SPORTS NEWS: SENIOR GIRLS WIN ALL IRELAND SEMI-FINAL

Last Friday our Senior Girls team travelled to Dublin to play Presentation College, Terenure in the All- Ireland Quarter-Final. The girls had been training hard and were looking forward to the day because if they won they knew that the Semi-Final was ahead.

The opening match was intense. The first set was a disaster with the journey apparently taking its toll on our  girls. They lost the first set 25-11. Fortunately,  the second set saw a different CCN team.

The team started very well. Áine and Shannon were serving really well. Teanna had her usual superb hits, Katy had some lovely touches at the net whilst Freya Skelsey was retrieving shots with excellent digs. The team won the next set comfortably. The third set was a more even affair with both teams working very hard. Catríona had some great long volleys whilst Katie, despite an injury, had some wonderful flicks to win numerous points.  Eventually we were delighted to come out on top in a very exciting encounter.

The Semi-Final match followed on and it  was against Sutton Park, another Dublin school.  Again our six started strongly, winning the first set convincingly 25 – 11. In the second set, Freya Franklin and Michelle Maher had some lovely volleys. Michelle Power, as captain again, led by example with superb digs from the back of the court and she was well supported by Kellie who got some very difficult shots. We won the set 25-15 and now have the All Ireland Final to look forward to on Thursday. Best of luck girls!

ALL IRELAND FINALISTS IN DUBLIN: Freya Franklin, Catríona Cleary, Michelle Maher, Michelle Power, Katie Daly, Áine Walsh, Kellie Tutty, Freya Skelsey, Katy Laffan, Shannon Kearney, and Teanna Clifford.

Senior Boys Volleyball

It has been a mixed week for the school’s senior boys volleyball team. After a brilliant 2 sets to 1 victory over St Bridget’s, Loughrea in the All Ireland Quarter Final we lost the semi final to Drumshanbo Community School, Leitrim 2 sets to 1.

In the Bridget’s game CCN started very well winning the first set by a comfortable margin. Excellent performances from the starting six Timmy McGrath, Owen Kirkham, Adrian Pasterczek, Christopher Power, Alex Sheehan and team Captain Sean Whelan kept us in the lead. David Chlesbowski and Patryk Frankiewicz came into the set and helped to extend our lead. Overall the second set was disappointing. St Bridget’s took command and never allowed CCN to settle into the set. With the drop in our performance levels we were second best all the way through the set.

In the third set excellent play from the whole squad and in particular excellent serving keep us in contention throughout the set and with Owen Kirkham, Patryk Frankiewicz, David Chlesbowski, Adrian Pasterczek dominating at the net we did enough to go through to the semi final. This was a very special victory as St Bridget’s have been challenging opposition for CCN over the last number of years across all age groups and this was our first win at senior level against them.

In the semi-final CCN started poorly and Drumshanbo powered into an early one set lead. In this set CCN introduced Stephen Ahearne and young cadette player Seamus Fitzgerald. The second set was a real battle and despite 5 service faults in the set CCN played like a real team and won a hard earned set. The third set was very close, CCN began to nullify the Drumshanbo danger men at the net. The game went down to the wire with the Leitrim team coming out on top.  It was heartbreak for the players as we lost the All Ireland final in UCD last year. All efforts will go into preparation for the Cadette competition now.

Pictured above the senior volleyball squad:  David Chlesbowski, Adrian Pasterczek, James Harty, Timmy McGrath, Owen Kirkham, Christopher Power, Stephen Ahearne, Alex Sheehan, Patryk Frankiewicz, Sean Whelan,  Seamus Fitzgerald and Liam Power.

Cross Country Event - Bryan’s win capped off an excellent showing for the school

Last Thursday afternoon, seven of our students travelled to Lismore GAA field to take part in a local cross country event as final preparation for this week’s county championships.  Although conditions during the day had been extremely poor, the weather cleared in time for our arrival at the grounds and we found the pitch itself in excellent condition.  This was advantageous to our competitors as it allowed them to use their natural speed and not get bogged down by a muddy course.

In the first year race, we fielded six athletes with Shaun O’Mahony sprinting home in first place, closely tailed by Raph Britten in second and Luke McCarthy a place further back.  Jamie Webster and David Lynch also placed well, with Aaron Power giving a fantastic performance in his first ever cross country event.  Having placed three of the top four and finishing well throughout the placings, this team not only performed fantastically well on the day but positioned themselves strongly for an assault on both individual and team honours in the county event.

In the senior boys’ race, Bryan O’Mahony competed against a strong line-up from the host school.  With a slow first lap by the pack, Bryan always looked well within his comfort zone and was able to establish a slight lead in the second lap before pulling away in the third to win well.  Bryan’s win capped off an excellent showing for the school and raised hopes for more success in the near future.