from Munster Express Powerhouses – James and Sean Power of Thomastown had great runs in Tramore. St Senans juvenile athletes were in action at the AAI Intercounties cross country championships in Tramore last Sunday and despite the cold winds, heavy rain and tough course the performed exceptionally well taking home a total of five medals. Bronagh Kearns got boxed in on the rails in the girls U/16 race but fought her way to 9th place with a gritty, determined run. She was also part of the Leinster scoring six taking a gold medal. Conor Rochford like Bronagh was giving away a year in the U/18 race and after digging deep to hang on to the leaders, it looked like his chance had gone as he was passed with 200m to go.
However he found a final ounce of energy and kicked hard in the finishing straight to pull back a place to take 12th spot and an All Ireland medal. He also picked up a Leinster gold with the regional squad. Shane Quinn again showed that he is an outstanding athlete as despite giving away a year he won the U/18 race by some distance. It may have looked easy for the Ferrybank athlete but it was a hard run that left him spent at the finish. In the U/12 boys race Stephen Greene had a solid run and following great running by the Thomastown twins James Power 2nd, Sean Power 6th as well as Paul Manning, St Josephs 13th was part of the Kilkenny team that took bronze. Both Powers and Manning were part of the Leinster bronze medal winning team. In the boys U/14 race James Maher of KCH fought his way up to the silver medal winning spot with a gutsy last 400m, helping the Kilkenny squad take gold.There were solid runs by the Butler twins Orla and Aoife in the U/16 race, while Bill Irish showed plenty of promise in the U/16 boys event. Thomastown athletes performed well with the Power twins well supported by Brian Kirwan, Jack Lynch and peter Brett. In the U/18 race Aoife O’Connor finished in 28th place and was part of the Leinster bronze medal winning team.
Junior Races
In the girls junior race Meath athlete Sara Treacy had a close battle with twins Charlotte and Rebecca Ffrench O’Carroll, but proved the stronger in the last half lap and raced away to record a fine win. There was a fine run by Lorraine McCarthy of Ferrybank AC who took 4th ahead of team mate Patricia Barry. Ciara Everard of KCH was the first Kilkenny athlete in 10th place with Sally Forristal St Josephs 25th.
Junior Girls Results
1 Treacy, Sara Meath 2 French O’Carroll, Charlotte Dublin 3 French O’Carroll, Rebecca Dublin 4 Mc Carthy, Lorraine Waterford 5 Barry, Patricia Waterford 6 Shaughnessy, Laura Galway 7 Gebrezgi, Tekea Dublin 8 Walsh, Marie Dublin 9 Twohig, Michelle Cork 10 Everard, Ciara Kilkenny 11 Madigan, Claire Clare 12 Doyle, Deirdre Carlow 13 Britton, Una Wicklow 14 Ryan, Niamh Waterford 15 Ross, Fionnuala Tyrone 16 Moore, Shauna Meath 17 Moran, Shauna Meath 18 Plunkett, Elaine Meath 19 Purcell, Kate Dublin 20 O’Sullivan, Jenny Dublin 21 Reddin, Gemma Sligo 22 O’Connell, Emer Cork 23 Brennan, Grainne Waterford 24 Finn, Gayle Cork 20.02 25 Forristal, Sally Kilkenny 20.17 26 O’Regan, Niamh Cork 20.32 27 Sheridan, Grainne Meath 21.02
Team Results
1. Dublin 2. Waterford . 3 Meath. 4. Cork.
Junior Boys
Cork athlete Craig Murphy lost a spike shortly after the start of the junior men’s race but still had too much in hand for Michael Mulhare of North Laois. Murphy made a move with 1000m to go that proved decisive as he added to his All Ireland schools cross country title won earlier this year. Ferrybank athletes featured well with Paddy Flynn 4th and Paddy Hogan 6th. Kevin Cooper made a lot of the early running and finished strongly in 11th with Ferdia O’hAodh 22nd and Gavin Downey 24th. Thomas Hayes was the first Kilkenny athlete home in 34th.
Junior Boys Results
1 Murphy, Craig Cork 2 Mulhare, Michael Laois 3 Flynn, David Dublin 4 Flynn, Patrick Waterford
5 Ward, Ian Donegal 6 Hogan, Patrick Waterford, 7 Faulkner, Ryan Antrim 8 Tremble, Liam Dublin 9 Corbally, Robert Dublin 10 Carmody, Michael Limerick 11 Cooper, Kevin Waterford, 12 King, Dan Donegal 13 Rowan, Eoin Dublin 14 Mc Cafferty, Sean Antrim 15 Rooney, Steven Antrim
16 Travers, John Dublin 17 Pearce, Eoin Dublin 18 Mc Kenna, Ciaran Meath 19 Magee, Conal Antrim
20 Breen, Joe Wexford 21 Mc Donald, Mark Dublin 22 O’Haodha, Ferdia Waterford 23 Hamilton, Eoin Antrim 24 Downey, Gavin Waterford 25 Duggan, Ronan Cork 26 Diamond, Daniel Antrim 27 Van Haefen, Lee Dublin 28 Moloney, Rory Waterford 29 Campion, Loughlin Meath 30 Flynn, Alex Waterford 31 Quirke, Richard Cork 32 Feely, Liam Leitrim 33 Gallagher, Eamon Antrim 34 O’Sullivan, Carl Dublin 35 Hayes, Thomas Kilkenny 36 Rooney, Paul Antrim 37 Vahey, Darren Meath 38 Quinlan, Niall Kilkenny 39 O’Connor, Cian Meath 40 Lehane, Cormac Cork 41 Harrington, Craig Cork 42 Kelly, Alex Cork 43 O’Reilly, Thomas Meath 44 Hoey, Nick Meath
Team Results
1 Dublin. 2. Waterford. 3. Antrim. 4 Meath. 5. Cork.
Senior Races
DSD athletes made a big impression on the two senior races. Linda Byrne broke clear of the field at an early stage of the senior women’s four lap race. She looked to have the race sewn up by halfway, but a determined effort by Deirdre Byrne brought her within striking distance of the leader.
Byrne again upped the pace and went clear again, going on to win her first senior cross country title. Corrina Walsh of west Waterford was the first local athlete home in 31st place. Suzanne Donovan of Aghaviller was first Kilkenny athlete home despite competing in the U/23 section. In the men’s race there was a lead group consisting of Alan McCormack, Gary Murray, Mark Hanrahan, Mick Clohissey and Mark Christie and these forced the early pace. Brian Maher of KCH had been ill during the week and he never looked comfortable eventually pulling up on the second lap. Going out the third of the five laps the order changed dramatically as McCormack sprinted clear and increased his lead all the way to the line. Sandis Bralitis was the first Waterford man home in 19th place. Tommy Evans of Gowran led the Kilkenny charge finishing in 33rd place. Mick Clohissey of Raheny took the U/23 title.
Thomastown on Sunday
The county ‘B’ championships for uneven ages and the county ‘B’ novice is on in Thomastown next Sunday. Theck it out in advance.
Fixtures
30th Nov Kilkenny County ‘B’ Novice and U/7 – U/17 ‘B’ CC, Thomastown.
7th Dec AAI Novice and Juvenile (uneven) CC, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan 12am
21st Dec Co Kilkenny Senior CC, Gowran
Quoteworthy
“I think I saw three brass monkeys heading for the Vic” – overheard in Tramore last Sunday.