The 07/08 Schools’ Cadette Volleyball Girls’ Championships concluded on Wednesday 12th March with the staging of the final of the Girls Cadette A, B and C competitions in St Leo’s College in Carlow.
The first game of the day was the Cadette A finals with hosts St Leo’s College taking on Mount St Michael Secondary School from Claremorris in Co Mayo. With neither team having featured in last years Cadette Finals an exciting match was in store with the Cup destined for a new home for this year. From the first rally of the game it was clear it was going to be close contest with both teams starting well and settling quickly into play. Both teams were playing excellent three touch Volleyball, attacking the ball strongly and countering the attacks with some impressive defensive play. Carlow began to sneak ahead at the mid stages of the first set and looked to be putting the Claremorris girls under pressure. After a crucial time out the Mayo team. re grouped and re focused came back into the set with some strong serving and began to dominate at the net. They completed their comeback by taking the first set 25-21. In the second set Claremorris continued their dominance early in the set and pulled away to an early lead thanks to some powerful attacks by Edel Nolan on the wing. St Leo’s may have been down but they were certainly not out, they dug deep and began to claw back the points with some terrific defense to set up a nail biting finish to the second set. The Mayo girls used their service to good effect and showing more composure they began to force the errors on their opponents. The Mount St Michael team closed out the set 25-22 and with it the match 2 sets to 0 to become the 07/08 Cadette A All Ireland Champions. Edel Nolan from Claremorris was awarded the MVP of the match (most valuable player).
The second game of the day was the Cadette B Final with Balla Secondary School from Mayo taking on last years Cadette Champions at B level and runner up at C level, St Brigid’s Vocational school from Loughrea. The Loughrea team were early favourites coming into the final based on their impressive performances and results throughout the competition. Both teams settled tentatively into the 1st set with neither willing to gift the other side points with errors. St Brigid’s however began to show their strength early in the game managing to notch up a succession of points to race to a convicing lead. They took the first set 25-13. In the second set St Brigid’s were again scoring more effectively. The Balla girls battled hard however it wasn’t to be their day. St Brigid’s Loughrea took the second set 25-12 and with it the match 2 sets and the Cadette B title for 07/08. Balla Secondary School didn’t go home empty handed, Aoife Freyne received the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) for the match.
The final match of the day was the Cadette C final with Elphin Community College from Co Roscommon taking on Brigidine Secondary School from Mountrath. This was very evenly contested throughout the match. The Mountrath team had the better start and won the first set 25-12. Elphin Community College came out a lot more determined and focused in the second set and comfortably took the set 25-14 to force a third and deciding set. The third set was the most exciting set of the game with so much at stake tensions were high. Elphin began edging closer to the title with some smart play finding space in the corners of their opponents court. 22-18 ahead they lost service to Mountrath and this proved to be the pivotal point of the game. Mairead Burke from Mountrath went back to serve knowing that a service error would hand a huge advantage to Elphin. Showing great composure and skill she served 7 in a row that Elphin could not deal with to take her team over the finishing line to win the third set 25-22 and the match, 2 sets to 1. Brigidine Secondary School are the new Cadette C Champions for 07/08 and Mairead Burke received the MVP award for the match.
Overall the day was a great success and an excellent showcase for schools Volleyball. We now look forward to more Schools Volleyball action in the upcoming Boys’ and Girls’ Junior Volleyball Competition.
Boys Finals Report:
Written by Ciara Buckley
The 07/08 Schools’ Cadette Volleyball Boys’ Championships took place on Thursday March 6th 2008 in Mountmellick Community School, Co Laois.
