SENIOR ALL IRELAND FINAL & OTHER SPORTING NEWS

Last Thursday our Senior Girls team travelled to UCD, Dublin, to play Scoil Mhuire from Ennis in the All Ireland Final. The girls had been training hard and were looking forward to the day especially with the super support that was travelling with them. The day started with the National Anthem. Following this each team member was introduced to the crowd. This was a very memorable experience for all involved.

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 Michelle Power was retrieving shots with excellent digs and Catríona was volleying really well. The set was level  11 all, when their  talented number four stepped up to serve. This was the turning point of the set as she managed to win eight points off her serve.  The girls eventually won back serve and fought bravely but eventually lost the opening set 25-14.

The girls started the second set on fire! We went into a three point lead and the girl’s confidence rose. Freya and Kellie came on and added to our defence. Over the next few points both teams matched each other point for point. Katie won four points in a row off her serve and the  set was looking good. Unfortunately, number four again stepped up and finished the game off with some powerful serving. The set ended 25-19. The girls were devastated but went up proudly to receive their runners up medals.

This was the second All Ireland Final for most of the team and most are under age again next year so hopefully it will be third time lucky! Well done girls! 

TEAM:Michelle Power, Katie Daly, Catríona Cleary, Katy Laffan, Michelle Maher, Freya Skelsey, Freya Franklin, Teanna Clifford, Shannon Kearney, Áine Walsh, Kellie Tutty.

TENNIS

The 5th and 6th years recently concluded their P.E. module at the Causeway Tennis Club. The students really enjoyed the activity and the opportunity to use the super facilities. We would especially  like to thank the Tennis Club for allowing us to use their wonderful facilities.

SPIKEBALL

On Friday first and second year girls travelled to Tramore for the first round of the Spikeball All Ireland Series. This was the first day the girls played together so initially they were a bit rusty but they did enough during the day to qualify for the next round after Christmas. They had games against Stella Maris, Tramore,  St. Mary’s New Ross and St. Pauls, Waterford. Training continues each lunch time and all are welcome.  

TEAM: Kellie Tutty, Luana Fanone, Róisín Fitzpatrick, Grace Power, Kirsten Young, Niamh Fitzpatrick

Cadette Volleyball Teams play Mountrath and Blessington 

The school cadette volleyball teams played against Blessington and Mountrath on Tuesday the 4th of December. The team played very well even though many of the team members had not played competitive Volleyball before. The lack of match practice led to a slow start against Blessington.  After allowing them to open up a gap we simply could not catch up with them. The players kept  their best performances for the Mountrath game. The Mountrath players were older and far taller but the CCN lads really made them fight for every point. Joint captains Andrew O'Donnell and Daniel Donnelly were outstanding. Mountrath just scrapped through, and despite the disappointment of  losing both games all players improved greatly during the course of the day.

Cadette A Team

CCN has a very strong Cadette A team in the All Ireland Cup Competition for 2012-13. In their seeding game verus Fethard the team showed some signs of good things to come. The team are very athletic and have excellent basic volleyball skills, helped greatly by the coaching by former Irish Senior coach Laurant Cauet. Ex national squad members Seamus Fitzgerald, James Harty, Liam Power and Mark Whelan continue to show great potential. Again this team started slowly versus rivals Fethard. But over the two sets there was only a couple of points between the teams at any stage.  The team now await the draw for the last 16 of the cup competition. With training and focus this group can go far in this competition.

Above : Cadette B team:  Joseph Power, Daniel Donnelly, Charlie Mc Donagh, Christian O'Mahony, Andrew O'Donnell, Alex Pavuk,,Ryan Pratt, Peter Cawley, Kieran Tobin, John Cliffe, Ross Mitchell,  and Lee Moore.