Munster Relay Finals beckon for young athletes

THERE was keen competition at the Clare Athletics Association’s juvenile relay cross-country trials at the Lees Road Sports Complex last Saturday, as the first five in each category qualified to represent Clare in the Munster Relay Finals, which will take place in Beaufort in Kerry on January 15. All clubs contested the U-10, U-12 and U-14 girls and boys races on a very frosty morning.
In the girls’ U-10 250m, Niamh Conlon, Kilmihil got away to a very good start and held the lead all the way to the finish from Keisha Attwell, St Mary’s, followed by Amy Sexton, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare; Jodi Cahill, St Cronan’s and Hannah Shannon, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare.
There was a great contest in the boys U-10, which saw a dead heat between Ben Whelehan, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and Ferdia Lionaird, Tulla for the top spot. They were followed by Fintan Caulfield, Tulla; Conor Hassett, St Mary’s and Eoin Browne, St Mary’s.
The girls’ U-12s 500m was dominated by three Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare athletes, with Áine Keane crossing the line ahead of her twin sister Emer, followed by Caoimhe Hogan with Emily Cahill, St Cronan’s, fourth and Caoimhe Carmody, Marian, in fifth place.
In the boys’ U-12 500m, two Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare athletes got away after 250 metres. Caoilfhionn O’Dea and Cian Shannon, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare crossed the line in first and second places, with Luke Callinan, St Mary’s, holding on for third, followed by Thomas Clancy, St John’s and James McGuire, Ennis Track.
The final race of the day, the girls’ U-14 500m, attracted a star-studded line-out. Caoimhe Harvey, St John’s, set the early pace with Elaine Shannon, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, on her shoulder. At the 400m mark, Caoimhe produced a big effort to take the top spot from the fast-finishing Tara Bradley, St John’s, followed by Aishling Kelly, St John’s; Elaine Shannon and Sinéad Hogan, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare.
The boys’ U-14 500m had the All-Ireland U-13 silver medal winner Eoin Looney, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, in the field and he went out very hard from the start. After 250m, Eoin Looney was well clear and he coasted home with Mark Fennell, St Mary’s, in second place, followed by Cathal O’Brien and Paul Martin, Ennis Track and Patrick O’Rourke, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare.

Results
Girls’ U-10 250m: 1. Niamh Conlon (Kilmihil); 2. Keisha Attewell (St Mary’s); 3. Amy Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 4. Jodi Cahill (St Cronan’s); 5. Hannah Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).
U-12 500m: 1. Áine Keane (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 2. Emer Keane (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 3. Caoimhe Hogan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 4. Emily Cahill (St Cronan’s); 5. Caoimhe Carmody (Marian).
U-14 500m: 1. Caoimhe Harvey (St John’s); 2. Tara Bradley (St John’s); 3. Aishling Kelly (St John’s); 4. Elaine Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 5. Sinéad Hogan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).

Boys’ U-10 250m: 1. Ben Whelehan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Ferdia O’Lionard (Tulla); 3. Fintan Caulfield (Tulla); 4. Conor Hassett (St Mary’s); 5. Eoin Browne (St Mary’s).
U-12 500m: 1. Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 2. Cian Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 3. Luke Callinan (St Mary’s); 4. Thomas Clancy (St John’s); 5. James McGuire (Ennis Track).
U-14 500m: 1. Eoin Looney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare); 2. Mark Fennell (St Mary’s); 3. Cathal O’Brien (Ennis Track); 4. Paul Martin (Ennis Track); 5. Patrick O’Rourke (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).