Rising star Colm Gelispie
OH, what a finish West Muskerry had to their Cross- Country season and all the hard training sessions in wet and muddy fields in cold wet weather certainly paid off for the athletes.
The club travelled to Clarin Bridge in County Galway on Sunday to compete in the All Ireland B Cross Country championships. Medals were awarded to the first 12 athletes, the first three club teams and the first three county teams.
The under-foot conditions were very poor, nothing but mud, and the fact that it was really cold and snowing meant it was going to be an up-hill battle for all athletes.
But still the stars of West Muskerry AC were up for the challenge and brought home 38 All Ireland B Medals and were only 10 points off winning the Best Overall Club, a fantastic achievement.
In the Boys U13 Colm Gellispie was in top form. He timed his race to perfection. He never panicked when a gap opened up and kept to his own plan. With 150m to go he closed the gap and went for home and was a clear winner in the end to be crowned All Ireland B U13 Boys Champion.
Colm’s celebration did not stop there as he also captained the Cork team to the gold medals and his club team to the silver medals. His team mates who also ran superbly and well deserving of their silver medals were Breandan O`Sullivan, Sean O`Leary and Evan Cunningham. All rising starts to watch out for in the future.
In the Girls U11 Katie O`Neill again was in top form. Katie went with the lead group and was surrounded by her team mates. With 150m to go Katie and the leader made a break for home. Katie battled all the way to the finish line and was well deserving of her silver individual medal.
Katie also captained the Cork team to gold medals and her club team to gold.
Her clubmate Eabha Ni Conaola came sprinting home all the way to the finish line and she too made the podium with Katie and was well deserving of her eighth place medal. The club team who all had outstanding performances and all contributed to the team winning the gold medals were Katie O`Neill, Eabha Ni Conaola, Rebecca O`Neill, Fern Mullane, Emily Cronin, Kate Downey, Saorlaith Murphy, Aisling O`Sullivan, Grace Kelleher and Katie Purcell.
In the Boys U17, Sean O`Sullivan had a great race after his training was interrupted by illness. Sean battled hard over the 3,000m course in very tough underfoot conditions. He battled all the way home and just clinched the 12th place medal. Sean also captained the Cork team to the gold and his club team to the bronze medals – Sean O`Sullivan, Dara Myres, Tadhg Manning and James Downey.
In the girl’s U13 1500m the club team were just out of the medals after all four girls gave it everything in the tough conditions.
In the Boys U15 Conor Lucey and Macdara O`Chonaola again ran superb. Both their efforts were rewarded by winning the gold medals as part of the Cork team.
In the Boys U11 Conor Nash, Sean Lucey, Ruadhan McKenna and Ciaran O`Sullivan all had fantastic races but their team were just out of the medals on this occasion.