St. Aidan’s come out on top at Brother Clonliffe Schools XC

Congratulations to the boys of St. Aidan’s CBS in Whitehall who won the Lar Byrne Memorial Shield as best overall school at yesterdays Brother at your side Clonliffe Schools Invitational Cross Country held in Santry Demesne. The St. Aidan’s win came courtesy of an emphatic win in the inter boys race, 2nd in the junior boys and third in the senior boys. St. Aidan’s of course were also best boys secondary school. In the girls secondary school Colaiste Iosagain were once again on top courtesy of winning the senior girls race and finishing 3rd in both the inter girls race and minor girls races.

It was a superb days cross country at Santry Demesne with record numbers in all races as this event continues, thanks in particular to the involvement of Brother, to go from strength to strength. In a matter of four short years the numbers participating have increased by over 100% as the event’s reputation grows attracting more and more schools on an annual basis. This year it was particularly pleasing to see the return to the Clonliffe Schools Invitational of St. Malachy’s College Belfast. When this race originally commenced back in the late 1970s, as instigated by Laro Byrne St. Malachy’s were the dominant force winning the best overall school for the first three successive years. The boys and girls who participated yesterday must be commended for their sporting endeavours and their sportsmanship throughout. There were huge numbers in most of the events, in particular the minor boys 1500m race which had a field of nearly 250 starters with 19 schools fielding full teams.

It was also very pleasing to see the sheer numbers participating in the secondary school girls races, the minor girls race attracting nearly 200 athletes and the junior girls attracting nearly 140 athletes, again with huge representation from the schools taking part, there were 18 teams participating in the minor girls 1000 metre race.

The event commenced with the primary schools races, firstly the girls 1000m race, again a big field in this of nearly 140, a race which produced a clear winner Corrine Kenny (Bun Scoil Loreto) from Emily Murphy (Mary Help of Christians) and Claire Doyle (Mount Anville). Emily Murphy in 2nd place led Mary Help of Christians to an excellent win on 22 points from St. Vincent de Paul Girls School on 48 points and Dublin 7 Educate Together 3rd at 54 points.

A field of almost 150 lined up for the primary schools boys 1000m race with Belfast visitor Lewis McGarvey (St. Malachy’s) a fine winner ahead of Jordan Hynes (St. Brigid’s) and Billy Brennan (Dublin Educate Together). In the team competition St. Brigid’s prevailed on 21 points from St. Joseph’s BNS on 68 points and St. Malachy’s Belfast 103.

The eagerly awaited secondary school competition commenced at 1 p.m. sharp with nearly 200 athletes lining up for the minor girls race representing some 18 different schools. The race winner was Sarah Healy (Holy Child School Kiliney) from Petra Reilly (Dunshaughlin Community College) and Sarah Whelan (Skerries Community College) 3rd. In the team competition Mount Sackville packed extremely well with three athletes in the first 10 to take a comprehensive win on 40 points from Dunshaughlin Community College 2nd and Colaiste Iosagain 3rd.

The biggest field of the day then lined up for the minor boys 1500 metre race and what a sight it was to see nearly 250 athletes thunder down the starting straight before funnelling in around the trees at the rear of the stadium and heading off into the country as they faced the big lap of Santry Demesne including the dreaded hill at the walled garden. Jack Moran (Colaiste Mhuire) led the field home to take a win from Blackrock’s Mark Fitzgibbon and from Presentation College Carlow David Ward 3rd. Some super packing from the St. Patrick’s Classical Navan Squad saw them trounce the opposition, Pat’s placing 4th, 6th, 8th and 12th to win on 30 points from Willow Park 63 and Presentation College Carlow on 67.

Next up were the junior girls facing 2000 metres – 2 of the 1000 metre laps, another fine performance in this race from a Presentation College Carlow athlete as Laura Ward took the win from Jodie McCann (Rathdown) and Martha Ni Riada (Dunshaughlin Community College) 3rd. In the team competition it was tight enough, however, Rathdown courtesy of 2nd, 15th, 16th and 19th won on 42 points from Holy Child Kiliney on 46 and Holy Faith Clontarf on 52.

The Junior boys faced a race distance of 2500 metres – a 1000 metre lap followed by a 1500 metre lap. All Ireland Schools Cross Country Champion Paddy Maher justified his pre race favourite tag with a fine win for Dunshaughlin Community College, the James Maguire (St. Benildus) a Niall Harvey of Presentation College Carlow. Colaiste Mhuire made the journey from Mullingar well worth while to take a comfortable win with four scorers in the top ten, for a total of 28 points from Whitehall outfit St. Aidan’s on 88 points and Dunshaughlin Community College 92.

