St. Clare's Comprehensive Secondary School, Manorhamilton
(18-15, 25-14, 25-15)
MVP: Craig Flannagan (Lisdoonvarna)
Senior
C Girls:
Stella Maris Secondary School, Tramore
2
-
1
St. Brigid's Convent of Mercy Secondary School, Tuam
(10-25, 25-23, 25-14)
MVP: Sylvia Kaczmarek (Tuam)
Schools Finals Report (A, B and C Finals, December 4th, 2008):
The showpiece of the 2007/08 Schools Senior Volleyball Finals turned out to be the Girls A Final as up to 400 spectators crammed into the main arena of the UCD Sports Centre, making for one of the most electrifying atmospheres witnessed at an Irish volleyball final in recent years. In a replay of last year’s Final, in which St. Brigid’s Secondary School Callan denied Mount St. Michael Secondary School Claremorris their 4th Senior A title in a row, the stakes couldn’t have been any higher with a volleyball history now establishing between the two schools. Callan looked the stronger in the opening exchanges as strong hitting from the wings was proving too strong for the Claremorris defence. The Mayo girls did manage to add a string of points to their tally, however unforced errors on their own serve were mounting up against them and the 1st was to be won by Callan before the opposition found their feet.
The 2nd set was the closest of the match, with Claremorris beginning to find their rhythm, assisted by reliable hitting from Edel Nolan. Yet the Callan defence was holding firm and their own attacks were coming back equally as strong, particularly from Anna Farrell and team captain Denise Gaule. That set was also won by Callan, and despite being buoyed on by an increasingly determined and cheerful group of supporters, the Claremorris girls were now facing an uphill challenge to get their name back on the Girls Senior A title. Their supporters’ rallying-cries were at vain however as Callan stormed through the 3rd set in vicious fashion. The most notable performance of that set was from Callan’s Kate McDonald who played with strength and serenity, and also performing the theatrics of the day with an adaucious pick up from the spike line, denying Claremorris a morale boosting score. 25-6 in favour of Callan was the closing score to the 3rd set and indeed the match, and justifying her heroics throughout the game, Kate McDonald was awarded the MVP accolade.
In the Boys A Final, St. Brigid’s Vocational School Loughrea, featuring players from Loughrea’s 1st Division team in the National League, entered as many people’s favourites against Elphin Community College; however games aren’t won on paper. Indeed, Elphin made better use of the ball throughout the opening and were also claiming points of unforced errors by Loughrea at the net. Organised well in defence, Elphin did manage to control the attacks that were coming at them and in return, were managing to find the gaps on the opposition’s side to place the ball.
A 2-0 lead was established by the Elphin charges, to many a surprise, but Loughrea showed their capabilities in the 3rd set, in which they led for the first time in the match, with the hitting of their biggest threat and last year’s A Final MVP, Thomas Barrett, beginning to find the right spots in Elphin’s court. Winning the 3rd set, Loughrea were back in with a shout. With their backs to the wall, they continued that strong momentum into the 4th set and despite being neck and neck with their opponents, they let slip a set point at 25-24 and allowed the overall more consistent and efficient Elphin to take 3 points without reply and the Senior A title. The MVP was also awarded to Elphin’s outside hitter, Fintan Cregg.
In the other Finals, Stella Maris Secondary School Tramore came from a set down to beat St. Brigid’s Convent of Mercy Tuam 2-1 in the Girls C Final. Helping the Waterford girls in the 2nd and 3rd sets was a string of powerful serving from Kate Blackett, yet it was Tuam’s Sylvia Kaczmarek who scooped the MVP award following her fine attacking display.
The Boys’ B Final was win by Mary Immaculate Secondary School in the same manner as they came from a set down to win 2-1 against St. Clare’s Comprehensive Secondary School from Manorhamilton. Strongest for Manorhamilton was Adrian Croal, while Dermot Harkin attacked well at the net for Lisdoonvarna. It was Lisdoonvarna’s setter, Craig Flannagan, who claimed the MVP award for his solid and commanding display.
