East Clare competition attracts large entry

THE East Clare National Schools Cross Country Championships were held in the Lees Road Sports Complex with over 1,000 children taking part in beautiful weather conditions last Wednesday. There were some very keenly contested races on the day with little separating the medal winners in most events.
Adam Hogan, Feakle, won the gold medal in the boys’ U-8 400m, with Feakle taking the team title. The girls’ title went to Andrea Ellison, Clonmoney, and Clonmoney took the team award.
In the large schools, the U-8 girls’ title went to Ellie Pike, CBS and the boys to Sultan Akinwale from the same school, with Ennis CBS taking both team awards.
The U-11 700m small school girls’ race winner was Ella McNamara, Flagmount, and she led Flagmount to team gold with the boys’ title going to Keith Donnellan, Kilkishen, and Broadford capturing the team award.
Alex O’Neill, Quin, was the winner in the large schools girls’ U-11 with Ballyea National School taking the team award. In the boys’ U-11, Luke McDermott, Clarecastle, won and Ennis National captured the team gold.
Niamh Mulqueen, Broadford won gold in the girls’ O-11 small schools’ section, with Scariff taking the team gold. Darragh McNamara, Flagmount led from start to finish to take the boys’ O-11 section and he also led Flagmount to team victory.
Chloe Devitt, Ballyea, was a very impressive winner of the girls’ O-11 large school event with Ennis National taking the team gold. Jamie Roche, Ennis National had to work hard to take the boys’ O-11 title from Paul Martin, CBS, with Ennis National taking the team title.

Results
Girls
U-8 400m small schools: 1. Andrea Ellison, Clonmoney; 2. Alisha Okoh, Clonmoney; 3. Aoibheann Madden, Feakle; 4. Aoife Ryan Kilkishen.
Teams: 1. Clonmoney = 20 points; 2. Feakle = 22 points; 3. Scariff = 44 points.
U-8 400m large schools: 1. Ellie Pike, Ennis National; 2. Alva Doherty, Ennis National; 3. Phoebe Boateng, Gael Coláiste An Chláir; 4. Cliodhna Ryan, Quin.
Teams: 1. Ennis CBS = 18 points;
2. Quin= 22 points; 3. Ennis National = 27 points.
U-11 700m small schools: 1. Ella McNamara, Flagmount; 2. Claire McNamara, Flagmount; 3. Linda O’Brien, Flagmount; 4. Róisín McMahon, Flagmount.
Teams: 1. Flagmount = 6 points;
2. Feakle = 22 points; 3. O’Calla-ghan’s Mills = 80 points.
U-11 700m large schools: 1. Alex O’Neill, Quin; 2. Emily Barry, Ballyea; 3. Ciara O’Brien, Ballyea;
4. Mary Conneally, Quin.
Teams: 1. Ballyea= 17 points;
2. Quin = 19 points; 3. Clarecastle = 36 points.
O-11 1,100m small school: 1. Niamh Mulqueen, Broadford; 2. Amy Barrett, Scariff; 3. Áine Feehily, Clonmoney; 4. Emma Kennedy, Kilmurry.
Teams: 1. Scariff = 30 points;
2. Feakle = 31 points; 3. Stonehall = 37 points.
O-11 1,100m large school: 1. Chloe Devitt, Ballyea; 2. Emer McDonald, CBS; 3. Kate Taylor, Ennis National; 4. Orla Waters, Ennis National.
Teams: 1. Ennis National = 28 points; 2. Knocknean = 43 points;
3. Barefield = 53 points.

Boys
U-8 400m small schools: 1. Adam Hogan, Feakle; 2. Ian McNamara, Flagmount; 3. Sol Frost, Clonmoney; 4. Ronan O’Connor, Feakle.
Teams: 1. Feakle = 11 points;
2. Flagmount = 20 points; 3. Kilmurry = 60 points.
U-8 400m large schools: 1. Sultan Akinwale, Ennis CBS; 2. John Kenneally, Quin; 3. Jason Considine, Clarecastle; 4. Jack O’Connor CBS.
Teams: 1. Ennis CBS = 11 points;
2. Clarecastle = 31 points; 3. Quin = 44 points.
U-11 700m small schools: 1. Keith Donnellan, Kilkishen; 2. Tom Comerford, Flagmount; 3. Cian Crimmins, Broadford; 4. Gearóid McMahon, Stonehall.
Teams: 1. Broadford = 21 points;
2. Kilkishen = 29 points; 3. Stonehall = 34 points.
U-11 700m large schools: 1. Luke McDermott, Clarecastle; 2. Sean Dolan, Ennis National; 3. John Duggan, St Aidan’s; 4. Tony Odubote, CBS.
Teams: 1. Ennis National = 22 points; 2. Tulla = 39 points; 3. Clarecastle = 43 points.
O-11 1,100m small school: 1. Darragh McNamara, Flagmount;
2. Tobias O’Meara, Flagmount; 3. Barry Cotter, Doora;
4. Daniel Griffin, Clooney.
Teams: 1. Flagmount = 14 points; 2. Kilmurry = 34 points; 3. Clooney = 35 points.
O-11 1,100m large school: 1. Jamie Roche, Ennis National; 2. Paul Martin, CBS;
3. Darragh O’Shea, Barefield; 4. Luke Carmody, Barefield.
Teams: 1. Ennis National = 13 points; 2. Ennis CBS = 34 points; 3. Clarecastle = 40 points.