In the secondary school girls intermediate race over 2500 metres Skerries pairing Isabel Carron and Rhona Pierce dominated as expected with the All Ireland Schools Cross Country Champion Isabel Karin taking a fine win from her school and clubmate Rhona Pierce 2nd with Helen Honnes 3rd. Skerries took the team win with 54 points from St. Dominics College Cabra 57 and Colaiste Iosagain 3rd on 67 points.

The intermediate boys race was a cracker featuring a fine battle between St. Aidan’s and Clonliffe pairing Cathal Doyle and Adam O’Brien along with Mustafe Nasir (Holy Family Community School), coming towards the end of the 3000 metre race as they headed back into the main arena Cathal Doyle was a clear winner to take a fine win from the hard chasing Adam O’Brien with Mustafe 3rd. The St. Aidan’s team were extremely powerful and with a low score of 17 points courtesy of Cathal Doyle 1st, Adam O’Brien 2nd, Joseph Hession 6th and Sean Carrick 8th for a final score of 17 points were well clear of St. Malachy’s College Belfast 45 and Blackrock College on 108.

The senior girls competed over 2500 metres, Isabelle Odlum (Rathdown) was well clear in 1st, however, an intriguing three way battle for the final two places ensued heading into the finishing straight, the proverbial blanket could have been thrown over 2nd, 3rd and 4th, however, in the dash for the line Cliona Murphy (St. Dominics) was 2nd with Doireanni Mhaoileannaigh (Colaiste Iosagain) 3rd with Laura Tuite (Our Lady of Mercy College Beaumont) just missing out on the line in 4th place. Colaiste Iosagain were the dominant school in the senior race winning from St. Dominics and Muckross.

The final race of the day was the senior boys 5000 metre race. This was a fantastic race featuring half a dozen international athletes at the sharp end of the field. The top half dozen athletes were together until about half way, the tack was then broke down to four and with Killian Kirwin (St. Fintan’s) applying the pressure he broke away to take a fine win from Perre Murchan (St. Declan’s College) 2nd and Jack MacGabhann (St. Mary’s) 3rd. St. Fintan’s High School Sutton were the dominant force in the team competition with 1st, 4th, 8th and 28th to take a final win from Blackrock 2nd and St. Aidan’s 3rd.

Full results 2013 Brother at your side Clonliffe Schools XC.

 Primary School Girls – 1000m

 Individual

1st Corrine Kenny (Bun Scoil Loreto)

2nd Emily Murphy (Mary Help of Christians)

3rd Claire Doyle (Mount Anville)

 Teams

 1st Mary Help of Christians 22 points

2nd St. Vincent de Paul 48 points

3rd Dublin 7 Educate Together 54 points

4th Scoil Aine 68 points

5th Mount Anville 73 points

6th Scoil San Carlo 165 points

7th St. Catherine’s 166 points

8th Holy Child Whitehall 184 points

9th St. Francis Xavier 227 points

10th St. Gerard’s Junior School 228 points

11th Sutton Park School 231 points

 Primary School Boys – 1000m

 Individual

 1st Lewis McGarvey (St. Malachy’s Belfast)

2nd Jordan Hynes (St. Brigid’s)

3rd Billy Brennan (Dublin 7 Educate Together)

 Teams

 1st St. Brigid’s 21 points

2nd St. Joseph’s BNS 68 points

3rd St. Malachy’s College Belfast 103 points

4th Dublin 7 Educate Together 106 points

5th St. John Bosco 108 points

6th Star of the Sea BNS 116 points

7th St. Francis Xavier 139 points

8th Willow Park Junior School 146 points

9th Holy Child Larkhill 178 points

10th Scoil San Carlo 284 points

11th St. Gerard’s Junior School 328 points

12th Sutton Park School 437 points

 Secondary Schools

 Minor Girls – 1000m

 Individual

 1st Sarah Healy (High School Kiliney)

2nd Petra Reilly (Dunshaughlin Community College)

3rd Sarah Whelan (Skerries Community College)

 Teams

 1st Mount Sackville 40 points

2nd Dunshaughlin Community College 90 points

3rd Colaiste Iosagain 95 points

4th Holy Child Kiliney 112 points

5th St. Gerard’s Bray 117 points

6th Loreto Dalkey 120 points

7th Rathdown School 141 points

8th St. Dominics College 170 points

9th Skerries Community College 174 points

10th Muckross 194 points

11th Holy Faith Clontarf 202 points

12th High School Rathgar 210 points

13th St. Colmcille’s Community School 249 points

14th Presentation College Carlow 291 points

15th Our Lady’s College Greenhills 354 points

16th Our Lady of Mercy College Beaumont 483 points

17th Sancta Maria 506 points

 Junior Girls 2000 metres

 Individual:

 1st Laura Ward (Presentation College Carlow)

2nd Jodie McCann (Rathdown)

3rd Martha Ni Riada (Dunshaughlin Community College)

