Munster Schools Cross-Country event at Tramore Valley Park was a huge success

Heavy overnight rain made conditions extremely difficult for the 700 or so competitors at the 123.ie Munster Schools Cross-Country at Tramore Valley Park. 

However, the sunshine was welcomed by the large attendance who witnessed some fine individual performances.

Held at the same venue in Cork as the South Munsters two weeks before, a number of winners from that day didn’t fare so well on this occasion.

A well-paced effort by Saoirse Twomey from St Mary’s, Macroom, saw her take the senior girls title over 3000m. 

Caoimhe Flannery (Skibbereen CS) had opened up a big lead on the first of the two laps but at the finish it was Twomey who prevailed over Flannery, a repeat of the South Munsters two weeks before.

“Caoimhe had a big lead on me, I didn’t think I’d catch her,” admitted Twomey who had finished fourth in this race last year. 

“I caught her on the hill, it was very mucky but we train in those conditions so we’ll look forward now to the All-Irelands.” 

 Finnian Lawton of Scoil Mhuire, Ballingeary, an easy winner at the South Munsters, had to settle for third over a strength-sapping 6000m senior boys race behind Diarmuid Molony (Nenagh CBS) and Naoise MacMurchadha (Scoil Mhuire, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh).

The boys intermediate 5000m saw Finn Yore from De La Salle, Macroom, another South Munsters winner, having to give best to Andre Hinds (PBC, Cork), who had finished third two weeks previously.

“I’ve never ran a course like that, it was incredible it was so mucky,” said winner Hinds, a member of the Togher club where he is coached by Martin Casey. 

“I thought Finn had me the whole race but I just had a bit left in me in the last lap.” 

 In a close team race, Douglas CS just got the better of PBC by one point, 77 to 78, with De La Salle, Macroom third on 91.

In the junior boys race, PBC were successful with a clear win over Kinsale CS. 

Another close team contest resulted in St Angela’s, Cork, defeating Loreto, Fermoy, by a single point in the intermediate girls race.

Another exciting individual finish saw Belgooly athlete Nellie Bateman (Mount Mercy, Cork) defeating Saoirse Ferguson (St Angela’s, Waterford) by just a second in the junior girls 2500m.

The opening race of the day, the minors girls 2000m, resulted in a clear victory for Chloe McCarthy of St Aloysius, Carrigtwohill. 

However, St Alys were unlucky in the senior girls decider, losing out by a point to Abbey CC.

The first three teams in each grade and any athlete who finished in the first 15 in each race qualified for the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools Championships which take place at Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway on Saturday March 8.