CLUB CALL
UNITED STRIDERS A.C.
The under-age Striders hit on a gold rush at Navan at the provincial cross-country event, winning an array of individual, club team and county team medals.
Hopes were high for some good team performances, but what unfolded certainly exceeded all expectations.
Heather Costello was our first athlete in action, in the Under-12 girls’ event, and set a very high standard for those following. Heather has been a real role model for the younger girls’ age groups all year long and put in another great effort over 2k.
The Under-12 boys’ team were missing Olan Delaney but, nevertheless, ran a great team race to record an eighth place finish in the club team event. Led home by the wily old campaigner, Ronan Shannon, the team also included Eoin Hannan, Sam Myers and Keelan Ryan, with all performing really well.
Over 3k, Isabel Bawden and Hazel Hickey did really well, with the Wexford girls finishing eighth.
The Striders had a clean sweep of the Under-14 boys’ event, winning individual, club team and providing much of the winning Wexford squad.
Myles Hewlett lit up the race from the gun, setting a blistering pace and quickly reducing the lead group to three. After collecting two second place finishes in last year’s Leinster events, Myles deservedly claimed gold with a stunning display of relentless front running.
Behind Myles, the Striders were really motoring, with Eoin Shannon also winning an individual medal, Cosmo Hewlett and Finn Kelly finishing inside the top 20, and Seán Lennon, Ben Myers, Caolan Costello and Tomasso Hickey all well up the field.
After a nervous wait, both the Striders and Co. Wexford were announced the Under-14 boys’ Leinster champions in their respective team events.
The Striders Under-16 boys also collected gold in the club team event and helped Wexford to another gold. Ben Wall and Adam O’Connor both won additional individual medals, with Aidan Shannon, Robert Wall and Oisín Mac Eochaidh all contributing for the team wins.
Over 4k, Grace Costello and Rebecca Bawden were excellent in their Under-18 girls’ event.
In the men’s Junior race, fortune did not favour the Striders, with Aedan Rogers picking up an injury in the second half of his 6k event. Aedan was cruising along in third place at the time and was certainly on course for a big finish when fate intervened.
Well done to all Striders Juveniles who performed so well. A special mention to our latest Leinster cross-country champion, Myles Hewlett, and to our Leinster champion boys’ Under-14 and Under-16 teams.
Following on from the successful U.S.A.C. Juvenile performances, the Senior Striders were in action over the same course in the afternoon, competing in the Leinster Novice cross-country championship.
With the Striders providing the bulk of the Wexford squad, it was no surprise that Alan O’Connor, Brendan Lyng and George Delaney were the first Wexford athletes across the line, all finishing at the front end.
Pat Murray, Fabian Flood, Gavin Kelly and Emmett Malone made up the remainder of the club and county squads, with the Striders finishing in seventh place in the club competition and Wexford finishing sixth place in the county event. Well done also to John Stone (D.M.P.) and Michael O’Flaherty (Kilmore) who completed the Wexford squad.
ST. JOSEPH’S A.C.
All roads led to Kilmacow for the blue riband of county cross-country competition, the men’s and women’s county Senior championships.
Exactly two years ago, Sally had to settle for second position behind a young athlete emerging from Junior ranks, Lauren Dermody from Castlecomer, and one year later the same two athletes fought a titanic battle over the fields in Kilmacow before a last lap surge took Sally to victory.
This year, Sally had to settle for second again behind Lauren and she led the club team to bronze medals, with Maria Griffin twelfth, Helen Hoynes 14th, Caroline Mullally 18th, Marguerite Hoynes 19th, Frances Mullally 23rd, Maggie Helen O’Connor 29th, and Tracey Malone 31st.
The men’s race saw a team of four St. Joseph’s athletes on the start line ready to take on the hugely demanding distance of ten kilometres.
First home was Peter Barry in an excellent 14th position, followed by Joey Duggan (18th), Stephen O’Connor (21st) and Patrick Bookle (28th). The team were rewarded with first in the ‘B’ section. Peter and Joey were also first and second home in the ‘B’ section.
In the athletic world, the October bank holiday weekend means only one thing, the Dublin City Marathon. St. Joseph’s were proudly represented on the start line by seven runners, all with many months of hard training behind them. An energy-sapping 26.2 miles of running faced them, with all the physical and mental reserves each of them could muster to be called upon.
