Medals won, records tumble, and PBs achieved at Munster Juvenile Indoor Championships
Tessa Dennison
ATHLETICS returned to Nenagh last weekend for the Munster Under-12 to Under-19 Juvenile Indoor Championships. As usual clubs across the county were well represented with excellent performances resulting in Munster records tumbling, medals won and PBs achieved.
Rebecca Falvey from Tralee Harriers was one of the stand-out athletes of the weekend – Saturday saw her dig deep to win both the U-18 girls 60m and 200m and she returned on Sunday to make it three from three when she added the long jump title to her haul.
Luke Merrigan (Kenmare AC) stormed around the banked track on Sunday to win the U-12 boys 600m in a new Munster record time of 1.46.84, a full three seconds clear of second place.
An Riocht’s Kieran Keane won the U-13 boys shot put in fine style, adding 45cm to the previous Munster record with a winning throw of 11.76m.
There were also gold medals for Dylan Scannell-Fleming (Gneeveguilla)
in the U-16 boys shot, Saoirse Dillon (Lios Tuathail) in the U-14 girls 60m, Tally Collins (Lios Tauthail) in the U-13 girls long jump.
Silver went to James Clifford (Star of the Laune) in the U-19 boys 800m and 1500m, Sam Griffin (Killarney Valley) U-17 boys long jump, Steve Reidy (Lios Tauthail) U-12 boys 60m and John O’Connor (An Riocht) U-17 boys 200m.
Bronze medal winners were Lios Tuathail athltes Nathan Wright in U-19 boys 400m, Steve Reidy in U-12 boys long jump and
Thomas Cahill in U-12 boys shot. Muireann de Faoite (Kenmare) was third in U-19 girls 400m.
Finishing in fourth place and qualifying for national finals were Laura Falvey (Tralee Harriers) in U-13 girls long jump and Stephanie Reid (An Riocht) in U-14 girls shot.
After a busy day in Nenagh, Lios Tuathail’s Kevin Lynch headed to Athlone to complete in the Connaught 400m. A brilliant performance from the gun, Kevin ran 52.9 seconds and in doing so broke the M45 Irish national record set back in 2004. Kevin now holds the Indoor and Outdoor records at M45 400m and more is sure to come.
SUNDAY saw Star of the Laune AC in Beaufort play host to the Kerry County 5km Road Race Championships. The fine weather ensured a larger than usual entry. An Riocht again proved they are king of the roads with cousins Conor O’Mahony and Niamh O’Mahony taking the top honours. They also won team medals in Senior Men and Women and O-35 men.
In the Women’s race Maria McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley) was second and Sharon Cahill (An Riocht) was third. Conor finished just ahead of team mate Tommy O’Brien and Iveragh’s Cian Murphy.
Other women’s category winners were: Junior Kerry Eager (Star of the Laune); O-35 Marie O’Shea (Farranfore Maine Valley); O-40 Anne Hoare (Star of the Laune); O-45 Mary O’Connell (Gneeveguilla); O-55 Sharon Cahill (An Riocht); O-60 Ann Mangan (Star of the Laune); O-65 Joan O’Sullivan (Gneeveguilla). An Riocht won senior team medals and Farranfore Maine Valley women were O-35 team winners.
Men’s category winners were: Novice Trevor Dunne (An Riocht); Junior Darragh O’Leary (Killarney Valley); O-35 Finbarr Collins (St Brendan’s); O40 Tony Harty (Killarney Valley); O-45 Tommy O’Brien (An Riocht); O-50 Robert Purcell (Gneeveguilla); O-55 Kevin Griffin (An Riocht); O-60 Mike Mangan (Star of the Laune); O65 David Kissane (St Brendan’s); O-70 Michael O’Connor (Farranfore Maine Valley).
Dancing with the Stars 2021. Name - @tommywalshkor
Sean Doody @SeanieD137
Good win for Kerry. Had to battle v Meath. Up the Kingdom
Emmet O’Callaghan @emmetocallaghan
Constantly chasing the game, could never quite catch Kerry. Meath will learn a lot from this year’s league campaign. They’ve been a lot more competitive than they were in the Super 8’s. Badly need Donal Lenihan & Micky Newman back for the championship. #AllianzLeagues