7th March 2008
University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Co Antrim.
Home Stars Triumph
This was a happier day for Ciara Mageean at the All-Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Championships in Jordanstown on Saturday. The Assumption Ballynahinch athlete running in front of her supporters made up for the disappointment of last year to establish herself as the best prospect in middle distance running that has graced these championships for some time. Running in the Senior Girls’ race she moved effortlessly away from Eimear Black, Dominican Belfast, and Tekea Gebrezgi, St Dominic’s Cabra.
The Ulster Schools’ Champion, James O’Hare, St Patrick’s Downpatrick, was another local winner when he moved clear of John Travers, Inchicore VS, on the last lap to take the Senior Boys’ title. James, who was at the front all race, gradually wore down the opposition on the demanding 6,500m course.
The Intermediate Girls’ race was a close affair. Mary Mulhare, Presentation Portlaoise, has been the form runner all year but here she had her stiffest competition to date. She eventually pulled clear of a very determined Joanne Mills, Shimna Integrated, and Eva Laverty, Sacred Heart Newry.
Without the injured Shane Quinn, DLS Waterford, Jake Byrne, St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge, easily retained his title in the Intermediate Boys’ race. Ryan McDermott, Dromore High School, and Cian O’Reilly, St Patrick’s Cavan, fought out the minor places.
Both Junior Races had outstanding winners. All-Ireland Schools’ swimming champion Conor Turner, St Aidan’s CBS, showed maturity beyond his years when breaking each one of his challengers and easily taking his first All-Ireland running title. Thirteen year old Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner, Colaiste Iosagain, led from gun to tape in an extraordinary performance in the Junior Girls’ race.
JUNIOR GIRLS
1 Soifra Cleirigh-Buttner, Colaiste Iosagain
2. Ciara Hewson, Maynooth PPS
3. Aoife Keyes, Our Lady’s Templeogue
4 Linda Conroy, Mercy Kilbeggan
5 Blaithin Lynch, St Mary’s Midleton
6 Niamh de h’Ora, Pobal Scoil Corcha Duibhne
Teams
1 Colaiste Iosagain 41 points
2 Presentation Thurles 90 points
3 Our Lady’s Newry 95 points
Intermediate GIRLS
1 Mary Mulhare, Presentation Portlaoise
2. Joanne Mills, Shimna Integrated
3. Eva Laverty, Sacred Heart Newry
4 Catherina Mullen, St Aidan’s Comprehensive School
5 Kate Veale, St Augustine’s Dungarvan
6 Maire Aine NiShuilleabhain, Gael Colaiste Ceatharlach
Teams
1 Rainey Endowed 81 points
2 St Dominic’s Cabra 90 points
3 Ballyclare High School 95 points
SENIOR GIRLS
1 Ciara Mageean, Assumption Ballynahinch
2. Eimear Black, Dominican Belfast
3. Tekea Gebrezgi, St Dominic’s Cabra
4 Laura Shaughnessy, Loughrea VS
5 Deirdre Doyle, St Leo’s Carlow
6 Grace Sweeney, Loreto Foxrock
Teams
1 Loreto Foxrock 50 points
2 St Dominic’s Cabra 56 points
3 Assumption Ballynahinch 76 points
JUNIOR BOYS
1 Conor Turner, St Aidan’s CBS
2. Sean Tobin, High School Clonmel
3. Rory Finnegan, St Eunan’s Letterkenny
4 Shane Fitzsimons, St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge
5 Graham Power, Presentation Carlow
6 Ian O’Hairtnead, Colaiste Daibhead
Teams
1 St Michael’s Enniskillen 103 points
2 High School Clonmel 124 points
3 St Aidan’s CBS 154 points
INTERMEDIATE BOYS
1 Jake Byrne, St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge
2. Ryan McDermott, Dromore High School
3. Cian O’Reilly, St Patrick’s Cavan
4 Stephen Kerr, St Patrick’s Armagh
5 Daniel Murray, St Joseph’s Foxford
6 Danny Mullins, St Goban’s Bantry
Teams
1 Douglas Community School 87 points
2 Knockbeg College 91 points
3 St Macartan’s Monaghan 147 points
SENIOR BOYS
1 James O’Hare, St Patrick’s Downpatrick
2. John Travers, Inchicore Vocational School
3. Chris Jones, St Fintan’s Sutton
4 Emmet Jennings, Oatlands College
5 Liam Tremble, Coolmine Community School
6 Dan King, St Eunan’s Letterkenny
Teams
1 St Eunan’s Letterkenny 40 points
2 St Aidan’s CBS 98 points
3 St Fintan’s Sutton 120 points