The record books will show that Kilkenny athletes had a good day at the Leinster Cross-country championships held in Kilmacow on Sunday. Starting at noon with the juvenile relays, five Kilkenny clubs got medals.
The under12 girls from St Joseph’s got the day off to a fine start by taking first place in the 4x250m relay. Aughavillar placed sixth and St Senan’s were eleventh. KCH won bronze in the boys under-12. St Senan’s got in the medals with a second place finish in the boys under-14, where Aughavillar were fourth. St Senan’s with two teams in the girls under 14 were fourth and fifth. In the under-16 girls 4x500m Thomastown took the silver medals and Gowran were rewarded with bronze.
Next followed the junior races. Gowran’s three athletes in the men’s 6K gave a good account of themselves with Shaun McCormack 18th, Darragh Buggy 20th and Brian McCormack 23rd. Unfortunately with no other juniors available team medals were out of the question. The junior ladies fared much better with Mary Ellen Doyle, Gowran, Bronagh Kearns, St Senan’s and Aoife O’Connor, Thomastown, finishing first, second and third respectively. Results were equally impressive in the team competitions. With the aforementioned three and Orla McPhillips, Kilkenny City Harriers(KCH ), in 6th the county finished first in Leinster. KCH with Orla (6th ), Niamh Tuohy (9th ), Sarah Nolan (10th ) and Maeve Keane (13th ) were first club and St Senan’s who had Bronagh Kearns (2nd ), Orla Butler (11th ), Sarah Dollard (14th ) and Aoife Butler (15th ) were the second club.
Gowran’s Rose Kennedy and Eleanor Kennedy finished 8th and 12th respectively.
The senior ladies packed well in their 5K race, but not being able to get anyone up into the single figures finished in 5th place. The scorers were Edel Walsh, St Senan’s (20th ), Sinead Foley, KCH, ( 24th ), Mary Doolin, St Joseph’s (25th ) and Frances Mullally, St Joseph’s (27th ). The senior men had excellent performers in Brian Maher, KCH, taking gold and Tommy Evans, Gowran winning bronze. With Chris O’Neill, Gowran in 7th place and the ever young Sean Caulfield, St Senan’s in 8th place the scene was set for a good result. Thanks to veterans P J Dwyer, St Senan’s and Bill Doherty, St Joseph’s finishing 30th and 32nd respectively that result came with the team winning silver medals.
