The Munster UnEven age County Cross Country championships took place in Carriganore, Co. Waterford on the West Campus grounds of Waterford Institute of Technology. The weather conditions were excellent for racing today and we managed to have plenty of sunny spells with no rain. The course today would have to be described as very challenging with a number of significant hills to conquer. It’s fair to say that all the athletes who completed their races today showed great determination and resolve. They were all excellent representatives of their Club and County so a big well done to all.
The Boys U9 team of Callum McCourt, Conor Ryan, Jack Calnan, Jack Cullen and Fergal Murphy all ran very well and were unlucky to finish outside of the medals in 5th place. Callum McCourt ran a very strong race to finish in 9th place and earn himself an individual Munster medal. He also helped the Cork team to won Gold on the Country places. The Girls U13 team of Ciara McKeon, Alison Hathaway, Moira Barret, Laura Nicholson, Niamh Calnan, Aisling Cassidy, Grainne Mulcahy, Ella Stack and Claire Reilly were our next team up. Excellent running across the team earned them the worthy Munster Championship club title with 3 our of the team winning individual medals. Moira Barret (4th), Luara Nicholson (8th) and Grainne Mulcahy (10th) all finished in the top 12 with the 3 also helping to ensure that the Cork team win Gold. The Boys U13 of Conor Calnan, Naoise Ni Fhaitheartargh, Rob Downey, Tony OConnell, Brian Riordan, Tomas Murphy, Cian Kingston and Michael Laffan all ran very well today but were also unlucky to finish outside the team medal places.
The Girls U15 team of Aoibh Cassidy, Carina Crowley, Fiona Everard, Mari Dineen and Bethany Haigue were the first of our teams to complete two loops of the hilly course and a great effort from the entire team earned them a 3rd Munster team place. Fiona Everard and Carina Crowley also won individual medals by finishing in 5th and 11th place respectively. They also helped the County team win Gold. We were very well represented in the Girls U17 race by Aisling Everard, Lulu Keane, Mary Teresa Murphy and Sarah Stack. It was just great to have a girls U17 team today and they were well rewarded for their efforts by winning 3rd Munster team place. Aisling Everard won an individual medal finishing in 6th place and was also one of the top scorers on the Cork team who County Gold. We were also delighted to have a boys U17 team of Gerard Crowley, Eoin McCarthy, Ciaran Murphy, Killian McSweney and David Laffan. This was the first cross country race for a number of these lads today and they all competed well today.
Lauren McCourt and Fionn Harrington both competed in their respective U11 races and each ran very well. In the Boys U19 race Thomas McCarthy competed out of age in the Bu19 race and finished in a very competitive 14th place.
Thanks to all who helped and supported the athletes today.
Report by Tom Laffan. Photos will be added later