 Donoughmore athletic club excelled themselves in their organisation of the All Ireland juvenile B cross country championships today. The work that went into preparing the course received favourable comment from many who attended from as far away as Donegal. There were some very big numbers in the races, especially in the younger ages. And there was plenty for the Cork contingent to cheer about. In the under 12 girls race Aine Sheehan of Grange Fermoy had an excellent win, while a few minutes later Colm Dromey from West Muskerry also ran a great race to win the boys race, with fellow Cork runner Tomas Keogh not too far behind in third. Jody Quirke from Blarney Inniscarra kept the Cork flag flying with another fine win at under 14 level, while Leevale places were; 8th Keith Lenihan; 9th John Shine; 13th Richard O’Connor; and 50th Christopher Lettice, giving Leevale a very good second team finish. Mark Hanrahan from Leevale led the Cork team home in the under 16’s with a fourth place finish. Other Leevale places were; 11th Thomas Maunsell; 20th Alan Sexton; and 27 Darren O’Callaghan, giving Leevale a well deserved team victory. Kerry Crowley fell behind around the halfway stage of the girls under 16 race, but ran on strongly to finish second, with Marie Heffernan fourth. And another Ballincollig runner, Ann Cooney capped a marvellous day for the Ballincollig club with a silver medal at under 18 level. The final juvenile race of the day saw Patrick Browne of Togher lead from an early stage to secure yet another fine win for Cork. There were also four inter county relays on the programme, a new event at cross country. These 4x500m relays proved most popular, and very successful from a Cork view point. Cork won the boys under 11 and girls under 13, and finished gallant runners-up in the girls under 11 and boys under 13. Cork teams had a very successful day, winning the boys under 12, 14, and 16 inter county titles, as well as the girls under 10, 12, and 16. Second place finishes were recorded in the girls under 14 and boys under 10, while Leevale supplied the winning club team at under 16 level. The Cork novice B championships were also held on the course. The mens race was dominated by Leevale, with Ronan Guirey and Ronan Crowley battling it out for a long way before Guirey finally broke away. Another Leevale runner, Eric Skillington was third, and, with Conor Tierney in sixth, easily won the team contest from Carraig na bhFear and West Cork. Team Photo (from L-to-R) shows Skillington, Crowley, Guirey, and Tierney. Eileen Buckley had a good win in the womens race from the Ballincollig pair of Niamh Crowley and Orla Raggett, with Ballincollig the team winners. ( Results) |
