Drumshanbo VS girls reach All-Ireland Semi-Final

Last Thursday Drumshanbo VS cadette girls reached the All-Ireland semi-final, just failing to reach the final!

Quarter final: Drumshanbo beat St. Louis Dundalk 25-17 25-21

Unlike the spectacular  wins for Drumshanbo in previous rounds, Dundalk were a very good team and nearly beat Walkinstown. It was a great first set with lots of long rallies. Drumshanbo played as a team with unselfish passing, led by Meadhbh McNamara, helped in the early stages by Grace Quinn and later Abi McGourty. Sophie Daly, who chased down every ball all day, opened up a gap with a run of four serves.

They were tested early in set two when Dundalk led, but good passing continued. Long digs to the back court by Katie Browne and a run of serves from Elena Olivia gave them the cushion to withstand a strong Dundalk comeback before the end.

Semi final: Assumpta  Walkinstown beat Drumshanbo 25-21 25-15

All looked rosy early on when Drumshanbo led 7-4 with excellent passing from Ellen McGowan. But strong Walkinstown serving put them well behind. With good overhand serves from Carlota Jimenez, good digs from Ríona McKiernan and Niamh Mahon’s passing into the setter, they saved four set points before losing their first set of the whole season.

That seemed to drain Drumshanbo. No matter what they tried, Walkinstown kept returning the ball. Emma Keaveney came on but more hard serves ended the long journey this Drumshanbo team had made all season.

Drumshanbo Cadette volleyball girls All Ireland C semi-finalists. (Back, from left) Abi McGourty, Ríona Ní Thiarnáin, Grace Quinn, Emma Keaveney, Ellen McGowan. (Front) Carlota Jimenez, Elena Olivia, Sophie Daly, Meadhbh McNamara, Katie Browne, Niamh Mahon