Munster Minor Schools Swimming Championships at UL are a huge success
St. Anthony's U10 Relay. Louis Nathan, Jake O'Callaghan, Billy McGrath & Finn O'Dowd won silver in both Freestyle & Medley Relays at the Munster Minor Schools Championships. Pictured with Paralympian Roisin Ni Riain. Photo: Robert Cussen
The University of Limerick played host to an action-packed day of swimming at the Munster Minor Schools Championships recently.
Young athletes from across the province came together to represent their schools in a highly competitive yet friendly atmosphere. The event, open to all primary school children, welcomed both club-trained swimmers and those who simply enjoy swimming for fun.
The competition was divided into two sessions, with the 11 & 12-year-olds competing in the morning and the younger 9 & 10-year-olds taking to the pool in the afternoon. The spirit of camaraderie was evident throughout the event, as swimmers set aside club rivalries to join forces for their respective schools.
Paralympian and RTÉ Young Sports Star of the Year, Róisín Ní Riain was present on the day to encourage the young stars of the future and to present medals.
The atmosphere was electric as students cheered on their teammates, creating an unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators. The boys from St. Anthonys won double gold in the 11-12 200m Medley & Freestyle relays.
They were joined on both podiums by the boys from Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh.
The boys from CBC placed 4th in the Medley relay. The boys from St. Anthonys won double silver in the younger 9-10 200m Medley & Freestyle relays.
Two local Cork City schools, Scoil Bride, Eglantine and Our Lady of Lourdes were prominent in the 9-10 relays. Eglantine secured gold in both the 200m Medley and Freestyle with Our Lady of Lourdes ensuring the silver also came to Cork in both. In the older age group, Eglantine placed 2nd in the Freestyle relay with Our Lady of Lourdes in 3rd but both dropped a place in the Medley, with Eglantine in 3rd.
On an individual basis, four of the finals produced top three Cork based swimmers. Philippa Costello, Watergrasshill, topped the 11 year old 50m butterfly final. She was joined on the podium by Kaya Deasy, Our Lady of Lourdes and Ruby Hennessy, Cloghroe. Costello added a second gold at 100m IM after an exciting race with Alexandra Egar, Eglantine Girls. Costello held on to clinch the win 1:21.14 with Egar narrowly missing out on what would have been her second gold of the day, touching on 1:21.28. Egar had secured gold at 50m freestyle earlier. Olivia Roche, Glantane NS placed 3rd in the IM final, having earlier won bronze at 50m breaststroke.
St Anthonys boys claimed the top two places in the 12 year old 50m breaststroke final. Rory McDonnell touched first on 42.84 closely followed by Tadgh O’Dowd 43.76. Conor Dunne of Killavullen NS completed the podium for Cork on 44.49. Dunne added silver at 100m IM.
The fourth all Cork podium came in the 12 year old boys 50m butterfly. Frederic Tuytten, Midleton Educate Together was first home 37.22. Oisin O’Donnell of Bishop Aherne NS, Leamlara was 2nd and Oscar O’Riordan, CBC completed the podium.
Maisie Barrett, Our Lady of Lourdes was the star performer for Cork in the 9 year old age group as she collected two gold medals at 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke. Others to medal in the 9 & 10 age groups include Iris Tobin & Hazel O’Rourke, Eglantine Girls; Fionn O’Dowd, St. Anthonys; Jacob O’Connor & Diarmuid Gillard, Gaelscoil na Duglaise; Kiera Pavluck & John Burke, Douglas Educate Together and Robyn Walsh, Carrigtwohill NS.
Medallists in the 11 & 12 age groups included Una Casey, Carrs Hill; Jack Cruise. St. Antonys; Rebecca Sheehan, Eglantine Girls; Alicja Szyszka, Convent Primary Mallow; Muirne McMahon, Knockskeagh, Clonakilty; Kristian Jakobsen, CBC; Eoin Manson, Gaelscoil Ui Drisceoil and Eimear Burke, Douglas Rochestown Educate Together.
Beyond the excitement and personal achievements, the championships served as a crucial qualifier for the National Minor Schools Championships, set to take place in Dublin this March.
Best of luck to those who qualified for the nationals – Dublin awaits!
For full results visit https://www.swimmunster.ie/munsterswimming/__eventform__/60061_5a2406a3-07e9-4bf0-b696-2ddd5e3265da.pdf for the 11 & 12 year olds and/or https://www.swimmunster.ie/munsterswimming/__eventform__/60062_4ccf2689-cc0b-4b81-a606-b93eb4ab8c11.pdf for the 9 & 10 year old results.
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