The VLY Championships returned after a three-year, Covid-enforced hiatus and couldn’t have gone much better. Over 100 matches, featuring 42 teams and 378 players were delivered over two days and four courts of action.
Balbriggan Volleyball Club were the unofficial Club of the Championships, after claiming two golds at one silver at the Gormanston event.
Their mixed team won the first medal of a successful Championships seeing off SETU Carlow 15-6, 15-11, after defeating their own club mates in the Semi Final.
The North Fingal club then saw off a spirited Ballymun in the Women’s Intermediate final to continue their impressive season (15-10, 15-11). Led by captain and MVP Gosia Liptak they are still on track for an unprecedented Championships, Association Cup & League treble.
Their Men’s team lost out to Gardians on Court 2 (15-9, 15-11), but played a big part in the Match of the Championships where they overcame MGL in front of a raucous crowd and brilliant atmosphere. That game ended 2-1 with the decider going over the twenty-point mark.
With one gold in the bag the Tallaght team were hungry for more but it seemed to be win one, lose one on Sunday evening, as Gardians Junior Men’s team completed the loop losing out to Ballymun Dogs – a great success for Dublin City club who are growing youth participation and rapid rates. The game ended 15-12, 15-11.
The Junior Women’s finale was a showdown between the young Santry Nova and Aer Lingus. With the more experienced Swords club taking a close one 18-16, 15-10.
All match results can be found here > https://www.tournify.uk/live/vlychamps2223/standings
Volleyball Ireland would like to thank all participating teams for making the return of the Championships a hugely successful one.
