Great turn out at Demesne

A BRIGHT and sunny Killarney Demesne was the setting for the first round of the Kerry County Cross Country Championships, with titles in the Novice and U23 Men and Women and Juvenile even ages – U10 to U18 – up for grabs. There was a great turn out from all the clubs and running conditions were excellent. All eyes were on Kenmare – having won the overall title every year since 2010, wondering would they be able to do it again. We didn’t have long to wait before they made their mark.

In the U10 girl’s 1000m race, Maria Murnane from Kenmare took the overall title with Rhian McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley) in second place and Katie O’Connell (Iveragh) and Mairead Walsh (Farranfore Maine Valley) third and fourth respectively. Kenmare won gold and bronze team prizes with Farranfore picking up the silver. Aaron Horgan from St Brendan’s won the U10 boy’s race ahead of Oisin Fleming (Killarney Valley), Jack Walsh (St Brendan’s) and Oisin O’Leary (Gneeveguilla). Gold team medals went to St Brendan’s, silver to Kenmare and bronze to Lios Tuathail.

Next up in the juvenile races was the U12 girl’s 2000m which was won by Grace Roberts White from Kenmare. Kathryn Ryan and Hannah Ryan from Killarney Valley picked up silver and bronze medals and Lola Eager from Star of the Laune was fourth. Killarney Valley won team gold medals, silver went to Kenmare and bronze to An Riocht. It was Killarney Valley gold and silver in the U12 boy’s with Jason O’Reilly just crossing the line ahead of Ted O’Gorman. Kenmare lads Jack O’Sullivan and Sean Treyvaud finished third and fourth and Kenmare also won gold and bronze team medals, silver going to Killarney Valley.

Covering a distance of 3000m the winner of the U14 girl’s was Shauna McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley). Kerry Eager (Star of the Laune) picked up silver and bronze went to Eimear O’Sullivan from St Brendan’s. Aoife Kerins (An Riocht) was fourth. Kenmare were winners of gold team medals. The U14 boy’s title went to Cian Spillane (Farranfore Maine Valley), with Michael O’Reilly (Kenmare) second, Patrick Galvin (Star of the Laune) third and Jack O’Leary (Gneeveguilla) in fourth place. Kenmare won gold team medals and Lios Tuathail were awarded the silver.

Kenmare swept the board in the U16 girl’s 4000m race with Rhona Randles the outright winner ahead of Alyce O’Connor, Eva Gadsden and Caoimhe Daly. The U16 boy’s title went to Francis Cronin (Gneeveguilla). Dara O’Leary (Killarney Valley) won silver, bronze went to Eoin Lyne (Gneeveguilla) and Alex O’Connor (An Riocht) was fourth. No team medals were awarded.

Shauna Doellken O’Shea (Ken- mare) won the U18 girl’s title with Shona O’Brien (Gneeveguilla) in silver medal position and Aoife O’Mahony (Lios Tuathail) winning bronze. The U18 boy’s title went to David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley) with Anthony Buckley (Gneeveguilla) in second place.

Winner of the Novice Women’s event was Suzanne Neylon (An Riocht) with Mary O’Shea (Gneeveguila) second and Fiona Kavanagh (An Riocht) third. Niamh de Hora (Farranfore Maine Valley) won the U23 Women’s title.

In the Novice Men’s race An Riocht took the top three positions with Tommy O’Brien finishing just ahead of Patrick O’Connor and Sean O’Sullivan. Darragh Browne (Lios Tuathail) won the U23 Men’s title with Conor O’Mahoney (An Riocht) picking up silver and Liam O’Connell (Iveragh) in third place.

The Juvenile Uneven Age, Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships take place in Firies on Sunday 9th October.