24-26, 25-23, 25-20 - MVP Niall Haverty St Brigid's Loughrea
Cadette
B Girls:
St Brigid's VS Loughrea
2
-
0
Stella Maris Tramore
MVP Vicki Faulkner Stella Maris Tramore
Cadette
B Boys:
St Brigid's VS Loughrea
2
-
1
Mercy College, Woodford
20-25, 25-21, 25-22 - MVP Jason Flynn - Woodford
Cadette
C Girls:
Elphin Community College, Co Roscommon
2
-
0
Mountrath Community School, Co Laois
Reports
Cadette Finals Wednesday 3rd February 2010
Two Cadette Schools Volleyball Finals, Boys Cadette A and Girls Cadette B were played in Croom Co Limerick on Wednesday 3rd February.
The first final of the day was the Cadette A Boys Final which was contested by St Raphael’s Loughrea and St Brigid’s Loughrea. The level of play was extremely high from the very first point of the game with both teams displaying excellent skill, determination and team play throughout what turned into an enthralling contest. St Raphael’s began the game on a stronger note taking the early lead in the first set. St Brigid’s however soon found their rhythm and fought back on the scoreboard to bring both teams level going into the later stages of the set. St Raphael’s however were undaunted and some excellent attacking play through the middle secured them the first set. The second set was again a very close affair. St Raphael’s looked to be dominating the game with very consistent play forcing the errors on St Brigid’s.
Conceding defeat was clearly not on the minds of the St Brigid’s players. They began to find the space on the St Raphael’s court with some very impressive and well placed spikes and took the second set 25-23 to level the match and force a 3rd and deciding set. Both teams maintained the high standard of play throughout an intense and exciting 3rd set. St Brigid’s began to cause problems for their Loughrea neighbours with some strong serving and tenacious defensive play. This set again went down to the wire with players on both sides giving it their all in pursuit of All Ireland gold. There could be only one winner on the day and despite the best efforts of the St Raphael’s players St Brigid’s took the 3rd set and the All Ireland Cadette A Boys title. St Brigid’s captain Niall Haverty had further cause to celebrate as he was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award.
The second final of the day again featured St Brigid’s, this time in the Cadette B Girls Final, their opponents were Stella Maris Secondary School, Tramore. The Loughrea girls were obviously keen to replicate the earlier success of their boys’ team. They began the game with great determination putting pressure from the very start on the Tramore girls denying them any time to settle into the game. St Brigid’s raced to any early lead in the first set clocking up a healthy score margin on their opponents. Mid way through this first set Tramore began to respond and play with more confidence. St Brigid’s had done enough by that stage to see off their challenge and take the first set. In the second set St Brigid’s again dominated the play. Stella Maris found it difficult to deal with the strong serving by the Loughrea team and St Brigid’s won the 2nd set and with it the Cadette B Girls All Ireland title. Stella Maris didn’t go home empty handed, Vicki Faulkner won the most valuable player award.
After a great day of Volleyball in Croom we now look forward to further upcoming Cadette Finals featuring the top teams in the Cadette B Boys, Cadette A and Cadette C Girls.
