Drumshanbo VS Girls shoot into All Ireland final making more history

Drumshanbo girls, triple all Ireland finalists and double gold medallists last season, had still plenty of those players in the school this year but, promoted to B level, they found it a big jump despite some good fights.

However, for the time in the 32 years of Drumshanbo girls entering National competitions another group have burst through to the cadette (u-16) Final C . this is the first time Drumshanbo’s B (2nd string team ) has ever made a National final.

Drumshanbo’s boys did it 5 times. Allen Gaels manager Jame Flynn featured in a thriller in 2002 and Talk n Tech manager Emmett Mahon, was one of the leading players in their last B team finals in a very close final in 2006 20 years ago!

It’s a huge achievement for the girls. It is also the first time ever that a Drumshanbo girls team has appeared back in a national final as the holders.

Semi final: Drumshanbo B beat Scoil Muire Strokestown A 25- 17 25-23

This match was the first match of the day and its result turned out to be between the top 2 teams of the day. Drumshanbo assistant coach Breda Travers said Drumshanbo were very lucky as Strokestown did not settle at the start and a dream first set followed for Drumshanbo. After an early lead of 5-2, Leah Casey’s serve shot the Leitrim school 13-6. Strokestown settled after that run but Yaroslava Kutsehub, a great defender all day, covered all angles and the Roscommon school could not get a comeback run.

Strokestown roared 4-0 ahead into set 2 but Pixie Christe, immediately halted their gallop with a run of 5 serves. Strokestown, one of the favourites for the competition, led from there by a point or 2 all the way to 18-16. But Drumshanbo showed great reactions to keep the ball in play with Stephanie Reynolds starring, and Drumshanbo finally edged ahead at 21-19 and just squeezed to victory.

Quarter final 1: Strokestown A beat St. Marys Holy Faith Glasnevin A 25-15 25-21 It was Glasnevin who didn’t settle in set 1 in this but came roaring back in set 2.

Quarter final 2: Drumshanbo B beat Holy Faith Glasnevin A 25-15 25-17

Drumshanbo now found themselves as favourites to advance to the final and the serves and quick reaction times of Gabriela Mora Diaz moved them to a great lead, right at the start, of 9-2. Glasnevin pulled themselves together but every time it looked like they might catch up they found Maria Byelyakova covering their angle and she also had a service run towards the end to clinch it.

Glasnevin peaked in set two and led most of the time up to 14-12. But then star server Casey hit a run of 9 serves to make it 21-14. Glasnevin fought hard from there but Brianna Guckian’s quick reflexes saved too many times for them to get a run. 

For manager Claire Muleady, it’s been a dream time as this is the first time she has been senior manager of a Drumshanbo team. There were 51 teams in the competition, 31 of the schools featuring their A team.

The Drumshanbo VS U16 girls volleyball B panel that has reached the All Ireland Cadette final. (Back, from left) Maria Byelyakova, Leah Casey, Gabriela Mora Diaz, Annie Mulvey, Emma Scollan. (Front) Yaroslava Kutsehub (Captain), Brianna Guckian, Pixie Christie, Stefanie Reynolds