50 players and four teams will represent Ireland this weekend at the inaugural Celtic Challenge – an annual challenge match with Scotland.
Ireland’s Senior Men, Senior Women, u20 Men & u20 Women will head to Glasgow to take on their Scottish counterparts, with all matches streamed live on Scottish Volleyball’s YouTube channel. The weekend will feature an innovative Ryder Cup style points system, with Sunday’s matches deciding which nation lifts the trophy.
Men’s Head Coach Andrei Molnar has named a youthful team with Galway’s Jerry Obiekwe captaining. There’s inclusion for his club mates Peter McGlynn and Noah Leamy. Whilst three of the team will also represent Alessandra Trio’s u20 Men.
Mark Delahunty has 13 players lining up, led by UCD’s Emily Frazell. Tallaght Rockets’ Middle Miruna Popa makes her debut. Graham Bell’s u20 Women look strong with the likes of Laura Connolly and Eimear Byrne expecting game time with the Seniors as well.
Ireland will reciprocate by hosting the Celtic Challenge in 2024.
| The Teams | |||
| Snr Men | u20 Men | Snr Women | u20 Women |
| Andrei Molnar | Alessandra Trio | Mark Delahunty | Graham Bell |
| Ionut Tarmure | Paola Aprille | Edyta Jozwiak | Lucia Barbato |
| Gianni Massa | |||
| Peter McGlynn | Tobias Luijkx | Roisin Roantree | Laura Connolly |
| Jan Comendant | Stepan Potapov | Sophie Quinlivan-Nolan | Favour Williams |
| Alameen Disu | Luke Shudell | Regina Halpin | Emer Phelan |
| Jordan Donnelly | Dylan Lynch | Emily Frazell | Jessica Dowling |
| Sam Harman | Lachlan Donnelly | Carly Donaghy | Rebecca Dobey |
| Daniils Budnicenko | Aiden Grace | TJ Sweeney | Laura Brumnjak |
| Jerry Obiekwe | Pierce McFarlane | Grace Moloney | Doireann Ni Bhraoin |
| Arron Hughes | David Stedile | Miruna Popa | Aoibhin McDonnell |
| Gareth Gilmartin | Conor Bowe | Amy O’Sullivan | Aislinn Carey |
| Cillian O’Riordain | Patrick Irwin | Emma Byrne | Daria Smolen |
| Ben O’Sullivan | Catherine Murphy | Eadaoin Flynn | |
| Ruairi Grier | Maria Jones | Avril MacHale | |
| Noah Leamy | Caitriona Ni Riordain | Eimear Byrne | |
| Patrick Cawley | Colleen Kelleher | ||
