Chasing more national success

THE Munstergroup Clare Community Games will have 104 children from 20 areas travel to Athlone this Friday for the last weekend of the national finals.   
Most of Clare’s participation this weekend is in athletics, while there are two teams, boys U-15 rounders from Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry and U-14 mixed tag rugby from Quin/Clooney also taking part. Ennis St John’s will be flying the flag for Clare in eight of the nine relays with neighbours Clarecastle/Ballyea taking up the other one.
A large number of athletes are no strangers to the national finals with some winning medals in 2011 and in May 2012.  They will all be hoping to bring back gold this time round.
Rachel Clancy in the high jump is looking to improve on last year when she was very unlucky not to be among the medals. Niamh O’Brien (Tulla)  will compete in the ballthrow, a competition clubmate Grace Moloney won bronze in 2011.
Tony Odubote (Ennis St John’s) has been attending the national finals since U-8 level. He won gold in the U-12 mixed distance relay last year, as well as bronze in the U-12 100m and in the mixed distance relay earlier this year. 
Eoin Looney won gold in the U-13 cross country last year and bronze in the U-14 mixed distance relay earlier this year. Chiby Okoye, Emer Nelson, Ailbhe Doherty and Amidat Karimu all won gold in the U-10 mixed relay last year. Cathal O’Brien won bronze in U-14 mixed distance relay earlier this year.
Deirbhile Ryan won silver in the shot putt last year and is hoping for gold in javelin this year. Chantel Burke is also no stranger to the nationals and has competed on numerous occasions. Angharad Loughnane is taking part in shot putt this time round, having come fourth in walk in 2011. Laderi Karimu will be in the high jump, having come fourth in 2011 in the U-14 hurdles. Eoin Hanrahan, fourth in the discus in 2011, is hoping to be amongst the medal winners in same event this year.
Caoilfhionn O’Dea won gold in the mixed cross country in 2012,, while Cliodhna Blake and Aisling Kelly won silver in mixed distance relay U-14 earlier this year. Shane Harrison won bronze in mixed distance relay in May. Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry rounders boys were fourth in the U-13 competition last year and they are hoping to do better this time around.

The competitors for this weekend are:
Marathon – Girls U-16: Laura Power (Doora/Barefield), Aine Rouine (Ennistymon/Lahinch/Liscannor), Shannon O’Grady (Newmarket-onm-Fergus). Boys U-16: Padraigh Malone (Ennistymon/Lahinch/Liscannor), Eoin McAllister (Shannon), Stephen Lees (Shannon), Jason McIntyre (Shannon).        Relays – Mixed U-10: Ailbhe Doherty, Shane Meehan, Amidat Karimu, Sultan Akinwale, Niamh O’Halloran, Jesse Bonisehi (Ennis St John’s). Girls U-12: Emer Nelson, Anna Collins, Nadia Buczek, Sonia Agu, Derinn Finnerty (Ennis, St John’s). Boys U-12: Chiby Okoye, Manus Doherty, Lateef Akinwale, Darren O’Brien, Tunmise Badewa-Ekungba (Ennis St John’s). Mixed U-13: Christina Njekwe, Tony Odubote, Farouk Sobayo, Moses Iwalewa, Katie O’Dwyer, Elizabeth Adesiyan (Ennis, St John’s). Girls U-14: Orla Waters, Marese Hayes, Deborah Adesiyan, Nicole Roche, Aine Ryan, Alanna O’Connor (Ennis, St John’s). Boys U-14: Jamie Roche, Brian Haran, Gavin Cooney, Nzube Okoye, Sean Doherty, Cathal O’Brien (Ennis, St John’s). Mixed U-15: Kaderi Karimu, Brian Devitt, Niamh O’Brien, Temidayo Adeyinka, Abimbola Sobayo, Cathal Lynch  (Ennis, St John’s). Girls U-16: Semirat Saidi, Rae Wall, Elana Bradley, Emma Neylon, Aisling Maher, Karen Roche (Ennis St John’s). Boys U-16: Ronan Barry, Dean Minogue, Kevin Mulcaire, Ryan Jennings, Michael McDermott  (all Clarecastle/Ballyea).
Athletics Track – 60m U-8: Ella Duff (Shannon), Donna Agu (Ennis St John’s). 80m U-8: Aisling Healy (Inch/Kilmaley/Connolly), Cian O’Boyle (Ennis St John’s). 100m: Niamh Conlon (Cooraclare/Cree). U-10: Sultan Akinwale (Ennis, St Johns), Emer Nelson (Ennis, St John’s). U-12: Chiby Okoye (Ennis, St John’s), Chantel Burke (Kilrush). U-14: Tony Odubote (Ennis, St John’s), Aishling Hehir (Clonlara). U-16: Ronan Barry (Clarecastle/Ballyea). 200m U-10: Amidat Karimu (Ennis, St John’s), Shane Harrison (Quin/Clooney). 60m hurdles U-10: Sinéad Lillis (Cooraclare/Cree), Jesse Bonisehi (Ennis St John’s). 600m U-12: Alex O’Neill (Quin/Clooney), Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry/Ibrickane). 800m U-14: Aisling Kelly (Doonbeg), Eoin Looney (Miltown Malbay). 80m hurdles U-14: Cliodhna Blake (Doonbeg), Nzube Okoye (Ennis, St John’s). 1500m U-16: Rebecca Cahill  (Ballynacally/Lissycasey), Kevin Mulcaire (Clarecastle/Ballyea)       
Athletics Field – Ballthrow U-12: Niamh O’Brien (Tulla), Mark Sheehan (Ennis, St John’s). Long Puck U-12: Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle/Ballyea), Colm Moloney (Killanena/Flagmount). Shot Putt U-14: Angharad Loughnane (Kilkishen/O’Callaghan’s Mills), Niall O’Brien (Doora/Barefield). Long Jump U-14: Kate Taylor (Quin/Clooney), Cathal O’Brien (Ennis, St John’s). High Jump U-16: Rachel Clancy (Carrigaholt/Cross), Kaderi Karimu Ennis, St John’s). Discus U-16: Natasha Coughlan (Quin/Clooney), Eoin Hanrahan (Doora/Barefield). Javelin U-16: Deirbhíle Ryan (Clonlara), Fergal Coughlan (Quin/Clooney). Rounders U-15: Jason Loughnane, Cathal Lynch, Ronan Tuohy, Cian McInerney, Eanna Chaplin, Gavin Fawl, Brian O’Sullivan, Tadhg Donnellon, Jamie Lyons, Charlie Carmody, Shane Flynn, Patrick Mulready (all Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry). Mixed tag rugby U-14: Kate Taylor, Ellie Rochford, Jennifer O’Neill, Darragh Ryan, David Rochford, Barry Loughnane, Daniel Griffin, Mary Conneally, Eoghan O’Brien, Rachel Begg, Conor O’Brien (Quin/Clooney).