The Lisdoonvarna boys consolidated their girls’ team’s loss in the Girls B Final, which they lost to St. Mary’s College, Naas. The Kildare girls won convincingly in the opening set, yet the Clare side fought back admirably in the 2nd set and with a 2-point win, forced the game to a tie-break in the 3rd and final set. Consisting of many members from the Naas and Newbridge Volleyball Clubs involved in the National League Naas would prevail however, helped on even further by an MVP performance from their captain, Rosemary Cassidy.
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St. Brigid's Vocational School, Loughrea, have won the 2nd Senior Boys Cup Final and in doing so, have defended their title. In the 1st set, St. Brigid's dominated in all areas and were comfortable winners 25-7. The 2nd set was a tighter affair with Lycee Francais d'Irlande putting on a much stronger performance Despite holding the Senior A Runners-up to a tight margin, it was the experience St. Brigid's Thomas Barrett that helped the Loughrea men to a 25-21 win in the 2nd set, as he was successful with a number of consecutive attacks at the net. Setter Aidan Monahan was also pulling the strings with perfection as his set-plays were inch-perfect.
In the 3rd set, St. Brigid's once again raced into a strong lead and at match point with an 8-point lead, made a number of changes. However this may have unsettled some nerves as Lycee Francais d'Irlande fought back heroically to reach 22 points without reply from the defending and inaugural Senior Cup Champions, with Louis Gervoson killing on several occasions during this rich spell of play from the underdogs. Yet it was to be Loughrea's day in the end as they eventually scraped the much-needed point to win out 25-22. Huge credit to Lycee Francais d'Irlande for making a well challenged fight in their first ever VAI School's Final, while for St. Birigid's, defending their Senior Cup title has very much made up their Senior A Final defeat pre-Christmas, while Aidan Monahan was also awarded the match MVP.
That set was also won by Callan, and despite being buoyed on by an increasingly determined and cheerful group of supporters, the Claremorris girls were now facing an uphill challenge to get their name back on the Girls Senior A title. Their supporters’ rallying-cries were at vain however as Callan stormed through the 3rd set in vicious fashion. The most notable performance of that set was from Callan’s Kate McDonald who played with strength and serenity, and also performing the theatrics of the day with an adaucious pick up from the spike line, denying Claremorris a morale boosting score. 25-6 in favour of Callan was the closing score to the 3rd set and indeed the match, and justifying her heroics throughout the game, Kate McDonald was awarded the MVP accolade.
A 2-0 lead was established by the Elphin charges, to many a surprise, but Loughrea showed their capabilities in the 3rd set, in which they led for the first time in the match, with the hitting of their biggest threat and last year’s A Final MVP, Thomas Barrett, beginning to find the right spots in Elphin’s court. Winning the 3rd set, Loughrea were back in with a shout. With their backs to the wall, they continued that strong momentum into the 4th set and despite being neck and neck with their opponents, they let slip a set point at 25-24 and allowed the overall more consistent and efficient Elphin to take 3 points without reply and the Senior A title. The MVP was also awarded to Elphin’s outside hitter, Fintan Cregg.
The Boys’ B Final was win by Mary Immaculate Secondary School in the same manner as they came from a set down to win 2-1 against St. Clare’s Comprehensive Secondary School from Manorhamilton. Strongest for Manorhamilton was Adrian Croal, while Dermot Harkin attacked well at the net for Lisdoonvarna. It was Lisdoonvarna’s setter, Craig Flannagan, who claimed the MVP award for his solid and commanding display.
The Lisdoonvarna boys consolidated their girls’ team’s loss in the Girls B Final, which they lost to St. Mary’s College, Naas. The Kildare girls won convincingly in the opening set, yet the Clare side fought back admirably in the 2nd set and with a 2-point win, forced the game to a tie-break in the 3rd and final set. Consisting of many members from the Naas and Newbridge Volleyball Clubs involved in the National League Naas would prevail however, helped on even further by an MVP performance from their captain, Rosemary Cassidy.