All-Ireland Novice Titles for Sean McGinley (Finn Valley) and Abbie Sheridan (St Peters) at Tramore

by Perri Williams

Another exciting day of Cross-Country running at the National Novice and Juvenile uneven ages. Held on Tramore Racecourse with the Atlantic Ocean providing a backdrop, it was a course that was tough but well laid out. Host club Tramore AC left no stone unturned in their meticulous organization. Once again large fields featured in the Novice race as 217 men finished the race. Sean McGinley (Finn Valley AC) had his best race this year as he took gold in the men’s novice. Pushed all the way by Oisin Murray (An Riocht) and Daniel Ryan Ellis (Nenagh), it was only towards the latter half of the final lap that the Donegal man made his break. Pushing hard up the final hill, McGinley showed both power and courage and reminded us all of the reason finished 12th and helped Ireland to a team silver in the 2022 European Cross Country In Italy.
A delighted McGinley stated afterwards “I felt strong throughout the race and coming off a good block of training I knew I was in good shape. It was a tough course out there but I am delighted to be back running at my best”. A group of six athletes formed a lead group for most of the 6000m race. It looked like Eanna O’Bradaigh (DSD) might be the man break away as he looked comfortable in the middle of the group. However the DSD man was not able to cover McGinley’s break and faded into sixth. Ennis Track won the team title with Nenagh in second and Lagan Valley in third.
The ladies race was won by Abbie Sheridan (St Peter’s AC) who was somewhat shocked to be in the gold medal position. “I can’t believe I won; I wasn’t ready for this” she stated. The race was dominated by Sheridan, Hannah Kehoe (KCH) and Sadhbh Moran (MSB) who exchanged leads several times throughout the 4000m race. Behind them Laura Cooney (Clonmel) was showing some great form. Ennis Track made it a novice double when Laura Healy led them home to the gold. Leevale were second and Togher third. Interestingly enough none of the top three teams had an athlete in the top ten.

Girls and Boys u19
Dearbhla Allen (St Peters) took the lead for the u19 5000m race. Allen was followed by Lorraine O;Connor (Clonliffe) and Eimear Cooney (Ace). Behind them heading the chasing group was the 2024 European u18 800m finalist Pia Langton (KCH). The final 500m produced a dramatic turn of events. As the push for home intensified, Allen found herself dropping back unable to keep with the pace. It was O’Connor who took up the mantle of the leader. Looking confident and controlled she crossed the line to claim her first national title. Behind her Langton produced a blistering final 200m to take silver with Eimear Cooney retaining her third position. Clonliffe won the team title from Mullingar and St Senans.
The boys u19 was dominated by Caolan McFadden (Cranford) and Cillian Gleeson (Celbridge) as the duo pulled away from the rest of the field in the early stages. Gleeson tried hard to make some distance between himself and the Donegal man, knowing McFaddan has a killer kick at the end of a cross-country race. However McFaddan looked easier on the hills than Gleeson. It was this ease with hilly terrain that eventually proved to be McFadden’s strength as he glided with ease up the final hill to the finishing straight. He took the gold with Gleeson in second and Ruairi McEvoy (KCH) producing an excellent final lap to work his way into the bronze medal position. His first top three placing ever. Clonliffe made it an u19 double, taking the team title from DSD with Finn Valley in third.

Girls and Boys u17
Emily Bolton (Clonliffe) proved that her less than usual performance in Enniskillen two weeks ago was just a glitch. Bolton looked more her usual self as she took command of the race, kicking for home over the final few hundred meters, as is her customary style. Emer McKee (Willowfield) was second with Dubliner Megan Blunt in third. The boys u17 was no surprise as the in-form Harry McKenzie (Enniskillen) was crowned champion. Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley) demonstrated more of the Cross-country form that we saw last year in taking the silver. The most improved athlete in the race was Harry Cahill (Donore) who claimed his first ever top three place.

Girls and Boys u15
As expected, it was Freya Renton (Westport) who took the girls u15 title. Renton has won every cross-country nationals in and out of age, since she took her first title as an u10 winning the u11 race six years ago. This time it was Madison Welby (City of Lisburn) who snatched the silver from Holly Renton (Westport). Westport AC won the club title. Darragh Whelan had another superb victory as he took the gold. Like Renton, Whelan made it a double victory this cross-country season, taking both in and out of age titles. He emulated the same feat achieved by his mother Susan Murnane back in 1989 when she too took the u14 and u15 All-Ireland crown. Ehtan Bramhill (Greystones) took silver from Adam Noonan (Templeogue), who secured the bronze despite straining his hamstring over the final 200m. DSD won the club team from Templeogue and St Colmans.

u11s and 13s were magnificient
Sinead Fitzpatrick (St Abbans) demonstrated an iron will as she took the gold in the girls u13. Second two weeks ago in Enniskillen, Fitzpatrick cast off challenge after challenge from Ailbhe Finucane (Templeogue) and Roxanne Sands (Moy Valley). The boys u13 race was anyone’s to claim as about eight athletes formed the leading group. Stephen Geraghty (Ennis Track) took the gold from Daniel Greene (KCH) with Darragh Steels (Sligo) in third.
The u11 races are always the ones that produce surprises. Being the first All-Ireland for most athletes, it is impossible to predict who will win. Today in Tramore it was Auden Bambury (Leevale) who took the boys title with Quinn Hughes (Ennis Track) taking the girl’s title.
Overall once again there was big numbers in all the races, despite the very southern location. A good sign that competitive athletics is alive and well in Ireland.