*Photograph: Ramsey Cardy / Sportsfile
ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE took the team gold in the senior boy’s race at the Irish Life Health All Ireland Schools Championships.
Over 900 athletes represented their schools in the city of Belfast on Saturday in what was a thrilling eight race schedule.
Ennis’ Dean Casey claimed second spot in the senior boys 6500m just behind fellow U20 European cross country silver medallist, Scott Fagan of Castleknock CC. Casey’s second would ensure St Flannan’s secured the team gold, backed up by an impressive team performance which saw Niall Murphy in third and his brother Dylan in fifth. Barry Conway (18th), Cian O’Boyle (29th) and Thomas McGuire (40th) also produced good finishes to bring gold back to the Banner County.
Peter Farrell was also on the podium for St Flannan’s, he was in the intermediate boy’s race and took third spot battling off with Lughaigh Mallon (Rathmore Grammar School, Belfast) and Sean Lawton (Colaiste Pobail Bantry) to the finish line.
Coláiste Muire were the second best placed team in the minor girl’s event following the showings of Emily Singleton (5th), Aoife Keane (20th), Sarah Crowe (43rd), Lauren Shannon (72nd) and Maebh Kelly (77th). The school had the third best combined showing in the intermediate girls race where they were represented by Louise O’Mahony (5th), Aimee Barrett (37th), Grace Rynne (38th), Michele Healy (45th), Nicole Keane (50th) and Lucy Power (55th).
In the junior boys, St Flannan’s College were the third best overall team with Simon Farrell (8th), Patrick Thynne (37th), Aodan Ó Lachtnain (44th) and Jack Dilleen (50th) representing the Ennis school.
All photographs by Ramsey Cardy.
