Kilmore duo set for Swansea selection ATHLETICS
KILMORE’S JACKIE Carthy and Fiona Kehoe competed at the autumn international 6,000m cross-country open at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, Abbotstown, on Sunday.
Fiona was first Over-35 in a time of 21:47 minutes, while Jackie was first Over-45, running 23:19 minutes.
These performances should ensure that both make the team for the annual British and Irish Masters cross-country championship in Swansea next month.
The Leinster Juvenile (even ages) cross-country championships take place in Navan, Co. Meath, next Saturday. A number of Wexford athletes are serious contenders for individual medals while club and county teams should also be in the mix.
D.M.P’s Kevin O’Mahony is one of those sure to impress. He started his season with impressive wins at the county championships in both Under-12 and Under-13 races.
Another D.M.P. athlete, Claragh Keane, is in flying form at present. A dual title-holder at Under-15 and Under-16, she is a joy to watch with her effortless and efficient running style. If she can get herself to the start line in good order, she will be there or thereabouts.
Myles Hewlett of United Striders, Under-14 and Under-15 county champion, is the man to beat in the Under-14 race.
He had a great summer with a pair of national track medals - silver in 800m and gold in 1,500m, the latter with a big P.B.
Myles is just one of a very strong Under-14 Striders team. They will have their eyes on the highest step of the podium.
In the boys’ Under-16 race, recent Striders signee, Ben Wall, took the Under-16 county title ahead of Joe Byrne (S.B.R.). Both boys will be chasing top places at the weekend.
Ben’s clubmate, Adam O’Connor, is also in good shape at the minute and will, at the very least, be hoping to make the Leinster team for the All-Irelands.
Conor Keane (D.M.P.) looks set to continue with the fine form he showed in winning the Under-16 county title and, more recently, in his Under-17 bronze medal-winning run.
Enniscorthy’s Sarah Phylan won the county Under-12 race recently ahead of Éabha Keane (D.M.P.). Both girls have what it takes to make it into the top ten and, with a bit of luck, get among the medals.
The county team, with four athletes from D.M.P. showing that club’s growing strength in under-age middle distance running, looks very strong.
The girls’ Under-14 team is led by Freya and Arwyn Thompson and Kate O’Flaherty, all of Kilmore A.C. All going well, the Wexford team will pack well and figure in the final shake-up.
Corrections: Last week’s report on the Mr Oil Wexford cross-country event at JFK Park contained a number of errors.
Shane Laffan, the winner of the Under-9 race, is a member of Bree A.C. and not, as stated, United Striders A.C.
D.M.P. won the girls’ Under-13 race with Kilmore second.
Conor Keane (D.M.P.) placed third in the boys’ Under-17 race. Aaron Browne (U.S.) was fourth ahead of Adam O’Connor in fifth.
Fixtures: October 28, A.A.I. National Marathon Championships held in conjunction with Dublin City Marathon; November 3, schools combined events international, Glasgow; November 11, Leinster Juvenile cross-country (uneven ages), Adamstown, hosted by Adamstown A.C. and Wexford County Board. THE WEXFORD Wanderers first XV travelled to New Ross on Sunday for the first derby contest of the season in Leinster League Division 2A.
Wanderers came into the game on foot of a disappointing loss to table-toppers Clondalkin after an opening round win over Railway Union the previous weekend.
Wanderers were first on the scoreboard with a try from back row Tom Brennan before a penalty from Colm O Corcora extended the lead.
The game settled into a typical derby slugfest before Corey Carty cut through the New Ross defence to allow winger Callum Murphy storm under the posts to gift O Corcora the easiest of conversions for a 15-0 lead at the interval.
In the second period, despite intense pressure, replacement prop Redmond ran a try in from 25 yards out to add to New Ross woes, with O Corcora again adding the points.
Wanderers, however, let the foot off the gas for the next 15 minutes and allowed New Ross to pressure their lines, eventually conceding an uncoverted try.
The impact of the score was instant for Wexford who immediately replied with a second try from Murphy who burned up the touchline after a poor clearance kick by New Ross.
This was quickly followed by full-back Eoin Roche who circled the New Ross defence to score under the posts.
To complete matters, Luke Roche also got on the scoresheet before the end with a try in the corner.
The win, which also secured a bonus point, sets Wanderers up nicely for the rescheduled fixture with Portlaoise on Sunday.
It should be an interesting contest as Portlaoise managed a narrow win over league pace-setters Clondalkin.
Kick-off is at 3 p.m. and is preceded by the J2 fixture.
Wexford: Bobby Clancy, Graham Grant, Willie Morris, John Turner, Darragh Kehoe (capt.), Tom Brennan, Luke Roche, Cartaigh Geoghegan, Kevin Roche, Paul Gannon, Callum Murphy, Colm O Corcora, Corey Carty, Liam Barry, Eoin Roche. Subs. - Shea Boggan, Kevin Birney, Seán Redmond, Barry Ryan, Chris Walsh.