Bronze for Looney in All-Ireland competition

ST Flannan’s, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon, Kilrush and Spanish Point schools were all represented at the All-Ireland Schools and  Irish Universities Cross Country Championships, which were held at St Mary’s College, Galway last Saturday.
There were eight races, minor, junior, intermediate and senior boys and girls, and the leading Clare performers included Eoin Looney, Spanish Point, who won a bronze medal in the minor boys’ 2,500m.
The first race of the day was the minor girls’ 2,000m and over 100 competitors took part, including two Clare athletes, Spanish Point’s Aisling Kelly and Elaine Shannon, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon. Kelly was in a bunch of four athletes with 400m to go, only to be out-sprinted on the home straight and finish fourth. Shannon finished in 54th position.
In the minor boys’ 2,500m, almost 100 athletes went to the start. Munster champion, Fergal Curtin, Middleton CBS, along with the Munster silver medal winner, Eoin Looney, Spanish Point, started very fast.
In the final lap, Looney was right on the shoulder of the Munster champion, who captured the gold medal. Pat Shaw, St Finnian’s Mullingar, just got over the line ahead of Looney, who had to be content with the bronze medal.
In the junior boys’ 3,500m, St Flannan’s Kevin Mulcaire produced his best performance of the season to finish fourth, with victory going to Pádraig Creavan, St Mary’s College, Galway.

Results
Minor girls’ 2,000m: 4. Aisling Kelly (Spanish Point); 54. Elaine Shannon (Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon).
Minor Boys’ 2,500m: 3. Eoin Looney (Spanish Point).
Junior boys’ 3,500m: 4. Kevin Mulcaire (St Flannan’s).
Senior boys’ 6,500m: 40. Conor Madigan (Kilrush).

Irish Universities in Waterford
IN the Irish Universities 8,000m, hosted by Waterford Institute of Technology, John Coughlan, DCU, had to work hard to take the title from the early leader, Jason Fahy, Sixmilebridge and WIT, who eventually finished fifth with another Clare athlete, Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy and WIT, in sixth spot.
Jake O’Regan, Kilkee and UL, produced a great performance to finish seventh with Brian McGinley, Ennis Track and WIT, 12th, followed in 40th position by Michael Maher, Ennis Track and CIT.

Results
Senior ladies: 33. Noreen Mackey (CIT); 41. Grace Eade (WIT); 46. Dymphna O’Dwyer (NUIG).
Senior men: 5. Jason Fahy (WIT); 6. Michael Shannon (WIT); 7. Jake O’Regan (UL); 12. Brian McGinley (WIT); 40. Michael Maher (CIT).