The fifth annual Garda V Defence Forces Volleyball Game took place in very humid conditions at ALSAA on Wednesday 24th June 2009. The series had been tied at 2-2 since last year’s game when Garda came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.
The second set saw the Defence Forces take a strong lead and prompted a resilient The third set saw both teams raise their game and this led to a set filled with exciting rallies with many point saving and point winning plays. The set finished with Garda winning the set 25-21 and the game. The series is now 3-2 to Garda. The MVP, selected by new Irish Men’s Head Coach, Laurent Cauet, was selected for her all round consistency in both front and back court for the Defence Forces, was former National Squad member, Kate Hanrahan. Next for Garda is the impending World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver, Canada from 31st July to 9th August, where the panel will compete in the indoor 6, 4 & 2 aside competitions.
Match Report: Mark Campbell, secretary, Garda VC. Pictures by Des Cooney and Adrian Finley
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It was Garda, hosting this year, who got off to a strong start taking a strong lead in the first set and though the defence forces fought back strongly with points through a strong centre attack of Kate Hanrahan and Paul Huntson, Garda held out to win the first set.
fightback from Garda to overturn a 7 point reverse with strong serving from Eamon O’Brien and accurate attacking wing play by Fionnuala Friel, being central to Garda winning the second set 28-26.
