The final weekend of the Fás Éireann programme marked the conclusion of an important development initiative for Volleyball Ireland’s National Teams. Over the course of the season, our U18 and U20 squads competed against Premier and Division 1 clubs across the country, gaining valuable match experience against more mature and experienced opposition.
The programme was designed to place national athletes in regular competitive environments, exposing them to the pace, physicality, and decision-making demands required at higher levels of the game. The final weekend of matches once again highlighted both the progress made and the lessons still to be learned.
U18 Women – Competing with Maturity
The U18 Women produced one of their most competitive performances of the programme when they pushed SETU Carlow to a deciding tie-break. Although the university side ultimately secured the victory, it was encouraging to see such a young group competing at the same level as older and more experienced players.
On Sunday, the squad faced Santry Rebels, a strong and determined team. The first two sets were closely contested, with tight points throughout, but Santry managed to take control in key moments and closed the match with a win in the third set.
Across the season, the programme has provided an excellent platform for these athletes to test themselves month after month. It has also allowed coaches to experiment with different systems and combinations, helping to understand how players respond to match pressure and different tactical scenarios.
Overall, the season has been a positive one for the programme, with three of the four national squads securing victories during the campaign. A special thank you goes to the clubs, coaches, referees and athletes who contributed to making the programme possible. Together, these efforts continue to drive the growth of Irish volleyball.
U20 Women – Valuable Lessons at Premier Level
The U20 Women faced a challenging weekend, finishing with a 3-0 loss in their latest fixture. The team struggled to perform at the level expected, with communication issues on court leading to several unforced errors and disrupting the flow of both offense and defence.
During the first two sets, the squad found it difficult to establish consistency in serve reception, transition play, and defensive coverage. This allowed the opposition to maintain control and dictate the pace of the match.
However, there were encouraging signs in the third set. Communication improved, the organisation on court became clearer, and the team showed stronger energy and focus. The result was a far more competitive set, demonstrating the players’ ability to adapt and respond during the match.
This season has been particularly demanding for the group, with many players experiencing Premier League competition for the first time. While the results have been difficult at times, the experience gained has been invaluable and will form a strong foundation for future development.
There is still also one match remaining to complete for the U20W against Galway.
U18 Men – Fighting Spirit Continues
The U18 Ireland Men opened the weekend with a confident performance against Galway, producing one of their most complete matches of the season.
Strong serving and disciplined play allowed the team to take control early, winning the first two sets comfortably. Galway responded in the third set, but the Irish side regained composure to close the match in four sets.
U18 Ireland Men vs Galway
3-1 (25-7 / 25-21 / 18-25 / 25-18)
The U18 Ireland Men faced a physical and experienced Munster Thunder side. After dropping the opening set, Ireland responded strongly to level the match in the second. Despite the effort and intensity shown throughout the contest, Munster Thunder ultimately secured the win in four sets.
U18 Ireland Men vs Munster Thunder
1-3 (17-25 / 25-17 / 20-25 / 20-25)
U20 Men – Progress Turning into Results
The U20 Ireland Men followed with their own breakthrough performance against UCD, securing a straight-sets victory.
The match was competitive throughout, but the U20 squad showed composure in the key moments of each set, consistently finding ways to close out tight points and maintain control.
U20 Ireland Men vs UCD
3-0 (25-22 / 25-20 / 25-23)
The U20 Ireland Men closed the weekend against Tallaght Rockets, once again producing periods of strong volleyball, including a well-earned third-set victory. Tallaght, however, maintained the edge across the match to take the result.
U20 Ireland Men vs Tallaght Rockets
1-3 (21-25 / 14-25 / 25-20 / 21-25)
Evidence of Progress
The Fás Éireann programme was created to provide Ireland’s national athletes with consistent and meaningful match experience outside of international competition windows. By competing against club teams across the National League, players have been exposed to a wide variety of playing styles, match environments, and competitive pressures.
Throughout the season, coaches encouraged players to recognise the evidence of progress within each match, whether it was winning points when ahead, responding when behind, recovering when momentum shifted, or continuing to compete under pressure.
Growth in sport is often built through the accumulation of these moments. Each experience adds to a growing sense of confidence and belief within a team.
By the end of the programme, those moments had begun to come together. The victories achieved on the final weekend reflected not only improved performance, but also the quiet confidence developed through months of challenging, high-level competition.
In that sense, the programme achieved its core objective: providing the right level of challenge while accelerating the development of Ireland’s next generation of international volleyball players.
Volleyball Ireland would like to thank all participating clubs, coaches, referees, volunteers, and athletes who helped make the programme possible. Through this collective effort, the pathway for Irish volleyball continues to grow stronger.
Next up is the St. Patricks Challenge – March 14th
Éire Abú!
