Positive start to the year for Blackrock AC
THE successful motion aimed at regionalising all NEFL reserve divisions and the bottom two first-team tiers is being re-examined after it was discovered there wouldn’t be enough teams to make the system work.
The League Committee examined possible new formats after the motion was carried at the recent agm, and it found that due to dwindling numbers there would be only enough teams for two regionalised groups, resulting in no promotion and relegation.
Of more concern, a large variation in playing standards would be inevitable, with top Premier Reserve teams Newfoundwell and Trim Celtic likely to be paired with last year’s B Reserve teams Robinstown and Kilmessan. The other section would more than likely include Bellurgan and Muirhevnamor along with Square United and Albion Rovers 3rds.
It is now proposed that reserve teams be integrated into the mainstream structure, where possible in regionalised divisions, and clubs were asked to respond to the idea by last night (Monday). A frantic few weeks since the start of 2019 has seen the athletes of Blackrock AC take part in a multitude of events ranging from cross country, indoor track and field and finally road racing with many notable performances along the way.
The club hosted their annual cross country meeting back in late January with one of the biggest attendances in years making this an immensely successful event. Lainey Jeytoo got the ball rolling in fine style with a medal winning performance in her U7 race and Grace McEvoy kicked off her season in fine style with an excellent 2nd place finish in the girls U9 race with team mates Niamh Rowland and Rachel Clarke finishing inside the top 10. This fine team won a silver medal for their collective efforts.
The boys U11’s team picked up a bronze medal whilst in the Girls U13 1500m, Erin Finegan and Megan McEvoy ran exceptionally well to achieve top 10 finishes propelling their team to gold. Shay Casey was first home for the Blackrock boys U13’s who picked up a team bronze in a very competitive race whilst Donnacha Hughes’ second place finish in the Boys U19 was the catalyst for team mates Peter McGuiness and Eoin Smyth to join him on the podium and receive a team gold medal which closed out a great days competition.
The All Ireland B championships, recently held in the D.K.I.T., was the next port of call for seven of the clubs finest, six of whom were making their debut at a national event which saw competitors travelling from as far away as Cork and Clare to take part. Megan McEvoy and Erin Braniff were the club’s first two athletes to take to the line for the U11 Girls 1000m. Both girls performed admirably in a huge field which exceeded 90 athletes with individual honours on the day going to Megan who finished in a magnificent eight place overall to claim her first national medal.
Alex McKeown gained valuable experience in the Boys U13 1500m and no doubt he will continue to improve as the season progresses whilst no more could be asked of Erin Finegan, Sarah Braniff and Elisabeth Uhunamunre who did their club and county proud in the Girls U13 1500m where over 100 athletes took part.
The ever improving Donnacha Hughes showed once again the value of dedication and hard work as he claimed his first national medal, a superb silver in the Boys U17 3000m. Never far off the pace from the starting gun Donnacha ran a tactically excellent race and maintained his place in the top three all the way around, burning off the third placed competitor in the second lap and pushing the eventual winner hard right up to the line in what can be counted as one of his best performances to date.
The next action was on the track at days 1 and 2 of the Leinster Indoor Championships held in the Athlone Institute of Technology. Grace Reilly made her seasons debut at this event taking part in the Girls U12 60m Sprint, Long Jump and Shot Put and although she didn’t medal on this occasion the experience of competition at this level will give her something to build on over the coming months.
Dillon Rowland and Alex McKeown battled hard in the Boys U12 and U13 sixty metre sprint respectively and both can be considered unfortunate not to have progressed further. Dillon also took part in the Boys U12 high jump and can be proud of his efforts so early in the track and field season.
Kirsten Doherty found the going tough in the Girls U17 200m however there is no doubt that improvement will come over the course of the season whilst Hannah Reilly and Sarah Clarke did well to qualify for the Girls U18 60m sprint final.
Encoh Elewa looked a likely medal winner in the Boys U18 60m having dominated his semi-final however an unfortunate injury which occurred as he crossed the finish line meant he had to withdraw from the final.
Donnacha Hughes did well to finish in 6th position overall in the 800m, a distance that he doesn’t compete at too often with Adam McKay wrapping things up with a 5th place finish in the Boys U19 200m. All in all a frustrating couple of days for the athletes who took part as they reflect on what might have been. Nonetheless the experience was invaluable and knowing the standard required to compete at this level means that meaningful targets can be set for the season ahead.
Attention next turned to road racing as twenty seven of the club’s athletes made what is now an annual trip to the to the Armagh International Road Races which were held last Thursday night.
There was super start for the club in the girls U8 race when Lainey Jeytoo stormed to a brilliant 4th place finish on her debut at this event.
Lainey’s podium finish was made even sweeter by the fact that she was running a year out of age meaning she will be back to compete at the same age again next year hoping to go a few places better. Performance of the night came from Grace McEvoy who produced a top class run to leave 94 fellow competitors in her wake as she powered to a gold medal in the Girls U9 race. Grace was ably supported by club mates Niamh Roland and Rachel Clarke who finished well up the field in what was a frantic race.
It was never going to be easy for the Boys U11 team consisting of Emmet Kearney, Sam Jeytoo and Oisín Curran as they lined against 172 other competitors in what was the largest entry of the night.
As is always the case, all the lads showed great determination to finish well up the field. Aisling Finegan was the clubs solo representative in the U11 girls race and she can be justifiably proud of her effort, finishing inside the top twenty in another race with more than 150 athletes competing.
Two more athletes who shone on the night were Eoghan Sweeney and Dillon Roland who competed admirably in the Boys U13 event as did our dedicated U13 girls, Erin Finegan, Megan Mc Evoy and Emmy Jeytoo who packed well over the course to finish inside the top thirty with strong support provided by Erin Braniff, Elizabeth Uhunamunre and Ailish Fee who finished close behind.
Sean Reilly was unfortunate to finish just outside the top 10 in the boys U15 race however it was a good result from an athlete just back from injury and running out of age.
Donnacha Hughes rounded off a great evening by setting a personal best of 9.34 mins in his junior 3K race, finishing 8th in the process and a very impressive 27th overall when included in the senior event. Oisín Hughes and Eoghan Smyth also competed with distinction in a very high quality race.