The experienced marathon runner that is Paul Sheehan led the team home in an excellent time of 3.52.16. Even more experienced were the duo close behind Paul, with Tom McDonald crossing the line in 3:54:27, followed by Anita Barry in 3:56:20 - two more excellent marathons to add to the long list.
Next to cross the finish line was the fittest hurler in Tullogher, Conor Hennessy, in 4.05.16. Finishing exactly two minutes behind Conor in 4.07.17 was the athlete that makes marathons look easy, Conor’s mother, Breda Hennessy, who was chalking up yet another Dublin marathon.
Kyle Comerford was next to finish in a splendid new personal best time of 4:19:56. The final club runner across the line was a marathon debutant, Alma Barron, who ran a great first marathon in 4:49:41.
The county marathon was run in conjunction with the Dublin marathon, with three athletes to score on club teams. The St. Joseph’s women’s team of Anita, Breda and Alma received the great news the next day that they were the best club trio in the race from Kilkenny, winning the county team award.
To all seven of our club members who completed the Dublin Marathon, all your hard work and training paid off, and you should be well proud of your accomplishment.
The Leinster cross-country even ages and Novice championships took place in Navan on October 27.
The day started with a non-championship race for Under-10 athletes, and St. Joseph’s were represented in the girls’ race by two runners who ran their hearts out: Mia Barry and Maeve Garvey.
Huge fields heading towards 150 athletes were a feature of the Under-12 races, and the girls’ race over 2,000 metres saw wonderful performances from the St. Joseph’s crew.
Grace Glennon finished in a excellent 27th position and was fourth scorer on the Kilkenny county team which won silver. Not far behind was Lily Ryan in a strong 46th position, with great runs also by Caoimhe Barry (77th) and Cile Garvey (97th), with Cile running her first Leinster.
Joss O’Connor, James Cummins and Luke Vereker lined with a huge field in the boys’ Under-12 race over 2,000 metres. Joss was chasing the leaders from the start and, running out of age, showed his class again to finish in a hugely impressive eleventh position. James and Luke ran really well to finish in 46th and 83rd places respectively.
A challenging 3,000 metres and a huge field faced the Under-14 athletes, and St. Joseph’s were represented by two dedicated athletes in Maeve Bookle and Grace Glennon who have been battling against the best athletes at county, Leinster and national level for the past few years.
This race was no different, with both girls running out of age and finishing close together, with Maeve crossing the line in 33rd position and Grace 36th.
The Junior and Novice women’s championship saw Helen and Marguerite Hoynes return to cross-country and ensure club representation in both races. Helen finished sixth in the Junior race with Marguerite finishing 89th in a huge field in the Novice race.
A huge field of athletes were spread across the start line for the Novice men’s championship, and Peter Barry’s debut season in cross-country wearing the St. Joseph’s singlet saw him turn in another great performance, finishing 54th against the best athletes in Leinster.
The recent county ‘B’ cross-country championships saw a great turn-out of club athletes. Action commenced with the girls’ Under-8 race, with Holly Murphy fourth, Aoibheann Garvey 16th and Katie Ryan 17th. In the boys’ race, Dylan Murphy finished eighth, Richie Mullally eleventh, and Luca Kinsella twelfth.
Large fields were the order of the day in the Under-10 and Under-12 races. Olivia Mullally led the club home in the girls’ Under-10 race in fourth position, followed by Aisleann Mullally (ninth), Dearbhla Ryan (13th), Molly Ryan (18th), Lauren Vereker (24th), Saorlaith Mullally (25th), Mia Barry (30th), and Méabh Garvey (35th).
The boys’ race saw Kyle Bolger give a great performance, finishing third and leading the team to second place, followed by James Vereker (eighth), Jack Barron (twelfth), Neil Ryan (24th) and Mikie Ryan (25th).
A superb finish by Eabha Mullally saw her race to victory in the Under-12, followed by Lily Ryan (fifth), Caoimhe Barry (eleventh), Cíle Garvey (twelfth) and Sarah Foley 16th. Great runs by all four girls saw them win the team competition.
The boys’ race saw Luke Vereker as the lone club representative and he had a superb outing, finishing third.
The girls’ Under-14 race was a great battle between two St. Joseph’s athletes, and a sprint finish saw Grace Glennon pip Maeve Bookle to win. Great runs by Mairéad Mullally (sixth) and Rachel Foley (eighth) saw the team win gold.
The girls’ and boys’ Under-16 races saw Ciara Mullally and Erin Foley finish second and third, with Jamie O’Connor third in the boys’ race.