Munster novice title for Rodgers

KENNETH Rodgers, St John’s, won the Munster novice title at the Munster Athletics Association two-mile road championships for ladies and four-mile for men at Beaufort, County Kerry over a testing course. Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy, took the silver medal in the novice event.
The novice and senior men’s race over four miles attracted a field of 50 athletes from Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, Kerry and Cork. Three athletes made an early break, James McCarthy (East Cork), Philip Harty (West Waterford) and Kenneth Rodgers (St John’s). Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) was in the next chasing group.
James McCarthy made a break at two miles and split the field into single file and he claimed this title in 20.03. Philip Harty just held onto second spot from the fast-finishing Cian Murphy.
The first Clare athlete home was Kenneth Rodgers, St John’s, in 20.21, followed in seventh place by Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy.

Results
Novice men (four mile): 1. Kenneth Rodgers (St John’s) (20.21); 2. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (20.58); 3. Ed Murphy (Gneeveguilla) (21.17).
Senior men: 1. James McCarthy (East Cork) (20.03); 2. Philip Harty (West Waterford) (20.13); 3. Cian Murphy (Iveragh) (20.15); 4. Kenneth Rodgers (St John’s) (20.21); 5. Donal O’Callaghan (Ríocht) (20.42); 6. Raivis Zakis (West Waterford) (20.48); 7. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (20.58); 8. Ed Murphy (Gneeveguilla) (21.17).

Hehir wins Adare road race

CLARE athletes produced outstanding performances at last weekend’s Adare 10km road race, which was organised by West Limerick Athletic Club and was held in ideal weather conditions with over 450 athletes going to the starting line.
Sean Hehir, O’Callaghan’s Mills and Rathfarnham AC, Dublin, was in sparkling form and crossed the finishing line in 31.17. Tommy Madden, Marian, recorded a great victory in the masters men’s O-60 in very good time of 39.39.
The senior ladies’ title went to Siobhán O’Doherty, Borrisokane, in 36.20. The first Clare athlete was Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track, in 38.59 and she captured the masters ladies’ O-40.
Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, finished fifth in 40.50 with Imogen Cotter, Ennis Track, the first junior lady, finishing sixth in 41.46 and Marian Burke, St Mary’s, in seventh in 41.54.

Results
Senior ladies: 1. Siobhán Doherty (Borrisokane) (36.20); 2. Tracy Roche (Dooneen) (37.52); 3. Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track O-40) (38.59); 4. Lisa Horgan (West Limerick) (40.21); 5. Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (40.50); 6. Imogen Cotter (Ennis Track junior) (41.46); 7. Marian Burke (St Mary’s) (41.54).
Teams: 1. Ennis Track = 20 points; 2. West Limerick = 27 points; 3. Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare = 62 points.
Senior men: 1. Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham AC) (31.17); 2. Pat McCartan (West Limerick) (32.08);
3. Michael McDiarmaida (Clonliffe Harriers) (32.37).
O-60: 1. Tom Madden (Marian) (39.39).

Ryan captures double gold in Nenagh

THE Munster Schools Track and Field Indoor Championships were held last weekend in Nenagh Indoor Arena and many Clare schools were represented.
Derbhile Ryan from Clonlara and Gael Choláiste Luimní captured double gold in the minor girls, winning the shot putt with a throw of 10.98m and the long jump with a leap of 4.91m. Áine Rouine, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon, finished fourth in the minor girls’ 1,200m.
In the junior girls, Rachel Clancy (Kilkee) competed in a number of events. Her first event of the day was the 1,200m, where she was in control up front for the first three laps but had to settle for fourth. Ciara Nash, Clare and Laurel Hill, won the bronze medal. Later in the afternoon, Rachel Clancy won the bronze medal in the high jump.
Alice Akres, Scariff, won a bronze medal in the junior girls with outstanding throwing.
In the intermediate girls’ 1,200m, two Clare athletes, Eimear Hillery and Siobhán Nestor, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon, battled well before Eimear produced a great effort on the home straight to snatch the bronze medal from her schoolmate. Later, Eimear produced another big race in the 600m to win another bronze medal.
In the intermediate boys’ 600m, Ian Slobody, Kildysart, led for almost all of the race but had to settle for the silver medal. Dan Finnerty, Killaloe, competed in three events, 60m, 60m hurdles and long jump, winning a silver and two bronze medals.

Results
Minor girls’ 1,200m: 4. Áine Rouine (Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon) (4.20).
Shot putt: 1. Derbhile Ryan (Gael Choláiste Luimní) (10.98m).
Long jump: 1. Derbhile Ryan (Gael Choláiste Luimní) (4.91m).
Junior girls’ high jump: 3. Rachel Clancy (Kilkee) (1.40m).
1,200m: 3. Ciara Nash (Clare and Laurel Hill) (4.38.71); 4. Rachel Clancy (Kilkee) (4.45.87).
Shot putt: 3. Alice Akres (Scariff) (8.46m).
Intermediate girls’ 1,200m: 3. Eimear Hillery (Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon) (4.18.11); 4. Siobhán Nestor (Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon) (4.20.04).
600m: 3. Eimear Hillery (Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon) (1.47.64).
Intermediate boys’ 600m: 2. Ian Slobody (Kildysart) (1.29.56).
60m: 3. Dan Finnerty (Killaloe).
60m hurdles: 2. Dan Finnerty (Killaloe).
Long jump: 3. Dan Finnerty (Killaloe) (5.93m).