Cool Drumshanbo VS volleyballers make it a golden girls double

Drumshanbo Vocational School capped off an incredible year for the school’s female volleyballers when their Junior team claimed the All-Ireland Schools Junior C crown at the University of Limerick on Monday, making it a double to go with the Senior All-Ireland crown.

They weren’t favourites. They travelled the furthest. They were unruffled. If ever there was a calm young team, then these Drumshanbo girls were it. And, they were guided by their ultra calm coach Breda Travers. Picture the scene: a bus diversion due to a traffic accident. 

Just enough time for the official warm-up. Then the score is 0-5 for the opposition Ballinasloe. Breda called a time out. And, from there, the girls get into mode and make history.

At that first time out, Breda emphasised that to absorb the very deep Galway serves, they must drop back. They did, and immediately began to get the ball into play. Once they did, their great ball skills would keep the rallies going and eventually put pressure on Ballinasloe. And so it was. Back they sent the ball more and more and they hardly missed their serve the whole match! Slowly and gradually, they got their rhythm. They were relentless and, in the end, Ballinasloe were dumbfounded and began to lose their composure and system.

Drumshanbo had to fight very hard to get their early points after a classic passing from Inha Stoianova to Rachel Guckian to Poppy Doherty to spike down, gave them their first winner. Guckian’s deep serves were returned, and Stoianova and Doherty had to defend strongly. Ballinasloe only made their 1st play error at 6-5.

The Drumshanbo Vocational School team who were crowned National Junior C champions 2024/25 on Monday April 7, in the University of Limerick after they defeated ASM Ballinasloe 25-18 25-18. (Back, from left) Breda Travers (Manager), Jessica Lavin, Amy Gilchriest, Poppy Doherty, Inha Stoianova, Lauren Noone, Pauline McBarron (Manager). (Front) Hannah Flynn, Ava Reagan, Rachel Guckian, Leah Casey, Ciara Farrell

Strong Ballinasloe serves put them back 10-7 ahead. And, on Jessica Lavin’s deep serves, it was only hard reaction work from Ava Regan that ground down the opposition to close it to 9-10. Stoianova then served aces and finally put Drumshanbo 13-11 ahead. Ballinasloe fought hard but 4 serves from Regan, and Guckian setting Doherty to hit winners, raced Drumshanbo to 17-13. Again Ballinasloe stuck in, and hauled it back to 19-17.

Breda Travers called a time-out. Then Guckian again set Doherty for a winner and 5 serves from Doherty were backed by the first aggressive spikes from Jessica Lavin and Drumshanbo were a set up.

Ballinasloe started well in the second set, but two winners from Jessica Lavin and an ace from Amy Gilchriest on a three serve run got the Leitrim school. But actually, as Ballinasloe surged 5-3 ahead, there were brilliant dives from Guckian, Doherty, and Stoianova.

Again Breda Travers called a time-out and with a winning dig from Regan and an ace on Guckian serves, Drumshanbo went 8-5 ahead. The game ebbed and flowed then, as Drumshanbo held on to slender leads. Then a tip winner from Doherty, chased by Guckian, and after a dig winner from Doherty, all on Gilchriest’s consistent serves, Ballinasloe trailed 15-11.

A Lavin ace at 20-15 caused another Ballinasloe time out, but 4 serves from Stoianova, including another ace, crept Drumshanbo up to 24. In the end, 2 volley winners from Regan including at match point ended a great hard working season.

What a season for Breda Travers. After no finals in 15 years, Drumshanbo won their first ever senior final, and won their first set in a cadette final since 1999! And, now they have come and won their first ever Junior final.

MVP Rachel Guckian pictured with her award

When it was put to Breda Travers that she had done something new, she admitted that finally she threw caution to the wind and encouraged the girls to set and go for hits. And it worked.

Equally glowing after the match was assistant coach Pauline McBarron, who helped restart girls volleyball in 1994. For the past few years she has taken lunch time in the hall and provided a guiding hand to all ages of girls to have a go at this sport.

There is history among the panel too. Hannah Flynn’s dad Stephen was a very strong volleyball player in the old school leagues. All Amy Gilchriest’s previous generation played, with her aunt Geraldine a star on the very early girls teams.

Ava Regan’s dad played alongside Rachel Guckian’s uncle David in a Connacht community games final. The same David captained Drumshanbo to their first National Junior boy’s final back in 1994 . Of course not only did Rachel go one better by winning, she was also awarded MVP for the match!

Drumshanbo panel: (serves in brackets) Leah Casey, Amy Gilchriest 10, Lauren Noone, Hannah Flynn, Jessica Lavin 6, Inha Stoianova 8, Ava Regan 6, Ciara Farrell, Rachel Guckian  (captain) 10, Poppy Doherty 8

Thumbs up from the delighted Drumshanbo players after their victory over ASM Ballinasloe on Monday