior Final defeat in 2024.

And if Galway do complete their unbeaten season, does Hazel get some credit for recruiting Katie?

“Yes, she definitely does; as does the whole team and club for a fantastic season across all levels — men’s, mixed and women’s.

“It’s been a great season and I’m already looking forward to next year.”

Next year can wait.

For some of her teammates, the journey to this final began three seasons ago. For Katie, it began with Hazel suggesting she give a different version of Rounders a try.

Now those two journeys have arrived at the same place.