St. Colmcille’s Qualify for Spikeball Regional Finals.
St. Colmcille’s Templemore, more renowned for their exploits on the hurling and football fields in recent times, set their sights on a very different challenge in 2015. Spikeball is a game which has been introduced by The Volleyball Association of Ireland to entice Irish children to consider volleyball as a sport they would play on a regular basis. Spikeball is a variation of volleyball in which children can practice all the main skills of volleyball in a more relaxed and less intensive manner.
The Templemore school, dedicated to allowing their children to be as active as is possible decided to undertake Spikeball as a new game for their school and teachers Mr. Kelly and Mr. Doyle undertook coaching courses to educate themselves on the game.
With a foundation now to launch this new game, the children have, for the past two years been practicing the various skills and playing mini games with a view to being able to compete. It was decided that St.Colmcille’s would enter two teams in the Co.Tipperary competition which was held in Moyle Rovers G.A.A Hall on 4th February. Accompanied by teachers Mr. Doyle and Miss Hassett, Templemore Tigers and Templemore Spikers set off into unknown territory of competitive Spikeball.
Templemore Spikers were first up on the day in Group B and got off to a great start with a 27-19 victory against opponents from Fethard. Their only defeat in their group came in game 2 where another Fethard team defeated them 31-12. This didn’t dampen the Spiker’s spirits and they bounced back with good wins against Cahir and Tankardstown which meant they finished 2nd in their group and qualified for a Quarter Final against the third placed team from Group A.
While all this was going on Templemore Tigers were competing to try and qualify from Group A. Like their schoolmates Templemore Tigers also got off to a winning start against their Fethard opponents on a scoreline of 24-18. They didn’t ease off in their remaining Group A games either with impressive victories against Ayle, Tipperary and Clerihan ensuring they would win their group and qualify for Quarter Finals.
Templemore Tigers would play Tankardstown while Templemore Spikers were drawn to play Cahir. Both teams put in great performances and managed to win their respective games and qualify for the Semi Final round. To get to this stage had exceeded all expectations and hopes that both teams might qualify for the Munster Finals now became a possibility, however news broke that both Templemore teams were now drawn to play each other in a game where winner would take all and qualify for The Munster Finals in Ballincollig in March. Neither team wanted to have to play against their friends and classmates but were mature enough to know that it had to be done and a very exciting and sporting contest took place. Eventually Templemore Tigers came out on top and claimed the honour of being able to represent their school and their county in the Regional Finals in Cork on March 10th. The ability to take up a new game in such a short period of time and execute the skills to such a high standard is admirable from this group of boys and no doubt they will represent themselves with distinction as they advance to bigger and better challenges.