The first game of the day was the Cadette B finals with St Clare’s Comprehensive Secondary School from Manorhamilton Co. Leitrim taking on St Mary’s College from Ballysadare Co Sligo. The St Clare’s team were finalists in last year’s competition and just missed out on an All Ireland title, losing to Mercy College Woodford in the final. This year they were back stronger than ever and were keen to improve on their performance the previous year. St Mary’s College, playing in their first ever schools Volleyball Final also had All Ireland title ambitions and certainly didn’t allow the big occasion to affect them adversely. Both teams started the game well and settled quickly. In the first set points were traded very evenly with neither team managing to make a quick break. In the later stages of the first set the Manorhamilton team displayed more composure and forced the errors on their opposition. St Clare’s Manorhamilton took the first set 25-19. If St Mary’s Ballysadare were beginning to feel the pressure, they certainly didn’t show it. They battled hard in the second set, playing some precise three touch Volleyball they managed to keep with Manorhamilton throughout the second set and with some steady serving they won the second set 25-20 to level out the match. The third set began at the same quick pace of the previous sets, with each team playing at their very best and pushing each other to the limit. Again it was a very close contest with each team using their three touches to good effect. Manorhamilton, drawing on their experience playing in last years final, began to hit the ball more effectively, finding the floor in St Mary’s court and edged their way towards All Ireland glory. They just had the better of the Sligo boys and took the 3rd set 25-18 and with it the Cadette B All Ireland title. St Mary’s Ballysadare performed extremely well in their first final and I’m sure will be back as very strong contenders next year. They didn’t go home empty handed, their captain Kyle Taheny received the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) for the match.
After a very exciting and closely fought Cadette B Final the Cadette A teams had a lot to live up to if they were to match the poise, fighting spirit and skills displayed by both teams in the earlier final. The teams in the line up for the A final were last years Cadette B winners Mercy College from Woodford Co Galway and Blackwater Community College from Lismore Co Waterford. Both teams looked very strong and evenly matched in the warm up, and as the game got under way it was evident another tight game would ensue. Both teams settled tentatively into the 1st set, a few errors at the net at both sides kept the score neck on neck all the way through the first set. Mercy College upped their game in the latter stages of the 1st set to take the set 25-22. Blackwater Community College came out with all guns blazing in the 2nd set, putting together some blistering attacking play with no answer from the Galway team. Blackwater were back in the game and stormed ahead to take the second set 25-16 to level out the match, forcing a 3rd and deciding set. The 3rd set was full of drama and an excellent display of Volleyball by both sides. Blackwater Community College were now using their middle attackers very effectively and stunning their opponents with some powerful hitting by Shane Heaphy and Evan Sheenhan. Mercy College however were now more alert in defense and their middle blocker Sean O’Byrne began to lessen the sting of these attacks with some impressive blocking at the net. Mercy College Woodford had the early lead at the changeover stage of the final set, leading by a handful of points they dug deep and continued to add to their points tally. At 22-18 in favour of Mercy College it looked like the game was over for the Lismore boys. Incredibly they showed tremendous spirit and strength to level the match once more bringing the score to 22-22 in the deciding set. The next few points were action packed and each team had to perform at their very best to stay in the rally and indeed in the match. After many long rallies and excellent attacking and defensive play there could only be one winner. Mercy College Woodford just had the edge over the Lismore boys and they took the final set 27-25 and with it the match in a nail biting finish. Mercy College Woodford are the new Cadette A Boys All Ireland Champions. Shane Heaphy from Blackwater Community College received the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) for the match.
In the second set Claremorris continued their dominance early in the set and pulled away to an early lead thanks to some powerful attacks by Edel Nolan on the wing. St Leo’s may have been down but they were certainly not out, they dug deep and began to claw back the points with some terrific defense to set up a nail biting finish to the second set. The Mayo girls used their service to good effect and showing more composure they began to force the errors on their opponents. The Mount St Michael team closed out the set 25-22 and with it the match 2 sets to 0 to become the 07/08 Cadette A All Ireland Champions. Edel Nolan from Claremorris was awarded the MVP of the match (most valuable player).
The second game of the day was the Cadette B Final with Balla Secondary School from Mayo taking on last years Cadette Champions at B level and runner up at C level, St Brigid’s Vocational school from Loughrea. The Loughrea team were early favourites coming into the final based on their impressive performances and results throughout the competition. Both teams settled tentatively into the 1st set with neither willing to gift the other side points with errors. St Brigid’s however began to show their strength early in the game managing to notch up a succession of points to race to a convicing lead. They took the first set 25-13. In the second set St Brigid’s were again scoring more effectively. The Balla girls battled hard however it wasn’t to be their day. St Brigid’s Loughrea took the second set 25-12 and with it the match 2 sets and the Cadette B title for 07/08. Balla Secondary School didn’t go home empty handed, Aoife Freyne received the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) for the match. 
