Success for Kerry in Nenagh finals

Tessa Dennison

ATHLETES from Kerry have had a very busy week, competing in all conditions and doing their county and clubs proud. First up were the Munster Schools Indoor Championships in Nenagh last Tuesday. As usual it was a busy day of competitions and the Kingdom came away with plenty of medals. In the Minor Boys, John O’Connor (St. Patrick’s Castleisland) won the 60m. Kirby Anne Ryan (Mercy Mounthawk) was third in the Junior Girls shot. Ben Quilter (Tralee CBS) won gold in the Junior Boys shot with Shane Og McGaley (St. Patrick’s Castleisland) in silver medal position.

In the Intermediate Girls Ciara Kennelly (St. Brigid’s Killarney) was 1st in the high jump and third in the 60m. There was great medal success in the Intermediate Boys age group with Jordan Kissane (Tralee CBS) winning bronze in both the high jump and long jump and Mercy Mounthawk athletes Mervvyn Shalemba taking second in the 60m, Aaron Malik winning gold in the 60m hurdles, Luke O’Carroll winning the long jump and taking bronze in the 60m, Cillian Griffin picking up silver in the 60m hurdles and long jump and third in the shot.

The Mercy Mounthawk quartet also took top honours in the 4 x 200m relay.

Three events of varying disciplines and age categories took place last Saturday. At Waterford IT, on a very muddy course, the Irish Life Health Cross Country Schools Championships took place.

Top spot of the day went to Niamh O’Mahoney (Presentation Tralee) who was second overall in the Intermediate girls race. Alyce O’Connor (Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine Kenmare) finished in 35th place in the same event. Oisin Spillane (Mercy Mounthawk) finished in 23rd position in the Intermediate Boys. Shauna McCarthy (Killorglin Community School) ran a great race to finish in 8th place overall in the Junior Girls race. In the Minor boys Cian Spillane of Presentation Milltown finished in 26th and in the Junior Boys Pearse McBriarty (Rathmore) finished in 13th and Liam Palmer (Polalscoil Inbhear Sceine Kenmare) was 24th.

Meanwhile, closer to home at the Nagle Rice Community Centre in Milltown, The Kerry Athletics U-9 to U-12 Indoor Development games took place.

It was a busy and fun day that saw Tralee Harriers come out on top with a total of 81 points ahead of Kenmare on 52 and Lios Tuathail on 49.

Gold medal winners on the day were. U-9 Girls: Sprint, speed bounce and long jump Kate Sheridan (Lios Tuathail). Relay: Kenmare. U-10 Girls: Sprint, Eadhoin Larkin (Lios Tuathail); Speed bounce and long jump, Eileen O’Donoghue (Lios Tuathail). Relay: Killarney valley. U-11 Girls: Sprint, Caoimhe Lynch (Lios Tuathail); Long jump, Molly Linnane (Lios Tuathail); Speed bounce, Maggie O’Donoghue (Kenmare). Relay: Kenmare. U-12 Girls: Sprint and long jump, Claragh O’Connor (Gneeveguilla); Shot, Sarah Bradshaw (Kenmare). Relay: Tralee Harriers.

U-9 Boys: Sprint, Stephen Harty (Tralee Harriers); Long jump, Thomas Scannell (Lios Tuathail); Speed bounce, Daniel Moriarty (Tralee Harriers). Relay: Lios Tuathail.

U-10 Boys: Sprint, Jack Collins (Tralee Harriers); Long jump, Emmet O’Connor (Gneeveguilla); Speed Bounce, Ruairi Daly (Kenmare).

Relay: Tralee Harriers. U-11 Boys: Sprint, Jack Costello (Tralee Harriers); Long jump and speed bounce, David Sargant (Tralee Harriers). Relay: Tralee Harriers. U-12 Boys: Sprint, Eoin Moriarty (Tralee Harriers); Long jump, Kai Seino (Tralee Harriers); Shot, Frank O’Riordan (Gneeveguilla). Relay: Tralee Harriers. Full results will be available on kerryathletics. com.

Athlone Indoor Area was the setting for the Irish Life Health National Masters Indoor Championships. Having been deferred due to the poor weather conditions it gave these vintage athletes an extra weeks training and for many it proved vital. Tralee Harriers athlete Patsy O’Connor claimed his 20th consecutive masters shot put title and he also secured gold in weight for distance in the 0-60 age group, with silver in the high jump and bronze in the long jump. Club mate Martin Flaherty brought home bronze in the weight for distance O-50. Lios Tuathail’s Kevin Lynch took gold in the O40 400m and 200m.

An Riocht’s men were out in force with Ger Cremin, O-35, taking gold in the 60m Hurdles and 400m, Anthony Greaney, O-45, had silver in the 60m and 200m, Brian Boyce, O-40, took the silver in the 200m and Sean O’Sullivan, O-40, was 4th in the 3,000m, running a massive PB in the process. The An Riocht men’s relay team of Anthony Greaney, Ger Cremin, John Mc Glynn and Brian Boyce took gold by a clear five seconds.

St. Brendan’s Ursula Barrett was in flying form in the women’s O45 category taking gold in the long jump, silver in the 200m and 60m. Iveragh’s Colm Lynch, O35, won gold in the 200m and was 4th in the 400m.

There were two medals for Farranfore Maine Valley with Mike O’Connor winning the walk and Sean O’Shea taking silver in the shot. Killarney Valley’s Michael Murphy, O50, was 3rd in the 60m and 5th in the 200m.

Gneeveguilla’s Sheila O’Donoghue, O-50, won gold in shot and silver for long jump, team mate Eileen O’Riordan, O-45, also won gold in the shot putt. Brid Stack was 4th in the O-45 200m. Any missing masters field event results will be included in next week’s report.

In the British Masters Indoor Championships Farranfore’s veteran athlete Jim O’Shea won the high jump and was second in the long jump.

Well done to Shona Heaslip who claimed the Intervarsities Cross Country title in Santry on Saturday.

Shona crossed the line in 17.56 ahead of Una Britton (DCU) and Jessica Coyne UCC.