ATHLETICS | St Peter’s U14 boys are crowned county champions in Darver
Dromiskin club pips Boyne AC to team gold medal
The Louth Cross Country season kicked off with the novice men and women’s races and the even age races for juveniles last Sunday.
St Peter’s AC hosted the event, on behalf of Athletics Louth, in the perfect setting of the Louth GAA Centre of Excellence in Darver.
Harry O’Reilly had an excellent run in the boys U12 race where, despite running out of his age, he finished in a brilliant third place.
Harry also led home the St Peters U12 team who all ran really well to finish second while Cormac McKeown responded to his late call up to closely follow Harry. Just behind him was Padraic Tinnelly and Ben McKeown.
The boys U14 team had a great showing with six athletes on the start line and from the outset it was clear that the team battle would be close between them and Boyne AC.
The St Peter’s athletes worked well together and their teamwork paid off as they became county champions with just two points to spare.
The team was led home by Cian Gorham, followed by Sean Allen, Mark Litchfield, Rory McLoughlin, Dean Murtagh and Calum Grant.
The girls U14 race was also keenly contested with all bar one of the St Peter’s team eligible to run at U13 level. The whole team did really well over the 3000m course and were led home by Niamh Brady, closely followed by Lucy Smyth, Dearbhla Tinnelly, Judith Bell and Niamh Fanning.
The girls U10 races started the Juvenile Championship proceedings and St Peter’s had a mainly inexperienced team that will have gained valuable experience. The team consisted of Orla McLoughlin, Catherine Carey, Emily and Hannah O’Reilly and Mia Finnegan.
The girls U12 race, which was run over a 2000m course, saw Dearbhla Allen, who was running out of age, have an excellent run to lead the team home with a fifth place finish. Dearbhla was followed on the team by Ellie Smyth, Isabeal Fitzpatrick, Lucy Brennan and Abbey Fanning.
The girls faced heartbreak when the team results were tallied as the were level on points with second and third place but unfortunately lost out on count back and had to settle for fourth.
Juveniles
The juvenile programme commenced with a non championship U8 race that was hosted by St Peter’s AC.
Niamh Allen represented the girls with Liam McKeown and Cain Murtagh doing likewise in the boys race with all three doing the club proud.
Novice Race
The busy programme of events commenced with the ladies novice race which was run over 3000m.
St Peter’s AC had a team in action and all of the women ran really well and set a great example for the club’s younger athletes.
The team was led home by Catriona McKeown, closely followed by Roisin Renehen, Patrica Smyth, Elizibeth Fitzpatrick and Maria Duffy.
On Sunday, day two of the Louth Cross Country Championships takes place at DkIT where the intermediate races will take place for the adults and uneven age races for the juveniles.