The final match of the day was the Cadette C final with Elphin Community College from Co Roscommon taking on Brigidine Secondary School from Mountrath. This was very evenly contested throughout the match. The Mountrath team had the better start and won the first set 25-12. Elphin Community College came out a lot more determined and focused in the second set and comfortably took the set 25-14 to force a third and deciding set. The third set was the most exciting set of the game with so much at stake tensions were high. Elphin began edging closer to the title with some smart play finding space in the corners of their opponents court. 22-18 ahead they lost service to Mountrath and this proved to be the pivotal point of the game. Mairead Burke from Mountrath went back to serve knowing that a service error would hand a huge advantage to Elphin. Showing great composure and skill she served 7 in a row that Elphin could not deal with to take her team over the finishing line to win the third set 25-22 and the match, 2 sets to 1. Brigidine Secondary School are the new Cadette C Champions for 07/08 and Mairead Burke received the MVP award for the match. 
The first game of the day was the Cadette B finals with St Clare’s Comprehensive Secondary School from Manorhamilton Co. Leitrim taking on St Mary’s College from Ballysadare Co Sligo. The St Clare’s team were finalists in last year’s competition and just missed out on an All Ireland title, losing to Mercy College Woodford in the final. This year they were back stronger than ever and were keen to improve on their performance the previous year. St Mary’s College, playing in their first ever schools Volleyball Final also had All Ireland title ambitions and certainly didn’t allow the big occasion to affect them adversely. Both teams started the game well and settled quickly. In the first set points were traded very evenly with neither team managing to make a quick break. In the later stages of the first set the Manorhamilton team displayed more composure and forced the errors on their opposition. St Clare’s Manorhamilton took the first set 25-19. If St Mary’s Ballysadare were beginning to feel the pressure, they certainly didn’t show it. They battled hard in the second set, playing some precise three touch Volleyball they managed to keep with Manorhamilton throughout the second set and with some steady serving they won the second set 25-20 to level out the match. 
The third set began at the same quick pace of the previous sets, with each team playing at their very best and pushing each other to the limit. Again it was a very close contest with each team using their three touches to good effect. Manorhamilton, drawing on their experience playing in last years final, began to hit the ball more effectively, finding the floor in St Mary’s court and edged their way towards All Ireland glory. They just had the better of the Sligo boys and took the 3rd set 25-18 and with it the Cadette B All Ireland title. St Mary’s Ballysadare performed extremely well in their first final and I’m sure will be back as very strong contenders next year. They didn’t go home empty handed, their captain Kyle Taheny received the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) for the match. 
After a very exciting and closely fought Cadette B Final the Cadette A teams had a lot to live up to if they were to match the poise, fighting spirit and skills displayed by both teams in the earlier final. The teams in the line up for the A final were last years Cadette B winners Mercy College from Woodford Co Galway and Blackwater Community College from Lismore Co Waterford. Both teams looked very strong and evenly matched in the warm up, and as the game got under way it was evident another tight game would ensue. Both teams settled tentatively into the 1st set, a few errors at the net at both sides kept the score neck on neck all the way through the first set. Mercy College upped their game in the latter stages of the 1st set to take the set 25-22. Blackwater Community College came out with all guns blazing in the 2nd set, putting together some blistering attacking play with no answer from the Galway team. Blackwater were back in the game and stormed ahead to take the second set 25-16 to level out the match, forcing a 3rd and deciding set. The 3rd set was full of drama and an excellent display of Volleyball by both sides. Blackwater Community College were now using their middle attackers very effectively and stunning their opponents with some powerful hitting by Shane Heaphy and Evan Sheenhan. Mercy College however were now more alert in defense and their middle blocker Sean O’Byrne began to lessen the sting of these attacks with some impressive blocking at the net. 
Mercy College Woodford had the early lead at the changeover stage of the final set, leading by a handful of points they dug deep and continued to add to their points tally. At 22-18 in favour of Mercy College it looked like the game was over for the Lismore boys. Incredibly they showed tremendous spirit and strength to level the match once more bringing the score to 22-22 in the deciding set. The next few points were action packed and each team had to perform at their very best to stay in the rally and indeed in the match. After many long rallies and excellent attacking and defensive play there could only be one winner. Mercy College Woodford just had the edge over the Lismore boys and they took the final set 27-25 and with it the match in a nail biting finish. Mercy College Woodford are the new Cadette A Boys All Ireland Champions. Shane Heaphy from Blackwater Community College received the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) for the match.