Bettystown, Ireland, June 2, 2019.  The Phase 1 Continental Cup event in Bettystown came to an end with a second day of entertaining play.  With the top teams confirmed on Saturday, Day 2 was all about finishing the remaining places in the ranking.  In the men's competition Ireland won against their local rivals Scotland earning the right to face Ukraine in the 2nd/3rd Final, but that proved one step too far on this occasion.  Over in the women's event, it was Estonia who came through the morning matches to face and defeat Denmark to secure second place. Ukraine and Estonia join pool winners Lithuania and Slovakia in the next phase of the men's and women's competition, respectively.

In what was a wonderful first event for Ireland, setting a whole new benchmark for growing the game in the country, crowds were consistently good throughout the weekend with many first time Volleyball spectators converted into fans.  The event ended with Volleyball Ireland publicly thanking all players, referees, volunteers and sponsors for their support in this historic event, already looking to the future and getting more Beach Volleyball on Irish shores.

The day started with the Irish men's duo of Benny O’Regan/Grzegorz Kaczmarek losing 21-12, 21-18 in a competitive encounter against Scotland's top team Ross McKelvie/Callum Stewart.  Alex Gibbons and Oisin McArdle were up next for the hosts, first sweeping aside Mitchell Brown/Harris Ritchie before wowing the crowd with some impressive blocking at the net against McKelvie/Stewart in the decisive match.  It proved not to be enough in the first set, losing 21-18, but Ireland came back strong and dominated winning the second and third 21-9 and 15-7. That win in glorious County Meath sunshine and with packed stands cheering them on, set up a silver medal match vs Ukraine.

The Ukrainians Sergiy Popov/Iaroslav Gordieiev proved to be a class above, winning the first set 21-6 and the second 21-8 with O’Regan battling through the pain barrier to represent his country alongside teammate Kaczmarek. Gibbons/McArdle did give Ukraine a scare in Match 2 but the yellow & blues of Denys Denysenko/Vladyslav Iemelianchyk ran out 21-15 winners in both sets. Sergiy Popov was particularly impressive in all aspects of the game.

In the Women’s pool Estonia and Denmark fought it out for 2nd place after Estonia had earlier beaten Ireland 2-0. After yesterday’s heroics Isabelle Carey and Alexandra Graves ran the Estonians closest but ended up losing out 21-19, 21-17.

Estonia kept their impressive run of form going and avenged their defeat yesterday against the Danes, Juudit Kure-Pohhomov/Anett Hollas taking the first match 2-1, followed by Heleene Hollas/Liisa Soomets securing second with a straight sets win 21-14, 21-13.



Final Standings:

MEN
LITHUANIA*
UKRAINE*
IRELAND
SCOTLAND

WOMEN
SLOVAKIA*
ESTONIA*
DENMARK
IRELAND

*Qualified for the second phase of the 2018-2020 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.

Click here for more on the CEV Continental Cup.