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The Mercy Mounthawk Spikeball team which won the All-Ireland title on Thursday. Front from left; Jessica McGibney, Sophie Hassett, Aoibhín O’Connor McCarthy and Rachel O’Mahony. Standing from left; Olivia Dineen (coach), Aoife O’Brien, Lily Collins, Shannon Martin, Millie O’Brien, Kelly Fitzgerald and Amanda Brosnan (coach). Photo by Dermot Crean
WHILE the school’s basketballers were rightly feted for their All-Ireland U19 A Schools Cup-winning exploits, another team from Mercy Mounthawk also picked up a national title last week.
The first year Spikeball team won the All-Ireland title in NUIG Galway last Thursday. Spikeball is a sport which is adapted from volleyball and is run by the Volleyball Association of Ireland and is played by first year students in schools around the country.
It was a long road for the students who have been training since September and had to win games to qualify for the All-Ireland finals, where 24 teams from around the country gathered.
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They had to play nine games on the one day and eventually beat Coláiste Chríost Rí from Port Laoise in the final by two sets to one.
“They were very focussed from the start and determined to win, so they were able to perform during the final,” said Olivia Dineen who coaches the team with Amanda Brosnan.
There were nine girls in all taking part on a rotation basis for the six-a-side games and all played their part, apart from Rachel O’Mahony who unfortunately suffered an injury and was sidelined for the day. Well done for bringing another All-Ireland to Tralee.
