from the Munster Express Last Sunday at Ballycurran Cross, the first stage of the Kilkenny County Cross Country championships were hosted by St Josephs AC. St Senans had a large number of athletes competing and they featured well in all the age groups. There were wins for Bronagh Kearns in the girls U/16 race and Conor Rochford in the boys U/18 event. Good runs too by Isabel Morgan who chased winner Mairead Barron of Aghaviller all the way to the line to take silver in the U/10 race.
There was silver too for Hugh Morgan who had a splendid run behind the very talented James Maher of KCH in the boys U/14 event. Sarah Dollard was also in silver as she finished just behind winner Maria Kennedy of Gowran in the girls U/18 race. Ailish Connelly was also among the medals as she took bronze in the U/14 race.
The St Senans teams also had a great day taking silver in the girls U/10 and masters O/40 as well as bronze in the girls U/12 and boys U/16 races. Other St Senans athletes who performed well included Aoife Halley, Tara Lacey, Claire McEvoy, Michelle McDonald and Sarah Butler in the U/12 race.
Gemma Aylward and Rachel Butler in the U/14 race. Orla Butler, Aoife Butler and Ciara Vereker in the U/16 event and of course the pride of Googe’s Lane Rosanne Kennedy. For the boys there were good runs by Kieran Wallis in the U/8 race, Martin Moloney in the U/10 and Bill Irish in the U/16 race. Well done to all our athletes and keep up the hard work.
Results
Girls Results
U/8 1-Sarah Doherty, A; 2- Ciara o’Keeffe, T; 3- Lauren Kenny, A.
U/10 1-Mairead Barron, A;2-Isobel Morgan, S; 3-Claire Kirwan, A.
U/12 1- Rebecca Kennedy, G; 2- Kate Crotty, K;3- Ailish Conneely, S.
U/14 1- Megan Morrissey, T; 2- Cliodhna Manning, K; 3- Rose Kennedy, G.
U/16 1- Bronagh Kearns, S; 2- Mary Ellen Doyle,G; Orla McPhillips, K.
U/18 1- Maria Kennedy, G; 2- Sarah Dollard, S; 3- Sarah Hennessy, G.
Teams
U/10 1 -Aghaviller 2- St Senan’s 3- Gowran
U/12 1-Kilkenny City Harriers 2-Thomastown 3-St Senan’s
U/14 1-Thomastown 2- Kilkenny City Harriers 3-Gowran
U/16 1-Gowran 2- Kilkenny City Harriers 3- St Senan’s
U/18 1-St Joseph’s
Boys Results
U/8 1- Darragh Maher, K; 2- Darragh McDonald, J; 3- Dylan Ronan.
U/10 1-Luke FitzPatrick, A; 2- Eoin Walsh, T; 3- David O’Connell, J.
U/12 1-Sean Power, T; 2- Paul Manning, J; 3- James Power, T.
U/14 1- James Maher,K; 2- Hugh Morgan, S; 3- Ben Treacy, G.
U/16 1- Ian Boland, K; 2- Shawn McCormack, G; 3- Ben Lahart, G.
U/18 1- Conor Rochford, S; 2- David Larkin, J; 3- Darragh Buggy, G.
Teams
U/10 1-St Joseph’s 2-Thomastown 3- Aghaviller
U/12 1-Aghaviller 2-St Joseph’s 3- Kilkenny City Harriers
U/14 1-Aghaviller 2- St Joseph’s 3- Gowran
U/16 1- St Joseph’s
Letter Code for clubs: A = Aghaviller; B = Brow Rangers; C = Castlecomer; G =Gowran; J = St Joseph’s; K = Kilkenny City Harriers; S = St Senan’s; T = Thomastown.
Saints Alive
St Joseph’s lead the charge in the hunt for the overall cross country shield with 13 points from wins in the boys U/10, U/16 and girls U/18, combined with second place for teams in boys U/12 and U/14. Aghaviller are currently in second place with 10 points following wins in girls U/10 and boys U/12 and U/14. They also won bronze in the boys U/10 race. Thomastown won gold in girls U/14 and silver in boys girls and boys U/10races. With up to 40 runners in some races competition for individual medals was very keen. Family wins were to the order of the day with the Kennedy’s from Gowran well to the fore with Rebecca and Maria winning their respective U/12 and U/18 races, while younger sister, Ruth , had an excellent run to finish 5th in the U/10. Equally impressive were the Mahers from KCH with James having a runaway victory in boys U/14, Patrick 4th in boys U/12 and younger brother, Darragh a winner in the U/8 race. The Powers from Thomastown also made their presence felt with the twins Sean and James taking first and third respectively in the U/12 race and Michael having an 11th place finish U/10.
Leacy the Master
The in-form Lar Lacey of St Joseph’s, put down his marker from the off in the Masters O/40 race and went on to be a comfortable winner. In the early stages of the race it looked as if the home club, St Joseph’s, would take the top three places but a great run by the well known Elvis impersonator P J Dwyer saw him come through in the last half of the race to take the bronze medal just behind. Patrick Bookle. St senans had Nicholas Halley in 7th place, while Bill Lacey had a bevy of beauties running alongside to encourage him. Good runs too from Michael Power and Rocky Mernagh of St Josephs. With three to score for team prizes St Joseph’s finished comfortably in first place with 7pts, St Senan’s were second on 18pts and Gowran took the bronze with 22pts.
O/40 Men
1-Lar Lacey, J; 2- Patrick Bookle, J; 3- P J Dwyer, S; 4- Michael Power, J;5- Muiris Bric, G; 6- Denis Cormack, G; 7- Nick Halley, S; 8- Bill Lacey, S; 9- Rocky Mernagh,J; 10- Willie McTiernan, K; 11- Marty Kelly, G; 12 Jim Miller, K.
Stage 2 in Annamult
Next Sunday the second stage of the Kilkenny championships takes place at Annamult, Bennettsbridge with an 11.00am start. This is for odd ages U/9 – U/19 and also features the Masters O/45 race.
Garvey’s SuperValu CC
Next Sunday the popular Garvey’s SuperValu cross country takes place in the Augustinian College with a 2.30pm start. St Senans will have teams in both the mens’ and women’s races and this event is the return leg in the battle for the coveted Ryan Shield. The men will have 4 laps and the ladies 2 and the event will also double as the Waterford senior county championship. Prizes will be presented in the Lady Belle, where refreshments will also be available. One not to be missed.
Website
Check out www.stsenansac.com for all the latest news, views and photos.
Fixtures
12th Oct Kilkenny Co. U/7 – U/19, O/45 CC, Annamult 11.00am. 12th Oct Garvey’s SuperValu CC, Augustinian College 12.30am.
19th Oct WLR FM Run For Life 10 mile RR.
26th Oct Leinster CC Even ages, Novice & Masters,
27th Oct Dublin City Marathon.
Quoteworthy
“Believe in yourself, know yourself, deny yourself, and be humble.” – John Treacy’s four principles of training prior to Los Angeles 84