Limerick trip goes swimmingly for Aura

AURA Dundalk Swim Club members recently returned from competing at Swim Ireland Age Group Summer Nationals in the University of Limerick.

The team of 10, who had all qualified previously through top level provincial competitions in Leinster and Ulster, and who train out of the Aura Leisure Centre in Dundalk,were accompanied by Head Coach Rafal Rutkowski, Coaches Gerry Martin,Jordi Boxberger and Colette Donnelly.

The swimmers competed in a total of 40 events, including two relays, over the course of four days in what turned out to be a hugely succesful competition for them.

The team clocked up 33 personal best performances and 7 medals against some of the very best competitors in the entire country.

While the 10 counted 2 veterans amoungst their number,there was never any doubt that all the swimmers prepared and performed like seasoned senior competitors while at the competition, which is a designated Swim Ireland pathway competition as part of the National High Performance programme.

Skye Kasozi took Silver in the 100m Free and Bronze in the 200m Backstroke.

David Coyle took Silver in the 1500m Free on the opening night and with Alex Boxberger, Patrick Harmon and Matthew Geraghty took Bronze in the Boys U15 200m Free relay final on the closing night,finishing ahead of a number of top Leinster and Ulster “A” teams.

Donal Carthy, Luke Fitzgerald, Evelyn Donnelly, Alex Lapko and Maddie Smith all had a number of great swims, with hugely impressive personal best times achieved.

The swimmers, who all finished the season on a huge high, expressed their thanks to their coaches, parents and supporters, for enabling them to attain their peak performances at this top level competition. THE action moved to Monday night in the Peader Callan Summer League from its usual Wednesday night slot with Dundalk playing Rosenborg in the Champions League and in the first match Alan Thompson’s men took on Mickey Ralph’s team.

It was Thompson’s men who came out on top with a 3-1 victory with a great team performance and special mention goes to Ciaran McShane who was on fire on the night

In match 2 it was the battle of the O’Hanlons, with Stephan’s men taking on Brendan’s team and it was Stephan’s team who stretched there lead at the top of the table with some fine snooker from Steve Mc Bride and Stephan O’Hanlon himself.

In the final match of the night it was a six-pointer between two sides battling for the final place in the play-offs and it was Paddy Hayes’ men who came through, beating Justin Mc Ardle’s men 3-1.

Peter O’Hagan put Paddy’s men one up, only for Aaron Callan to level it up.

Justin Mc Ardle needed pink and black to put his team 2-1 up and after potting a screamer of a pink the crowd were stunned when he missed a simple black to the middle. His opponent showed him no mercy as David Moran came in to put Paddy’s men 2-1 up going into the last doubles match which also saw Paddy’s men win to record a fine 3-1 win.

With only two weeks of the regular season remaining the chase for a top four spot is hotting up to say the least.