Excitement in Juvenile cross-country finals

THE Kerry Intermediate and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross-country Championships were held in Lissivigeen, Killarney last Sunday where first up was the Intermediate women’s 5,000m, which was won by Suzanne Neilan of An Riocht ahead of team mates Ailis Brosnan and Dawn Lynch to give them team gold medals.

In the Intermediate men’s race over 7,000m, Lios Tuathail’s Donal Leahy followed on from his Novice win last week to take the title with George McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley) in second place and Dermot Dineen from the same club in third. Farranfore took team gold.

There were some thrilling finishes in the juvenile races with several athletes taking double titles, following on from successes in the even age championships last week.

Top three finishers in the Juvenile girls races were: U-9; Aiobhinn O’Driscoll (St Brendan’s), Alannah Crossan (Tralee Harriers), Megan Quigg (Star of the Laune). Kenmare won team gold.

U-11; Abby Stephenson (Spa Fenit Barrow), Naoise O’Connor, Tara O’Sullivan (both Killarney Valley). Star of the Laune won team gold.

U-13; Maria Murnane (Kenmare), Rachel Barry (Tralee Harriers), Rhian McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley). Kenmare won team gold.

U-15; Abbie Dunlop (Kenmare), Marina Eager (Star of the Laune), Noelle Dillon (Lios Tuathail).

U-17; Shauna McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley), Saoirse Tomkins (Gneeveguilla), Kerry Eager (Star of the Laune).

U-19; Niamh O’Mahony (An Riocht), Rhona Randles (Kenmare), Muireann de Faoite (Kenmare).

The boys top there were: U9; Donnacha Quigg (Star of the Laune), Rauiri O’Connor (An Riocht), Gavin Fitzgerald (Gneeveguilla).

U-11; Luke Merrigan (Kenmare), Isaac Vickers (Farranfore Maine Valley), Jack Collins (Tralee Harriers). Gold team medals went to Kenmare.

U-13; Fionan Ryan (Tralee Harriers), Aaron Horgan (St Brendan’s), Zach Walshe (St Brendan’s). Team gold was won by St Brendan’s.

U-15; Ted O’Gorman (Killarney Valley), Tommy Arthur (Kenmare), Cathal Murphy (Tralee Harriers. Kenmare won team gold.

U-17; Oisin Murray (An Riocht), Cian Spillane (Farranfore Maine Valley), Michael O’Reilly (Kenmare).

U-19; Darragh O’Leary (Killarney Valley), Luke O’Callaghan (An Riocht), Fionn O’Connell (Iveragh).

thanks to Gneeveguilla AC for hosting the event and for setting out what was a lovely course in a beautiful setting with a variety of terrains. NEXT Sunday sees the action move to Firies for the Senior, Junior Cross Country Championships and Juvenile Relays.

Relays are for even age groups only. U-10, U-12 and U-14 ages run 4 x 500m. In the older age groups U-16 and U-18 teams of three compete over 500m each. Entries as usual through club secretary.

The top four finishers in the U-17 boys at the Kerry Athletics cross country championships in Rathmore on Sunday, from left in order of finishing: Oisín Murray (An Ríocht AC), Cian Spillane (FFMV AC), Michael O’Reilly (Kenmare AC) and Dermot Pierse (Lios Tuathail AC)

The top three men in the Kerry Athletics Intermediate Cross-country Championships in Rathmore on Sunday, from left, George McCarthy (FFMV) 2nd, Donal Leahy (Lios Tuathail AC) 1st, and Dermot Dineen (FFMV) 3rd