Garda have won the 4th Annual Representative Match against The Defence Forces on Wednesday May 14th, to tie the series between the sides at two-apiece. The game was played on a sweltering afternoon in the Renmore Military Barracks, situated on a tranquil piece of Galway Bay coast line, with many superintendent figures from both sides in attendance at the match, as per tradition.
 It was the host side, the Defence Forces, who started much the stronger as they eased through to win the 1st set 25-9. The 2nd set was tightly contested with a revived performance from Garda following a positional change. Although the Defence Forces got to set point first at 24-21, Garda bounced back heroically and found themselves on set point at 25-24. The Defence Forces fought back to 26-25, but then Garda turned the tables and got to set point themselves yet again. Yet it was the hosts who managed to hold of as they scored 3 without reply to snatch what was to be the most exciting set of the day, 2-0 to the Defence Forces. Garda's revival in that 2nd set proved to be a key moment in the match however as it was only the start of what was to come.
 With a make-or-break attitude in the 3rd set, they were soon of to a commanding 6-point lead which they maintained well to the end, and were back in the match after winning that set 25-19. This was despite the Defence Forces' resilience at 24-14 down where they managed to win 5-points without reply following a seldom-seen trio of successive time-outs between the sides, much to the amusement of all in attendance! The 4th set was led for the most part by 3-points by the Defence Forces, but Garda gradually clawed into their lead and managed to find themselves with a smash and grab opportunity, regaining service at 21-22 down. Levelling the match and forcing the tie-break was the bigger reward for the away side knowing they also had the opportunity to level of number of representative wins, and they successfully scored 4-points in succession to win the 4th set and keep their reignited-momentum alive.
 In the tie-break, the early exchanges between the sides were point for point, but it was Garda who made the first break as they raced from 3-4 down into an 8-4 lead. That 4-point lead soon became a 5-pointer, and then 6 in favour the experienced National League side, who finished in a hugely creditable 5th place in the VAI men's 1st Division. And they then saw out the game comfortably at 15-7 to cap of a great-team-comeback in what was an absorbing game of volleyball, to the credit of both sides.
 Best for the Defence Forces was internationally capped, Kate Hanrahan, as the team's setter, and team captain, Hugo Duggan, in the middle, while David Connolly's blocking and attacking equally stood out for Garda. Yet it was the attacking performance from all angles at the net of David Sheedy, helping his side to regain the lead from 2 sets down and various deficit score lines in each set, which made him the VAI's choice for the match MVP.
Report by David Herlihy (VAI Office), photos from Paul Daly (Baldonnel Defence Forces) |
