Carroll Junior 2nd in Munster U-23s/Novice X-C Championships

The Munster novice and under 23 cross country championships were held in Currow, Farranfore, on Sunday.  The mens race attracted one of the biggest fields in years with the atrocious conditions failing to deter anyone.  From the gun Patrick Guidera of Clonmel made the brave decision to hit the front.  A trio of Cork athletes, Robert Heffernan of Togher, Paul Carroll of Leevale, and Fiacra Lombard of UCC formed the chasing group.  Halfway through the second lap Lombard caught the leader, and immediately passed him, taking up a lead that he held to the finish.  Behind him Guidera maintained his challenge, with Heffernan dropping back to leave Carroll in third.  That situation continued until halfway through the last lap when Carroll finally got up to pass Guidera to finish second.