 Teams

 1st Rathdown School 42 points

2nd Holy Child Kiliney 46 points

3rd Holy Faith Clontarf 52 points

4th Loreto Dalkey 59 points

5th St. Gerard’s Bray 65 points

6th Loreto Balbriggan 107 points

7th Colaiste Iosagain 116 points

8th Muckross 151 points

9th Our Lady’s College Greenhills 243 points

10th Mount Sackville 278 points

11th Sancta Maria 344 points

 Intermediate Girls – 2500 metres

 Individual

 1st Isabel Carron (Skerries Community College)

2nd Rhona Pierce (Skerries Community College)

3rd Helen Honnes (St. Mary’s)

 Teams

 1st Skerries Community College 54 points

2nd St. Dominics 57 points

3rd Colaiste Iosagain 67 points

4th Muckross 84 points

5th High School Rathgar 139 points

6th Our Lady’s College Greenhills 195 points

7th Holy Faith Clontarf 231 points

8th Sancta Maria 235 points

 Senior Girls – 2500 metres

 Individual

 1st Isabelle Odlum (Rathdown)

2nd Cliona Murphy (St. Dominics)

3rd Deireanni Mhaoileannaigh (Colaiste Iosagain)

 Teams

 1st Colaiste Iosagain 39 points

2nd St. Dominics Cabra 54 points

3rd Muckross 70 points

 Best overall girls secondary school: Colaiste Iosagain

 Secondary School Boys

 Minor Boys – 1500 metres

 1st Jack Moran (Colaiste Eoin)

2nd Mark Fitzgibbon (Blackrock)

3rd David Ward (Presentation College Carlow)

 Teams

 1st St. Patrick’s Classical Navan 30 points

2nd Willow Park Junior School 63 points

3rd Presentation College Carlow 67 points

4th Colaiste Mhuire 68 points

5th St. Malachy’s College 84 points

6th Colaiste Eoin 86 points

7th Dunshaughlin Community College 90 points

8th St. Aidan’s CBS 100 points

9th St. David’s 198 points

10th Belvedere College 227 points

11th St. Gerard’s Bray 281 points

12th Holy Family Community School 293 points

13th Templeogue College 319 points

14th St. Fintan’s High School 320 points

15th St. Declan’s 371 points

16th Drimnagh Castle Secondary School 395 points

17th St. Benildus 396 points

18th Knockbeg 441 points

19th St. Colmcille’s 516 points

 Junior Boys 2500 metres

 Individual

 1st Paddy Maher (Dunshaughlin Community College)

2nd James Maguire (St. Benildus)

3rd Niall Harvey (Presentation College Carlow)

 Teams

 1st Colaiste Mhuire 28 points

2nd St. Aidan’s 88 points

3rd Dunshaughlin Community College 92 points

4th Knockbeg 98 points

5th St. Declan’s 113 points

6th Templeogue 114 points

7th St. Benildus 116 points

8th St. Patrick’s Classical Navan 116 points

9th Presentation College Carlow 119 points

10th Blackrock College 171 points

11th St. Fintan’s High School 201 points

12th Colaiste Eoin 226 points

13th St. Colmcille 227 points

14th Drimnagh Castle Secondary School 256 points

15th Belvedere College 289 points

16th St. David’s 421 points

 Intermediate Boys 3000 metres

 Individuals

 1st Cathal Doyle (St. Aidan’s)

2nd Adam O’Brien (St. Aidan’s)

3rd Mustafe Nasir (Holy Family Community School)

 Teams

 1st St. Aidan’s 17 points

2nd St. Malachy’s Belfast 45 points

3rd Blackrock College 108 points

4th Holy Family Community College 113 points

5th St. Fintan’s High School 133 points

6th St. Patrick’s Classical Navan 135 points

7th Belvedere College 141 points

8th Colaiste Eoin 150 points

9th Colaiste Mhuire 193 points

10th Templeogue College 194 points

11th St. Michael’s 241 points

12th High School Rathgar 253 points

13th St. Benildus 254 points

14th St. David’s 316 points

 Senior Boys 5000 metres

 Individuals

 1st Killian Kirwin (St. Fintan’s High School)

2nd Perre Murchan (St. Declan’s)

3rd Jack MacGabhann (St. Mary’s)

 Teams

 1st St. Fintan’s High School 41 points

2nd Blackrock College 73 points

3rd St. Aidan’s 87 points

4th St. Colmcille 109 points

5th Belvedere College 115 points

6th St. Declan’s 127 points

 Best Overall Boys Secondary School – St. Aidan CBS

Winners of Lar Byrne Memorial Shield for best overall school: St. Aidan CBS, Whitehall

Clonliffe Harriers would like to thank sincerely our wonderful sponsor of this fantastic event Brother Ireland, Fingal County Council for their co-operation with the running of the event and for the use of Santry Demesne Parkland, Morton Stadium, An Garda Siochana and all the young athletes for their sporting behaviour and endeavours.

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