All Ireland Schools Cross Country

by Perri Williams

At one time in the lifetime of my juvenile athletics career, the six month long cross-country season cumulated with the All-Ireland Schools. Trips to Belfast, Sligo, Dublin and other locations were often the main attraction of reaching those events. These days in a much more global society, the travel is seen as more of an encumbrance than a thrill and the focus is without a doubt singularly on the race itself. For the minors it is the wide eyes wonder of innocent taking part in competition at yet another new level. The juniors and intermediates have a place on the Irish team for the SIAB international at stake. Then there are the seniors. So much attention is paid to the senior race, with half the athletes, worn out from the recent mock leaving cert and the other half at a distinct “freshness” advantage. Either way, if you want to go to the USA on scholarship, often it’s the race to grab someone’s attention. And there is that prestige of winning the senior schools title too.

One-hundred and nine years ago, the inaugural Irish schools cross-country was held and it is only fitting that this occasion is remembered as this year it returns to the same county as that inaugural event. Swapping Ballinasloe for Ballybrittas, the conditions will be equally cross-countryeque and the competition even more inclusive and competitive. Close to one-thousand athletes from the four corners of Ireland will take part. 

Top contenders in the minor girls are: Tara Hunt (Eureka) Ailbhe Finucane (Loreto Stephens Green), Chloe McCarthy (Carrigtowhill) who was a clear winner in Munster, Kate Kelly (Mount Lourdes Enniskillen) and Siún ní Chonaill (Coláiste Na Coiribe) will be there to challenge. The minor boys will be a competitive affair with Glenn Hughes (Shannon), Danny Davis (St Fintans HS), Jack Brennan (Patrician SS, Newbridge), Donal Coyle (Seamount, Kinvara) and Ciaran Smyth (St Colmans Newry) all vying for the top spots.

All eyes will be on the Junior girls and boys. It is hard to see past Darragh Whelan (Castletroy) with his more than convincing win in Munster. Unbeatable in his pre-Christmas age group All Irelands, he has both the credentials and the pedigree to see him coast to victory. Behind him there are nine more slots to fill for that Irish team. Madison Welby (Friends School Lisburn) will be the favourite for the Junior girls race. Welby like Whelan has earned the mantle of favourite with her credentials to date and with her main rivals the Renton twins one age above, she looks all clear to take the crown.

The Renton twins Freya and Holly will be in an interesting position. As first year intermediate, they face a challenge from girls sometimes two years their senior. Freya has an impeccable history already in her young career and was extremely impressive at the Celtic Cross Country in Leeds last month. She has never raced the brilliant Emer McKee (Our Lady and St Pats Knock), the prospect of the dual between the two might just prove to be the race of the day. The Connaught pair of Ciaran Considine and Luke Walsh who were 1,2 in the Nationals in Enniskillen, will face the older pair of Odhran McBrearty the winner of the the Ulster Cross Country and the runner-up Harry McKenzie. Charlie O’Neill (Belvedere) and David Wajark (St Mary’s Portlaoise) are likely to be in the mix too as is Andrew Hinds (Cork).

Last year Cormac Dixon was a power of strength from start to finish in the Senior boys and has been having a good freshman year at Providence College where he is now on Scholarship. Can Noah Harris (who has already been committee to Tennessee), Cillian Gleeson, Diarmuid Moloney (CBS Nenagh), Frank Buchannan (St Michaels, Enniskillen) or Francis Donoghue exhibit that same poise and confidence that defined Dixons 2024 victory? The Senior girls will have a lot to do to beat Emily Boton and Lorraine O’Connor but Saoire Twomey and Caoimhe Flannery will do everything they can to prove the might of Munster. Elsa Moore (Royal and Prior Raphoe) certainly won’t be giving an inch to the reputation of any athlete and will be intent on making her own mark. Niamh McWalter (Tuam) might have a few surprises up her sleeve.

None of this year’s seniors can emulate the exceptional feats of  Síofra Cléirigh Buttner and Sarah Healy. Cléirigh Buttner won the 2013 and 2014 senior schools titles. And Sarah Healy won the 2018 and 2019 titles. Both athletes ensured their names will be etched in the annals of schools’ athletics as they are the only two athletes to win six consecutive titles, with Healy being the first schools’ athlete ever to win titles in all four age categories. The cancellation of the Schools Cross Country in 2021 due to Covid has made sure for at least now, their feats remain unchallenged. 

For now we look forward to a great day of racing next Saturday in Galway.