A sport that still remains in anonymity in a lot of schools in Ireland, volleyball is the principal sport in Mount St. Michael's. Each year, the selection of teams causes an anxious, tense buzz around the school as players scan the notice board at regular intervals for any news on the teams.

It is this atmosphere which is attached to volleyball that sets it aside as a special sport here in Mount St. Michael's. Luckily, this dedication to the sport goes well rewarded. We have won numerous competitions and all-Irelands at Junior and Cadette level, Claremorris has now become a force to be reckoned with.

Volleyball matches are considered big events and attract a large following of school students who watch with much passion and interest. Last year, despite the interruptions of teacher strikes and Foot and Mouth disease, we participated in the All-Ireland Schools Volleyball Championship. Thanks to great enthusiasm and dedication both Cadette A + B teams were All-Ireland finalists. Cadette B were unfortunately narrowly defeated by St. Leo's of Carlow.

Cadette A however, defeated their competitors 28-13, 25-9. Their hard work and dedication paid off. As well as earning the much-coveted All-Ireland Title, they have been rewarded with the opportunity to compete in the World Championships in Puerto Rico in April 2002.

We must not forget however, the immense work and dedication by all volleyballers who played last year.

Karina Forde.

Football, the sport of the gods according to some! Our school team may not be made up of Beckhams or Keanes but we're doing well in our own league anyway. In the school there are three teams, under 13, under 15, and under 17. Being almost 16 years old I'm not that familiar with the under 13 team but I have some experience with the others.

At the start of the year the first decision we made was to buy new jerseys. After half an hour of browsing through a catalogue we chose our design- sky blue and navy with our crest in the corner. The next problem was funding. We decided to hold a cake sale in the canteen at school and this provided all the money we needed. The school very generously filled in the balance.

Thankfully the jerseys arrived in time for our first match, an under 17 game against another school in the county. We didn't win but it was still only the beginning. Two weeks later we played another local team and won 5-1! This win has really boosted the team spirit and our next opponents better watch out!

The under 15 competition has only got under way but unfortunately we lost our first match. It was against Belmullet and we only narrowly lost out. That's football I suppose.

That's all we've played so far but it's still early days. More games to be played, more points to be won. Wish us luck!

Patricia Gallagher