Drumshanbo rallies to land top seeding

Drumshanbo VS upset expectations in Ballinagare last Friday when late rallies in two wins saw them edge out the two favourites.

First Elphin A (who had beaten a mixed Drumshanbo team in the seedings) started by playing like the favourites they were and comfortable won their first set of the day 25-20. 

Then Athenry upped their game and took the next two sets 25-20 15-9 and established themselves as the new favourites. When Athenry cruised to a 25-10 25-7 win over Elphin B they looked a serious outfit. Meanwhile Aidan Shannon had his team set up on a temporary court outside on the Astro-turf with humble ambitions.

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Drumshanbo VS B beat Coláiste an Eachréidh Athenry  B 25-16 25-22

Unbelievably Drumshanbo started playing well above themselves, taking the lead from the start and never showed any weakness to allow the favourites to settle. Ronan Guckian, who combined well throughout the day, had a winning dig followed by an ace to give Drumshanbo a 6-3 lead.

They led 9-4, 16-9, 18-10, and 21-12. During this set Adam Winters had 11 touches without error, typical of how they commanded the set. 

However, as they did against Elphin, Athenry stormed back in the 2nd set, looking hot favourites to take the match to a deciding set when they led 17-9! Then the stability of the Drumshanbo proved crucial.

Luke Roddy steadied the ship with six serves in a row. Then Keelan Gaffney, who served a big lead in the first set, and hit another crushing 4 in the opening set versus Elphin afterwards, served Drumshanbo from 16-19 behind to 22-19 ahead and Athenry lost their confidence.

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Drumshanbo VS B beat Elphin Community College A 25-15 25-23

This was an even bigger win. Many of the Drumshanbo team were on a stronger team in the seedings round that had lost to this good Elphin side. But again, Drumshanbo had a great opening set. Cody O’Brien again flicked down many winners as well as serving aces. Again, as he had in the first set, Joshua Keville showed great reactions and he killed off the first set with 4 serves in a row.

In the second set, Aidan Shannon started Ryan Gilmartin. This time the real Elphin arrived and caused big problem with their serve. After 8-8 Elphin lead including at 14-11. 

Ryan hit a crucial winner to bring it to 13-14. Conor Deegan came on and hit a great pass at 16-19. Still Elphin served well and raced 23-17 ahead.

But then it was Luke Ruddy's serve. Luke had served four in a row to pen up a 5-0 lead in the open set against Elphin. But now he even did better. 

From 17-23 down, he served 8 in a row to seal victory for Drumshanbo. In the middle of that, Oscar Liddy dug back powerfully on stage to catch Elphin on the hop.

Drumshanbo B were awarded a walkover by Elphin B as there was pressure on buses to return to base for a busy Friday and Drumshanbo couldn’t be caught on the table

All in all, a perfect day from Drumshanbo, the best since COVID.

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Training sessions had been cancelled as a mark of respect for former Drumshanbo VS volleyballer Ronan Moran and the players had been part of the school or Allen Gaels guards of honour. Maybe he was steering things from the sky.

Panel: (serves in brackets) Luke Ruddy (capt.) (25), Adam Winters (9), Keelan Gaffney (21), Joshua Keville (12), (6), Cody O’Brien (8), Ryan Gilmartin, Daniel McManus, Conor Deegan, Louis Glancy, Oscar Liddy, Adam Cull