Looney and Cotter shine at nationals

THE Athletics Association of Ireland National Novice Cross Country Championships plus the Juvenile Uneven Ages from U-11 to U-19s were held at the Curragh Camp in ideal weather conditions for fast running. The tone was set in the first race of the day in the girls’ U-11when Daniela Svensson (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) finished fifth with James McGuire (Ennis Track) 12th in the boys’ U-11.
In the girls’ U-13, Aisling Kelly (St John’s) was fifth and St John’s won the inter-club bronze medals with Clare also finishing third. This was followed by the race of the day when Eoin Looney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) was just pipped on the line in the boys’ U-13 and had to settle for the silver medal with Jamie Roche (Ennis Track) 12th and Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare taking bronze medals with Clare taking the gold medals.
Niamh Markham (Ennis Track) finished eighth in the girls’ U-17 and Clare finished second with Ian Slobody (Kilmihil) finishing 11th in the boys’ U-17.
In the girls’ U-19, Imogen Cotter (Ennis Track) was looking good to take this national title only to be outsprinted on the home straight. In the boys’ U-19, Jake O’Regan (St John’s) produced a very big race to capture the bronze medal with Ennis Track taking bronze medals.
The novice ladies’ 3,000m had a record entry with over 150 going to the start and Cushla Brid Hehir (Ennis Track) was the leading Clare athlete in 30th position. In the senior men’s 6,000m, there was another record entry with 32 clubs and almost 300 athletes going to the line. Kenny Rodgers (St John’s) went out hard from the start and was very competitive when finishing ninth with Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) 11th. Clare finished fourth overall, only beaten by four points for bronze medals.  
In the All-Ireland U-17, Niamh Markham (Ennis Track) went out hard with the early leaders with another Clare athlete, Niamh Clancy (St John’s) up with the next leading group on that first lap. Laura Power (Ennis Track), Laura Egan (Kilmihil), Ciara Mulcaire (Ennis Track), Nollaig Blake (St John’s) and Siobhán Nestor (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) were all working hard.
At the start of the final lap, Niamh Markham dropped back from the leaders but finished strong over the final 800m to finish in eighth position. 

Results
Girls’ U-11 1,500m
5. Daniela Svensson (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 23. Emily Cahill (St Cronan’s); 33. Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 39. Rachel Hartigan (Marian); 57. Siodfra O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 71. Hannah Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
Inter-club
4. Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare = 166 points.
Inter-county
4. Clare = 228 points.
Inter-region
2. Munster.
Girls’ U-13 (2,500m)
5. Aisling Kelly (St John’s); 18. Alex O’Neill (St Cronan’s); 22. Sinéad Hogan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 29. Caoimhe Harvey (St John’s); 38. Anna Courtney (Marian); 44. Caoimhie Hogan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
Inter-club
3. St John’s (5. 29. 55. Tara Bradley, 63. Fidelma Marrinan) = 152 points.
Inter-county
3. Clare = 151 points.
Inter-region
1. Munster (5. Aisling Kelly, 18. Alex O’Neill). 
Girls’ U-17 (4,500m)
8. Niamh Markham (Ennis Track); 20. Niamh Clancy (St John’s); 38. Laura Power (Ennis Track); 43. Laura Egan (Kilmihil); 44. Ciara Mulcaire (Ennis Track); 53. Siobhán Nestor (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
Inter-county
2. Clare = 206 points.
Inter-region
2. Munster (8. Niamh Markham, 20. Niamh Clancy).
Girls’ U-19 (5,000m)
2. Imogen Cotter (Ennis Track); 24. Harriett Flynn (Shannon); 35. Rachel Mulcaire (Ennis Track); 37. Paula Loughnane (St Cronan’s); 41. Meabh Hogan (Ennis Track).
Inter-region
2. Munster  (Imogen Cotter). 
Novice ladies (3,000m)
30. Cushla Brid Hehir (Ennis Track); 53. Ciara Hassett (Rathfarnham); 57. Siobhán Lennon (Ennis Track); 88. Rosemary O’Brien (Ennis Track); 91. Noreen Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 100. Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track).
Inter-county
9. Clare.
Inter-club
8. Ennis Track.
Boys’ U-11 (1,500m)
12. James McGuire (Ennis Track); 27. Ben Whelehan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
Inter-region
1. Munster (12. James McGuire).
Boys’ U-13 (2,500m)
2. Eoin Looney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 12. Jamie Roche (Ennis Track); 13. Paul Martin (Ennis Track); 17. Patrick O’Rourke (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 21. Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 51. Stephen Maher (Ennis Track).
Inter-club
3. Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (2. 17. 21. 81. Cian Shannon) = 121 points.
Inter-county
1. Clare = 116 points.
Inter-region
1. Munster (2. Eoin Looney, 12. Jamie Roche).
Boys’ U-17 (5,000m)
11. Ian Slobody (Kilmihil); 66. Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon); 73. Jack Carrigg (Shannon); 79. Patrick Chesser (Ennis Track); 94. Liam Gray (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 96. Darragh Collins (Ennis Track).
Inter-county
8. Clare.
Inter-region
3. Munster (11. Ian Slobody).
Boys’ U-19 (7,000m)
3. Jake O’Regan (St John’s); 31. Kevin Chesser (Ennis Track); 33. Darragh Lynch (Ennis Track); 34. Aidan Kearney (Ennis Track); 53. Issac Rae (Ennis Track); 64. William Flynn (Shannon).
Inter-club
3. Ennis Track (31. 33. 34. 53) = 150 points.
Inter-region
3. Munster (3. Jake O’Regan).
Novice men 6,000m
9. Kenny Rodgers (St John’s); 11. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy); 46. Dara Chesser (Ennis Track); 51. Fergal Smithwick (Marian); 59. Brian Murphy (Ennis Track); 83. Paul Gallagher (St Finbarr’s and Clare).
Inter-county
4. Clare = 259 points.