Leitrim's Ruairi Grier helps Ireland to historic first ever International underage volleyball medal

It was some sweep of volleyball in Drumshanbo last week after the Cadette boys’ final with the highlight being Ruairi Grier captaining Ireland to a first ever underage international medal in the European Small Nations U20 championships, leading the team to the bronze medals.

While Drumshanbo VS were engaged in schools action, former pupil Ruairi Grier led Ireland to an historic break performance at the Small Countries Association (SCA) U20 Men’s Championships held at the Sports Ireland Campus in Dublin.

Ireland came from behind to defeat Northern Ireland 3-1 (18-25, 25-17, 28-26, 25-23) and finish third in the competition, which counted as a qualifier for this year’s European Championship, after overcoming Gibraltar on Saturday evening.

Playing as back court libero and wearing a different colour jersey, Ruairi can be seen in action on YouTube as Ireland celebrated the first ever hosting of this event with an historic medal. Congratulations Ruairi, you did Leitrim proud.

Ruairi Grier, fourth from left, pictured celebrating with his Ireland teammates

In other action, Drumshanbo VS Junior boys played a boys’ team from Westmeath for the first time ever in their 50 plus years of volleyball history, fielding three teams and all three teams recorded wins over the new school, Mullingar Community College.

The following day, the same Drumshanbo teams played five games against Elphin and won four out of five..

The next day, Abbey VS from Donegal came to town. Donegal schools used to participate in the old North West school blitz held by PJ Cleary in Manorhamilton from 1980 to 1988 but now, about 35 years later, Donegal have entered national competitions and travelled to Leitrim to take on Drumshanbo in the schools senior cup.

There was an unusual local link too with Irish Senior captain Gareth Gilmartin coaching Donegal for an hour and through their match against Drumshanbo, as part of Volleyball Ireland’s efforts to develop the sport in Donegal.

Drumshanbo confined his senior team to leaving certs as it was their last year and they were joined by three sixth years also finishing in Drumshanbo.

The result was a thriller with the warmed-up Donegal playing very well before Drumshanbo got going before Donegal sneaked a historic win.

Drumshanbo’s cadette recent final, with set two providing some great rallies, can be viewed also be viewed on YouTube.

Results Junior: Drumshanbo 1 beat Mullingar 25-15 25-20 ;Drumshanbo 2 beat Mullingar 25-19 25-11; Drumshanbo 3 beat Mullingar 25-8 22-25 25-18; Drumshanbo 1 lost to Elphin A 15-25 21-25, beat Elphin B 25-19; Drumshanbo 2 beat Elphin A 25-9 25-14. Drumshanbo 3 bt Elphin B 25-23, bt Elphin A 25-15

TEAMS(Serves in brackets)

Team 1: Seán Curran 10, Liam Harte 14, Adam Earley 12, Emmett Faughnan 14, Jared McMahon 5, Oscar Liddy 10, Ronan McGreevy 5, Bartosz Czaja 4, Wojciech Wrobel 6, Tom Rynn 3

Team 2: Anton Bierova 7, Killian Conlon 6, Oscar Wosniak 10, Adam Cull 3, Owen Moffatt 6, Senan Lee 11, Milo Gray 9, Ameer Hussain 1, Ruairí Mulvey 6, Traolach McGovern 8, William Curran 6

Team 3: Patrick Keane 14, Seán McGuinness 2, Diarmuid Prior 11, Dylan McNiff 4,Kaya Tas 6, Ross McShera 3, Daragh Nolan 17, Glenn McKeague 1, Ryan Dunne McPartlin 8, Szymon Cabaj 5

SENIOR CUP: Donegal beat Drumshanbo 25-23 25-16 18-25 25-23 9-15

Panel: (Serves in brackets) Jack Keany 4, Conor McLoughlin 18, Callum O’Rourke 7, Przemystaw Zaremba 14, Fionn Gilrane 16, Daniel O’Loughlin 3, Patryk Orawiec 8, Yuryi Nadilnyi, Cian Leith Gorani 14, Joshua Lynch 5, Sebastian Sjazna 9, Shane McGovern 1