Junior
Boys Finals
April 1st 2009
The final day of play in this years' VAI Schools Junior Boys Competition took place on April 1st in Temperance Hall in Loughrea. With two Cup semi finals to be played along with Junior Cup and Plate finals an exciting day of action was in store.
The first games of the day were the two Cup semi finals and both games turned out to be three set thrillers. Colaiste Chathail Naofa Dungarvan and St Patrick’s College Cavan contested the first semi final. The Dungarvan side started stronger winning the first set 25-18. The tables turned in the second set with the Cavan side finding their form and taking the set 25-14 to set up a third set decider. Cavan continued to dominate the play in set three and began to pull away mid way through the set to book their place in the Cup Final. The line up for the second semi final pitted Patrician Presentation Fethard against St Raphael’s College Loughrea. Fethard were the first to settle and some strong serving helped them to take the first set 25-21. The second set was very closely fought all the way through. St Rapheal’s 23-21 ahead looked to be about to take the set but Fethard fought back to get to within 1 point of taking the set and indeed the match. St Raphael’s showed great composure to win back the serve and take the set 26-24 to level the score at one set all. The momentum was with the Loughrea side in set three which they won to complete the line up for the boy’s Cup final.
The next game of the day was the plate final. Davis College Mallow had earlier in the day booked their place in their first ever National Finals by defeating St Patrick’s Cavan in the semi finals. This year is the first year in schools competition for the Cork side so it was a remarkable achievement to reach the finals. Their opponents were St Brigid’s College Loughrea a school with huge experience in all Ireland finals. The occasion certainly didn’t daunt the Cork side who started the game well. As the set and indeed the match unfolded the experience of St Brigid’s began to shine through as they pulled away mid way through each set. Despite a great comeback from Davis College towards the later stages of the second set, St Brigid’s Loughrea held on the take the match 2-0 and with it the All Ireland Junior Plate title.
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Winners: St. Brigid's College, Loughrea |
Runners-up: Davis College, Mallow. |
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The final of the Boys Cup was an excellent showcase for Junior Boys Volleyball. St Raphael’s Loughrea and St Patrick’s College Cavan had both come through tough semi finals earlier in the day to battle it out for All Ireland glory. Both teams started well with points being traded equally early on in each set. Some great three touch Volleyball was played by both sides with many long rallies keeping spectators at the edge of their seats. St Raphael’s attack began to cause problems for the Cavan side, as their hitters growing in confidence as the game progressed, made some impressive spikes finding space on the Cavan court. St Rapheal’s won the first set 25-16. Cavan rallied hard throughout the second set however the Galway side showed great resilience to weather the storm to win the match 2-0 and the Junior Cup Title.
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Winners: St. Raphael's College, Loughrea |
Runners-up: St. Patricks College, Cavan |
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