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

Munsters Cross Country Report by Tom Laffan

The Even age Munster Cross Country championships took place in Beaufort, Co.Kerry today and all athletes competing were treated to a great course in a very picturesque Kerry setting. The event was being hosted by Star of Luane AC in conjunction with the Kerry County Athletics Board. The weather didn’t disappoint either and we were treated to a lovely sunny day. A large number of our XC runners competed today and they all produced great performances which they should all be very proud of today.

The day started with the Girls U10 race and they ran very well to take the 3rd club in Munster prize. The team consisted of Orla O’Sullivan, Maebh O’Flynn, Amy O’Donoghue, Lilly Munday, Deirdre Brown, Nicola McKeon, Claire Flynn and Ella Donegan. Amy O’Donoghue also won an individual Munster medal by finishing in 8th place – this 8th place also helped the Cork team win gold. The Boys U10 were next up and they were very unlucky to finish just 6 points outside the team medals in 4th place. The team of Ruari Harrington, Max Hallahan, Blake Nevin, Luke Quinlan, Jack Cullen, Callum McCourt, Mark Collins, Tom Donegan and Keelan Crowley all ran very well with Keelan and Callum helping the Cork team to win gold.

The Girls u12 team of Cora NiGhallchoir, Andrea O’Brien, Ella Stack, Michelle O’Donovan, Grainne Mulcahy, Lauren McCourt and Aisling Cassidy ran very well to take 3rd Munster club prize and earn a place in the All Ireland finals. Grainne Mulcahy won an individual medal by finishing in 4th place and in doing so helped Cork win gold.The team of Fionn Harington, Darragh Keane, Brian Howey, Andrew O’Leary, Aodh NiGhallchoir and Paul Hartnett all ran very well in a competive U12 race and were unlucky on this occasion not to medal. The Girls U14 team of Moira Barrett, Carina Crowley, Laura Nicholson, Aoibh Cassidy, Niamh Munday and Eva Stack ran great races to take 2nd Munster club place and earn a place in the All Ireland finals. Carina and Moira also won individual medals by finishing in 6th and 8th place respectively. Carina and Moira also scored on the Cork team who won gold.

We were also well represented on the Girls U16 race by Fiona Everard, Bella Serlock, Louisa Keane , Sinead Caulfield and Bethany Haigue. This team ran very well to take 2nd club team in Munster and qualify for the All Ireland finals. Fiona Everard and Bella Sherlock also won individual Munster medals by finishing in 5th and 9th place respectively. They also scored on the Cork team who won Gold. Ailing Everard had a great run out of age in the girls U18 race to win an individual medal in 9th place. Thomas McCarthy ran in boys U18 race and finished in a very respectable 25th place.

Thanks to all those who supported the athletes today and big congratulations to all who competed today.

Photos also by Tom