The VLY Association Cup Finals Weekend in Limerick delivered everything you could ask for, drama, five-set thrillers, dominant performances, and unforgettable moments across three action-packed days.
From student finals to youth competitions and senior deciders, the weekend showcased the very best of Irish volleyball, with new champions crowned across multiple competitions.
Friday – SSI Cup Finals
The weekend began with the Student Sport Ireland (SSI) Cup Finals, setting the tone with high-quality performances.
In the Women’s Tier 2 Final, Griffith College Dublin edged out TU Dublin in a competitive 2-1 victory.
The Men’s Tier 2 Final saw SETU Carlow deliver a commanding performance, defeating MTU Cork 3-0 to claim the title.
In the Men’s Tier 1 Final, Maynooth University were clinical throughout, overcoming Trinity College Dublin with a 3-0 win.
The Women’s Tier 1 Final saw Trinity College Dublin respond in style, defeating University of Galway 3-0 to lift the title.
Saturday – Women’s Cup Glory
Saturday opened with the Girls U16 Final, where Dalkey Devils narrowly overcame Kildare VC in a tight 2-1 contest.
The headline match of the day saw Gardians crowned 2026 Women’s Cup Champions, defeating DVC Lions in a gripping five-set encounter.
This final carried huge narrative weight.
Gardians entered the match driven by unfinished business, having fallen to Santry Calypso in last year’s final. After knocking out the defending champions in the semi-finals, they arrived with belief, and delivered.
They took the opening two sets (25:19, 25:21), but DVC Lions, last year’s Grand Finals runners-up, showed their resilience, fighting back to level the match (20:25, 10:25).
In the decisive fifth set, Gardians found another gear, closing it out 15:9 to secure a memorable 3-2 victory and finally lift the Cup.
The day got even better for Gardians, as they claimed the Men’s Shield title with another dramatic 3-2 win over Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus, a club with strong Cup pedigree and former champions, pushed them all the way. But Gardians showed composure and belief to come through (25:17, 25:23, 20:25, 21:25, 15:11).
A double-winning day for Gardians, and a statement across both competitions.
Sunday – Men’s Cup Deciders
Sunday began with the Boys U16 Final, where Kildare VC delivered a strong performance to defeat Kilkenny Spartans 2-0.
In the Women’s Shield Final, Santry Sparks were crowned champions after a thrilling five-set battle against BMP Valkyries. In a match that swung both ways, Sparks edged it 3–2 (25:22, 17:25, 25:14, 16:25, 15:13) to claim the title.
The weekend concluded with a historic moment.
Balbriggan Eagles were crowned 2026 Association Cup Champions, defeating Tallaght Rockets 3-1.
This final carried its own narrative.
Balbriggan Eagles, newcomers to the Premier Division this season, have rapidly established themselves as a force, and this victory confirms their arrival at the very top.
Standing in their way were Tallaght Rockets, who had stunned the competition by knocking out reigning champions Dalkey Devils in the semi-finals.
In a high-quality final, Balbriggan showed composure in the key moments, edging two tight opening sets before closing out the match 3-1 (25:21, 25:23, 17:25, 25:21).
From newcomers to champions, a remarkable journey.
A Special Thank You
A huge thank you to all the volunteers, particularly those from UL Wolves Volleyball Club, who played a vital role in delivering the event.
Your commitment, energy, and Trojan work behind the scenes ensured the weekend ran smoothly and successfully. Events like this would not be possible without your support.
