Cork Swimming: Young Leesiders impress for their schools at National Aquatic Centre

THE Irish Minor Schools Championships took place at the National Aquatic Centre. 

Swimming holds a special place on the schools curriculum, not just as a recreational activity but as a competitive experience, fostering discipline, teamwork and physical fitness. The Minor Schools Championship showcases young talent, with many of the finalists experiencing their first taste of national competition.

The boys of St Anthony’s National School, Finn O’Dowd, George Creegan, Jack Cruise and Charlie Barrett combined to place 2nd in the 10 & Under 200m Medley. They posted 3:08.57 behind the team from St. Mary’s Junior School, Rathmines 3:06.11 but well ahead of Willow Park School in third on 3:17.64. A change of personnel for the Freestyle relay with Euan O’Mahony replacing George Creegan, the team again placed 2nd on 2:42.97 with St. Mary’s Rathmines in 1st with 2:39.82 and Scoil Iognaid in third with 2:53.73.

The girls from Scoil Bhríde, Eglantine, Petra Buckley, Rebecca Sheehan, Alexandra Egar and Casey Hourihane delivered a second-place finish in the 10 & Under 200m Medley relay, touching on 3:11.28. The event was won by Scoil Iognaid with St. Mary’s & St. Gerard’s, Enniskerry completing the podium in third. The girls had to settle for 4th place in the Freestyle relay 2:58.49 losing out narrowly to the team from Scoil Naoimh Eoin, 2:57.97.

The boys from St. Anthony’s also enjoyed success in the 12 & Under 200m Medley relay. The team Sonny Barrett, Rory McDonnell, William Egar and Sean O’Rourke posted 2:35.32. Sean O’Rourke on the final leg held off the chasing Andrew Dalton of Scoil Iognaid to claim that silver medal with Scoil Iognaid stopping the clock on 2:35.90. 

DOUBLE

The event was won by Willow Park on 2:31.39. The boys were rewarded with bronze at the Freestyle relay 2:20.94. Willow Park made it a double victory, Castle Park in 2nd and Scoil Iognaid again in 4th.

The senior team from Eglantine, Rachel McGrath, Sophie Sheehan, Emma Balili and Francesca Cipriano placed 6th at the Medley relay. Cara Buckley & Kathryn McKiernan joined Rachel & Sophie for the Freestyle relay and placed 7th overall.

Philippa Costello, Watergrasshill National School tied for 1st place in the heats of 50m backstroke posting 38.30, but a marginally slower time in the final yielded a 2nd place finish 38.91, losing out to Roisin Gannon, Gaelscoil na Gliuise 38.65. Philippa was the comfortable winner of the 50m butterfly touching on 36.01 ahead of Alexandra Egar, Eglantine 39.10. Philippa was joined by Eve Courtney, Ballintemple in the backstroke final. Eve placed 9th overall. Alexandra made it double silver when she touched on 34.07 at 50m freestyle 34.07 losing out to Gannon on 32.34.

Adam Kozak, Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown improved his third place in the heats with a 2.46 second PB to place 2nd in the 11-year-old 50m breaststroke 43.38. He placed 7th overall in the 100m IM 1:29.31. Schoolmate Victor Virlan placed 3rd at 50m freestyle 32.61 and was 5th overall in the 50m butterfly final 38.57.

Eoin Manson Gaelscoil Ui Drisceoil placed 3rd in the 11-year-old 50m backstroke final 39.12. He placed 10th overall in the 50m butterfly final.

Qualifying for the National Schools finals is a major achievement for these young rising stars, but to then qualify for the individual finals from the heats is remarkable. Others to make individual finals include, St. Anthony’s, Finn O’Dowd (9) 10th at 50m freestyle and Jack Cruise (10) 5th at 50m freestyle. Jack added an 8th place finish at 50m backstroke. Robyn Walsh, Carrigtwohill placed 7th in the nine-year-old 50m breaststroke and Panna Sipos, Midleton Educate Together placed 8th in the 10-year-old 50m breaststroke. Kristian Jakobsen, CBC placed 6th in the 10-year-old 50m butterfly.

Cillian Turner (11) Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhaigh narrowly missed out on a medal when he posted 1:25.31 in the 11-year-old 100m IM. William Egar, St. Anthony’s placed 5th overall in the 12-year-old 100m IM 1:19.76. He also placed 5th at 50m freestyle 30.81.

Sonny Barrett (12) St. Anthony’s placed 6th at 50m butterfly and 8th at 50m breaststroke. Una Casey (11) Douglas Educate Together placed 4th at 50m backstroke and 5th at 50m freestyle. Muirne McMahon (11) Knockskeagh placed 6th at 50m breaststroke. Rory McDonnell (11) St. Anthonys placed 4th at 50m breaststroke. Thomas Anglim (11) Bunscoil Rinn n Chabhaigh placed 9th at 50m breaststroke and Maylie Hoffmann (12) Eglantine placed 8th at 50m backstroke.