2021 County Juvenile Un-Even Age Cross Country Championships

The second day of the County Juvenile Cross Country Championships took place in Galbally and for the 33 athletes who donned the green and gold, each one of them gave it their all to secure five individual medals and four sets of team medals.

Our star performers on the day proved to be our young Boys U/9 team who claimed the County Championship team title following great performances from all seven athletes, some of whom were running cross-country for the first time.  Over a testing course Senan Phelan ran a terrific race to finish 4^th with Darragh Maher hot on his heels in 6^th.  Fionn Phelan powered his way home in 18^th place with Daniel Delaney just two places behind in 20^th and these four combined to win the County title.  Geoffrey Morrissey, Zach Ryan, and Leo Cullen were also vital members of this team, and they came through for 23^rd, 29^th and 35^th respectively.  Well done to all seven athletes.  The Girls U/9 were also a very young team with first time competitors and in finishing 4^th club they showed their ability to mix it with the more seasoned campaigners.  Doireann Quinlan led them home in 14^th followed by Anna Concagh 21^st, Eva Maher 23^rd and Poppy Lyons 27^th.

The Girls U/11 were the next team to feature on the podium and with Caoimhe Slevin collecting an individual bronze medal following her 10^th placing this gave a great platform for the team.  Muireann Casey ran a great race to finish 11^th followed by Caoimhe Doyle in 13^th and Cathleen Cussen 22^nd to secure County silver team medals in 2^nd place.  Another vital athlete at this age group was Abbie Delaney who finished in 37^th place.  Five athletes took to the start of the Boys race with Bill O’Neill and Cathal O’Reilly mixing it with the best to claim 21^st and 25^th places respectively.  Gerard Delaney got up to take 30^th with Michael Doyle in 41^st and William Morrissey 49^th.  The boys finished 5^th in the club event.

Aisling O’Reilly collected her first individual medal with a great run for 6^th place in the Girls U/13 event and with the backing up of Ciara Joyce in 11^th, Ailis Concagh 15^th and Olive Spillane-Leane in 16^th the girls won the silver medals in the team event.  Laura Fogarty in 18^th and Maria Doyle in 20^th completed the club athletes in this race.  It was left to Dáithí Cussen to fly the flag for Moyne AC in the Boys U/13 race and he did his utmost claiming 30^th place overall.

The trio of boys at U/15 level, Adam Spillane-Leane, Adam Phelan and Bill Cussen all finished in the top ten following places of 6^th, 8^th, and 9^th respectively and with no teams supplying four athletes for a team, the awards went to teams of three and here the boys took the silver medals.  Our final athletes out on the course were Aaron Moore and Michael O’Mahoney who contested the Boys U/17 race.  Run in conjunction with the U/19 and Junior races it gave the athletes the extra edge in competitiveness with Aaron taking the bronze medal following his third place and Michael finishing 4th.

Cross country running is one of the toughest events in athletics and all our athletes deserve great praise for their performances. From our young 8-year-olds to our 16-year-olds you all did yourselves proud.  Thanks to all the parents and club members present on the day for all your support.  This proves invaluable to all the children.