Club Athletes qualify for All-Ireland cross country finals
The Munster Uneven and Senior Cross-Country Championships were held on Hayes' farm near Two Mile Borris on Sunday, 12th November. Despite the weather and the club having to make alternative parking arrangements, the event held by Moycarkey Coolcroo AC was a big success. Twenty-five Grange-Fermoy AC juvenile athletes travelled to Tipperary and gave it their all.
U9
First up was the U9 girls and the club had two girls competing on the day. The girls performed really well, Robyn McDonald was 103rd and Meabh Coleman 107th in a large entry. Well done girls, keep up the good work.
Our U9 boys’ team was up next and they finished in 9th position on the day. Luke Murphy was first home in 20th place, Oisín Halley was next in 63rd, Aiden Scannell in 69th place, Jack Hegarty in 82nd position and Conor Sweeney in 104th position. Well done lads, there is great potential in every one of these boys so keep up the training.
U11
We had one entrant in the
U11 girls and with nearly 200 in the race it was a credit to Penny Clark to toe the line by herself. Penny gave it her all, coming home strongly and even had time for a high five at the finish line. Well done Penny. We had two boys in the U11 event in what was another massive entry. Thomas McElvaney came home in 112th place followed by Liam O’Connor in 124th position. Well done lads, keep up the good work.
U13
The U13 girls team were up next and they were all running up an age and were the 14th club on the day. Cliona Hurley was first home in 22nd place, Christine McElvaney 66th, Amy Murphy 73rd and Claire O’Donnell 135th. Well done girls and congratulations to Cliona who qualified for the All-Ireland in Navan as part of the Cork team.
We had 3 boys in the U13 race and like everyone before them, they gave it all. Henry Bagnall was 35th, Sean O’Connor 51st and Ben Halley 106th. Well done boys, keep up the hard work.
U15
In the U15 girls, we had one entrant in Emilie McElvaney who was running up an age. Emilie ran very well and came home in 6th place and will go forward to the All-Ireland in Navan on the Munster and Cork team. Emilie picked up an individual medal and a gold with the Cork team.
Next up was the U15 boys team and we had six toeing the line. The lads followed up their performance in Clare by qualifying for the All-Ireland in Navan by taking a brilliant bronze team prize. Micheál Walsh was first home, in 8th place and winning an individual medal and team gold with Cork. Fionn Hayes was next, in 12th and winning an individual medal, Sean Finn was next, in 37th place,
Dylan Magorrian 38th place, Tadhg O’Mara 41st and Sean Magorrian 50th. All six will take part in Navan representing the club. Micheál and Fionn will be on the Munster and Cork teams. Special mention to Sean Magorrian who, despite being ill on the day, insisted on competing and pushed through right to the end. Well done boys.
Our final juvenile on the day was Meabh O’Connor who competed in the U17 girls, running up an age. Meabh ran very well in what by now had become a very sticky course and she finished very strongly in 29th position. Well done Meabh on another fine run.
Next is the even age All-Ireland in Kilkenny on Sunday, 19th November. The best of luck to all competing.