Local schools claim All Ireland titles
Drumshanbo Vocational School won the All Ireland Junior C Volleyball title.
Two local secondary schools have won an All-Ireland volleyball final this afternoon.
Athlone’s Our Lady’s Bower Junior Volleyball Team won the All Ireland Junior B title while Drumshanbo Vocational school claimed the All Ireland Junior C title as they defeated Ardscoil Mhuire of Ballinasloe.
Our Lady’s Bower took on Eureka College Kells in the bid to make the school champions for the third time in as many years.
After a tight start saw the sides level at 2-2 in the opening game, Our Lady’s Bower made their move, powering 10-3 in front.
They extended their advantage to lead 13-4 but the Meath school came roaring back to reduce their arrears to just two points, 19-17. However, Our Lady’s Bower held their nerve and took the opening game 25-18.
Eureka College produced a strong start to the second game to move 3-0 in front. Our Lady’s Bower didn’t panic as they managed to tie the game, first at 4-4 before the sides were deadlocked at 5-5.
Five straight points helped the winners establish control and from there they powered home, taking the second game 25-12 and in the process securing All Ireland glory.
Meanwhile, Drumshanbo Vocational School also prevailed at the University of Limerick as they defeated Ardscoil Mhuire of Ballinasloe.
The two teams both enjoyed Roscommon representation, but it was Drumshanbo VS who capped a memorable season in style.
Drumshanbo Vocational School had only reached one girls final in 25 years before this season but they reached three finals this season.
They reached their first ever girls Senior final, winning gold last December before qualifying for the national Cadette C final.
Then, they managed to progress through to the Junior C final where they defeated an Ardscoil Mhuire side that had beaten them earlier in the competition.
Despite falling 5-0 down, Drumshanbo came back into the contest and even managed to move 19-18 before reeling off six straight points to take the opening game.
The second game was also tightly contested as despite falling 503 behind, Dtumshanbo VS managed to inch and front and hold out to take the second game 25-18.
