It was a very special day indeed for St Aidan’s CBS and Clonliffe Harriers as the senior boys all Ireland schools cross country title was delivered to Whitehall courtesy of an exceptional team performance in Tymon Park today. The St Aidan’s senior team were not by any means favourites to take the senior boys cross country title, indeed recent injuries conspired to make that dream seem almost an impossibility, however the team put adversity well and truly behind them and put in exceptional performances to pull it out of the bag.
The Clonliffe Harriers contingent were inspired today, led home by Clonliffe Harriers junior athlete of the year Tom Breslin in an excellent 19th position, however it was the packing of the squad which delivered the title. Sam Murray 33rd, Devan Morrisey 34th and Rory Quill, putting injury concerns to one side, to make all the difference as 4th scorer in 35th position. A team score of 121 points deliver the title ahead of St Michaels of Enniskillen on127 points and St. Colemans Fermoy 131 points. The scoring 4 being were well backed up by Cillian Keegan, 39th, Jack McDonnell 70 seconds, Josh Mahon 75th and Cathal O’Neill 90th.
All Ireland schools titles, particularly at senior level, are hard to come by and are only as a result of dogged determination and sheer hard work by both the team and the coach, huge congratulations to the Clonliffe athletes on the team and of course to Clonliffe’s Alan O’Neill as the team coach and master of operations.
Great runs also today in Tymon by other Clonliffe athletes including in the senior race Lorcan Benjacar the 23rd and Matei Ursachi 26th.