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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