Irish Life Health Munster Schools T&F Championships

Thanks to Sean Finn for the summery...

It doesn't matter by what yardstick you use the Munster Schools athletic championships was a highly successful one for the club and local schools. We had medals, great performances and a great sense of progress throughout all disciplines. But the most pleasing aspect was the great sense of joy and unity among all our athletic community.

The schools athletic programme is broken into four age groups Minor, Junior, Intermediate and Senior. So starting with the youngest minor age group we had Catriona Finn St Marys, Nenagh pick up the bronze medal in the Shot Putt. Also in the minor age group Micheal Moylan, Nenagh College finished 5th in a very fast 800m race.

In the Junior section we had great performances from our girls Jodie Mcgrath St Mary's Nenagh clearing 2.50m in the pole vault for the gold medal , Ellie McEvoy St Anne's Killaloe was 2nd in the high jump with a 1.50m clearence and Emma Carolan St Mary's, Newport taking the bronze in the shot putt. Ava Coady St Mary's, Nenagh had another great 100m sprint and came close with a 4th place finish. Also in fourth place was Niamh Pateman St Mary's, Nenagh in the pole vault.

The junior boys also did well and James Sage showed that he is close to getting back to his best with a comprehensive win in the 100m hurdles. Ben Connolly also did very well with a silver medal in the pole vault when clearing an excellent 3.25m. Both Tom Walshe CBS, Nenagh 800m and Tom McCutchoen St Joseph's, Borrisoleigh 200m finished within .2 of a second of a medal when both finishing 4th. Cian Hodgins CBS Nenagh returning from injury had a very solid race in the 1500m. Louis Doyle was 6th in both the 100 & 200m.

The St Joseph's Borrisoleigh relay team had a trilling win in the junior 4x100m. Alex Reynolds, James Sage and Tom McCutchoen in the first three legs handed over to Louis Doyle in 3rd and an inspired run from Louis captured the gold medal on the line. 
In the Intermediate boys there was a great sense of joy when Ted Collins, Glenstal won the 800m title after a difficult time because of an 18 month growing spree. This 6'3" 16 Yr old has grown not only in height but in athletic stature as his 1m59s performance shows huge potential for the future.

His Endurance training partner Sarah Lane, St Anne's Killaloe also returning from a difficult period took another giant step forward when taking the silver medal in the 800m in 2m18s.
George O'Leary, Glenstal continues to improve with a 6th place finish in the 3000m.
Mark Carroll CBS, Nenagh cleared 6.06m in claiming the silver in the inter long jump.
Padraig Hassett, Glenstal was 4th in the 400m hurdles. 

In the Senior boys our three clubmates Sean Carolan St Mary's, Newport, Joe McEvoy St Anne's, Killaloe and Darragh Miniter CBS Ennistymon all did extremely well in their events. Sean and Darragh were 1st & 2nd in the long jump with only 2cm between them 6.40m to 6.38m. Darragh was then 2nd to his other teammate Joe McEvoy in the 110m hurdles again in a very close contest. Joe also won the high jump in 1.90m and Sean was 2nd in his shot putt competition.

Last but not least was the two U16 mile races. In the boys Jamie Moloney CBS Nenagh came down in distance from his favourite 3/5k distance but showed great pace to finish 6th.

In the girls U16 Ailbhe O'Neill, St Mary's Nenagh went into the mile as slight favourite and she didn't let the pressure get to her with a dominant display eventually seeing her coming home 8sec clear in a new Munster record of 5m17s. Ailbhe may be slight of stature but is a giant of a competitor as she continues to improve and is one of the most consistent underage female Endurance athletes in the country.

So it was we left Cork with a pep in our step looking forward to the All Ireland Schools in two weeks time 1st June in Tullamore. Can hardly wait, we'll done all.