It’s that time of year again!
The U16 School finals never disappoint and always bring lots of action, fans, excitement and close match ups!!
We are back Tuesday January 28th at the Kingfisher Sports Centre, NUIG Galway and all games can be watched LIVE through our YouTube channel
Let’s meet this year’s teams. Huge thanks to John King once again for his records and insight to the finalists.
U16 Boys A – Grange CC VS Portlaoise College @12.30
What a season it has been for Grange CC. The boys have been performing magnificently on the court to find themselves and their school in their first ever Division A final. A remarkable achievement but also widely expected by some as they have consistently brought home titles over the last two seasons in Junior. They will face Portlaoise College who have been to three of the last four finals in this category. The school has really developed their volleyball over the last 5 years as it is their 5th final since Covid in the A Division!
U16 Girls A –Holy Family SS VS Coláiste Muire @11am
It’s a new year but the same traditional schools refuse to relinquish those final day slots. Only once in the last 10 years has a final in U16 A gone ahead without one of these two schools being involved. They last competed against each other in 2021-22 when Holy Family took a straight sets victory. Since then, the Ennis school have won back to back titles and now have their sights set on three in a row! If Ennis win, they would be level with Callan, Claremorris and Newbridge, joint 4th in the all-time list of winners.
U16 Boys B –Piper’s Hill College vs Patrician HS @2pm
Pipers Naas are easily the oldest mention on the roll of honor. Senior A boy’s runners up in 1987/88, the very first year of the competition. (Called Patrick’s Naas at that time.)
Phase 2 for Pipers was from 2008 to 2011 where they appeared in 3 finals. Now phase 3: 2022/23 U16 C boys and Junior B girls finals. Last year, 2023/24 they lost to Grange in the Junior B boys final.
Now in their 7th final can they finally break through? Standing in their way is Patrician HS. A school that really exploded on the scene in the last few years. Missing out on a final for 2023-24 season the school will be delighted to be back and competing on the final day as expectations have soared within Carrickmacross.
U16 Girls B- St Louis SS VS Presentation Kilkenny SS @2pm
Staying in Carrickmacross the girl school in town joined VLY. school leagues this year. Their Seniors went all the way to a Division B title on their first try. Could the U16 repeat that feat? Only time will tell! Their opponents – Presentation Kilkenny arrived back in 2004/5 and they won this title in their very first final. The school has since been in 14 finals but with 20 years since the last U16B title, they will be hungry to bring the trophy back to Leinster. Both finalists provide an unbelievable contrast of background and history.
U16 Boys C –Clonkeen College VS Stepaside ETSS @11am
This grade is certainly proving extremely popular and has 2 more first time finalists. Stepaside and Clonkeen. Clonkeen made their debut in Junior B boys 2 years ago and were delighted to win a match. Now they reached their first final after at least 7 matches beating long term boys’ schools such as Fethard and Ballymun on the way.
Stepaside are even more unique. They reached the last 6 in Senior C girls and now the boys final in their very first year. They beat former A school Athenry on the way. It is the first ever all Dublin final in Senior or U16 boys of any grade, a great sign of the rising tide in Dublin.
U16 Girls C- Dungarvan College VS Drumshanbo VS @12.30
Drumshanbo Vocational and Dungarvan College have come through a competition of 52 teams. Neither have ever won this competition, Drumshanbo reached the final in 1998 and 2009, while Dungarvan as recently as 2022.
Drumshanbo have beaten, among others, former winners and finalists Roscommon Community College and Strokestown. Dungarvan have beaten Brigid’s Loughrea, 6 time finalists and 3 time winners.
Both have more fame on their boy’s side. So, this is the big day for the girls.
Drumshanbo have broken through this year at Senior girls for the first time in their 30 year history. Will it be them or Dungarvan who have twice got to the C final since 2010.
Into the unknown!
