White lightning as juveniles set the pace for Glenmore

DAY one of the 2017 Louth cross country championships saw the even age events taking place at the Louth GAA HQ in Darver in windy conditions on Sunday.

St Gerard’s was represented by a group of 22 young athletes who all performed well and did the club proud. Taking part were Seana, Keeley & Leah Mooney, Killian & Ethan Mullen, Ben & Adam Eccles, Nicole, Hayden & Caitlin Mulholland, Grainne & Emily Moran, Sophie McGinnity, Doireann Conlon,Lucy Rosbotham , Ellie McVeigh, Sadbh Branigan, Cara Miele, Tara O’Connor, Nicola McElroy, Rachel Culligan & Isabel Holmes.

First off were the U8s with Seana Mooney doing well for the girls and Ben Eccles and Killian Mullen running brilliant races in the medals for the boys. Doireann Conlon continued her good form with an excellent 3rd place finish and strong runs from the rest of the team Sophie, Lucy, Ellie, Sadbh, Nicole and Keeley saw them take a fantastic team bronze medal. In the boys race Adam Eccles gave another brave showing to finish strongly. The girls U12 girls executed the Sergeant Major’s race plan with military precision with Grainne, Tara, Nicola, Rachel & Emily all packing well as a team and Thumbs up from the St Gerards contingent.

were rewarded with a silver team medal. With 3 teams finishing on 56 points for 2nd, 3rd and 4th it was the all important highest placed 4th runner Rachel Culligan’s placing that put the girls into second place. In the boys race Hayden Mulholland and Ethan Mullen gave a good account of themselves over the

2000m course.

Leah Mooney made every yard of the running in the girls U14 3k running away from the field for a very impressive victory with Isabel Holmes running a brave race on her debut at the Louth cross country championships. Last into action was Caitlin Mulholland in the U18 girls 4,000m. In a tough race she kept working hard all the way to take a fine silver medal.

It was a great start to the Louth championships for the club and with the odd age events in DkIT next Sunday the confidence and experience gained will buoy them for the next challenge. GLENMORE AC travelled to Darver in force on Sunday to take part in rthe Louth Cross Country Novice and Even-Age Juvenile Championships.

The Juvenile U8 lined out first setting the pace for the club. First up were the girls who stormed home with Zoe White taking 1st position, Gillian Touhy finishing 3rd, closely followed by Aoife Mc Donald in 5th.

The U10 girls followed suit in the 800m, led home by Jessica White, Katie Mc Donald, Emma Mc Carragher and Grace Keenan Glenmore took silver in the team event. Club mates Leah Dunne, Aine O Reilly, Ella Connolly, Ruby Steeples, Saoirse Byrne, Aine Gallagher, Niamh Arnold, Aoife Keenan and Sophie Cummiskey competed well. In the boys 800m, Elliot Nichols ran a great race finishing 4th, followed by Craig Touhy, Cain Magee, Mario Liam Gaztambide and Oisin Mc Coy.

The girls U12 2000m saw Glenmore’s Lucy White, Ava Ashby, Mia Ashby and Sarah Mallon take bronze in the team event. Ellen Callan, Charlotte Mc Bride, Megan Steeples, Chloe Mc Carragher and Aoife Magee ran strongly. The boys were led home by clubman Fionn O Reilly, followed by Shane Gallagher, Cormac Mc Coy and Aaron Hanratty and were 4th team.

Over a tough 3000m, the girls U14 finished very strongly with Ava Brady, Blanaid Murphy and Lisa Conlon representing the club. U16 & U18 girls ran a combined race over 4000m, U16’s Katie Conlon finished 2nd , Anna Mc Ardle 3rd and Nicole Barry completed the team who took gold in the team event. Katie Mallon was 3rd in the U18 event. U16 Boys took 2nd team position for Glenmore with Ciaran Flynn leading club mates Justin O Hagan and Eoin Mc Cann to the finish line. Alex O Hagan ran a strong race in the boys U18 6000m event.

Last Friday the club held a presentation night in the Granvue Hotel, Omeath. The overall track and field athlete 2016/17 was Katelyn Quinn and Sinead Mc Erlane was the 2016/17 cross country athlete of the year. Other winners in their age category on the night were T&F, Zoe White, Katie Mc Donald, Craig Touhy, Lucy White, Lisa Conlon, Shaun Quinn, Katie Conlon, Ciaran Flynn and Craig Kane. In the cross country, winners were Jessica White, Craig Touhy, Lucy White, Fionn O Reilly, Lisa Conlon, Katie Conlon, Niall Brady, and Tadhg Leahy.

The following athletes were also acknowledged for improvement and diligence over the 2016/17 season - Ellen Callan, Cian Magee, Aaron Hanratty, Ava Ashby, Ava Brady and Eion Mc Cann.

Last Saturday week Saturday Gerry Stewart, Ronan Callan, Michael McShane and Gavin Byrne competed in the Dublin half marathon whilst the cross country mens team came home second in the Star of the Sea competition with great running by Shane Toner, Shane Lynch, Martin Toner, Donal McPorland, Kenneth McBride, Tony Ashby and Cormac Barry.

A group of Glenmore athletes travelled to Edinburgh for the Scottish 10km and Half marathon, with Lloyd and Kinga Byrne, Rose White, Vicky Leahy, Melissa McCoy, Marie O’Connor along with loyal supporters the two Aidans, Irene Brady and Teressa Quinn.

Last Saturday Barry Woods, Fiona McQuade and Gerry Stewart ran in the Annaghmore Running Festival, whilst on Sunday last at the Novice Cross country races in Darver, Glenmore had 4th place team finishes for men and women.