The Even Age Munster Cross Country championships took place in TwoMileBorris , Co. Tipperary on Sunday October 26th 2014. Moycarkey-Coolcroo AC were the host club and they provided an even course with a two loop circuit within one large field providing spectators with a great view of the course. The welcome lack of hills on this course was balanced out by the strong wind which the athletes had to contend with on the course.
The club were very well represented across the age groups today and in the first race of the day the Girls U10 team of Erica Mahony, Maeve Kelly, Niamh Quinn, Aoibhinn Cotter, Kate O Connor, Aisling O Connor, Ciara White, Maia McCourt, Aoife Tuthill, Niamh Cotter, Erika Crowley and Amy McCarthy. They competed in a field of 127 athletes and won 3rd team prize which was a great result. Amy McCarthy led the team home finishing in 16th place and also scored on the Cork team who took the silver County place.
The Boys U10 team of Hugh O Mahony, Sean Deasy, Joseph Buttimer, Cian Walsh, David O Donoghue, Eoghan Cassidy were next in action again competing in large field of 124 athletes and the team finished in a strong 7th place out of 17 teams.
The Girls U12 team of Jane Buckley, Nicola Tuthill, Clare Flynn, Amy O Donoghue, , Lily Munday, Nicola McKeon, Caoimhe Ni O’Fhaitheartargh carried forward their consistent form from the recent County races to win 2nd team place. Jane Buckley led the team home finishing in 12th place earning herself an individual Munster medal. The Boys U12 team consisted of Tim McCarthy, Jacob O Driscoll, Ruairi Harrington, Callum McCourt, Keelan Crowley, Jack Cullen, and Adam Casey ran a very competitive race to finish in the 4th team place. Keelan was the 4th Cork athlete over the line and helped the County win the silver medal place.
The Girls U14 had 3000m to run and given that 5 out of the 7 strong team of Michelle O’Dononvan, Jane Buttimer, Grainne Mulcahy, Oliva Tuthill, Caoimhe Deasy, Lauren McCourt and Katie Murphy were competing up an age they did very well to finish in a strong 7th team place. In the Girls U16 race Carina Crowley, Niamh Munday and Laura Nicholson competed and we were unfortunate not to have a full team in this age group. However the 3 girls did very on the day. Carina and Laura won individual medals finishing in 8th and 12th place respectively and they also scored on the Cork team that won the silver place. Naoise O’Fhaitheartaigh competed out of age in the U16 Boys race and he finished in a strong 20th place as he gears up for his in age Munster race in two weeks time.
It was great to see a Girls U18 club team compete as Sadbh Ni Fhlaitheartaigh and Niamh Ahern who have been training consistently well all year joined Fiona Everard, Bethany Haigue and Sinead Caulfield on the start line for the 4000m race. All girls ran a great race to win 3rd team prize. Fiona led the team home finishing in 6th place. Fiona and Bethany also helped the Cork team win the Munster title. Dylan O’Connor competed in the Boys U18 race having a 6000m course to complete and he ran a very strong race to finish in 14th place helping the Cork team win the silver medal.
The Munster racing standard is one of the highest in the country and all our athletes should be very happy with their performances today. Thanks to all who helped and supported the athletes today
Report and pictures by Tom Laffan