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28 November, 2009

2001 Dairygold Munster Schools Championships
A major success!
The 2nd Annual Dairygold Munster Schools Mountain Running Championships which took place on Mount Clara, Millstreet on St, Valentine?s Day were a great success.
This competition very obviously has fired the imagination of 2nd level schools throughout Munster as they turned out in strength for the Millstreet event for the second year in succession. Competition was as keen as mustard in each age category with powerful support from parents and teachers alike.
The John Lenihan designed course which varied from last years one for safety reasons, met with the approval of one and all. The course was extremely well marked and stewarded by members of Riocht A.C. led by John Lenihan, Desmond Currans A.C. led by John Barrett, Duhallow A.C. led by Donie Shine and Ballyhoura Athletics by Pa O?Regan. Safety Officer was John O?Sullivan of Duhallow Wheelers C.C. Entries were efficiently handled by Pat Murphy Munster Secretary I.M.R.A., and Jer Twomey, Munster P.R.O. I.M.R.A. The day went by without a hitch.
There were powerful performances from Colaiste Chriost Ri under the guidance of Dave Cole, St. Brigids, Killarney led by Mike Horan and V.E.C. Abbeyfeale under the sharp eye of Jack Brislane, none of which gave any quarter on the day.
The Individual Stars of Tomorrow
Arthur Fitzgerald of Colaiste Phadraig, Castleisland put on a devastating performance in the Senior Boys despite taking a heavy fall and finished well clear of the competitive Tadhg O?Callaghan of Colaiste Chriost Ri (Silver) to take the individual Gold. Mark Lehane of Hamilton High School Bandon took the Bronze.
The experienced Margaret O?Connor of St Brigids, Killarney rose to the top to take Gold in the Senior Girls category from Stacey Healy of V.E.C. Abbeyfeale (Silver) with Margaret?s team mate Tara O?Leary taking the Bronze.
Aisling Geary of Presentation Bandon caused the upset of the day when she eclipsed the hot favourite Ellen Fitzgerald of Presentation Tralee in the Intermediate Girls race. Retribution is promised here in the Irish Schools Championships at St. Columba?s , Rathfarnham on March 14th. The cool Mairead Lane of V.E.C. Abbeyfeale took the Bronze in this category.
The might of Colaiste Chriost Ri was clearly evidenced in the Junior Boys category with an individual 1-2-3 by Jack Cairns, Kieran McCarthy and Eric Cotter respectively and the school took Gold and Bronze in the Team category.
Mark Lehane of Douglas C.C. had a spectacular run in the Intermediate Boys race which had a lot of the hallmarks of his by now famous former schoolmate Niall Duncan in the Seniors last year. We see a bright future on the higher altitude for this classy young athlete. Strong promise was shown in this category also by Mark McCarthy of Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney and Paidi O Se of Colaiste Chriost Ri
Competition For The Fr. Higgins Cup Went Down To The Wire!
Competition was so keen for the Fr. Higgins Perpetual Memorial Cup that a were single point determined Colaiste Chriost Ri as winners over the holders St. Brigids, Killarney with V.E.C. Abbeyfeale just another single point behind. All in all it was a wonderful days sport on majestic Clara in beautiful weather conditions. The organisers wish to thank the main sponsor Dairygold, Kathleen O?Riordan and Millstreet G.A.A. for their hospitality, the landowners and the print and sound media without whose help the event could not be held.
Dairygold / I.M.R.A. Munster Schools Results
Junior Girls
1. Natalie McSweeney St. Brigids, Killarney
2. Michelle Brosnahan V.E.C. Abbeyfeale
3. Una Lynch Castleisland Community College
Teams
1. St. Brigids, Killarney (1,5,7,10) 23pts
2. Castleisland Community College (3,4,9,12) 28pts
3. V.E.C. Abbeyfeale (2,6,15,22) 45pts
Junior Boys
1. Jack Cairns Colaiste Chriost Ri
2. Kieran McCarthy Colaiste Chriost Ri
3. Eric Cotter Colaiste Chriost Ri
Teams
1. Colaiste Chriost Ri "A" (1,2,3,12) 18pts
2. Douglas Community College (4,9,16,17) 46pts
3. Colaiste Chriost Ri "B" (5,10,18,20) 53pts
Intermediate Girls
1. Aisling Geary Presentation Bandon
2. Ellen Fitzgerald Presentation Tralee
3. Mairead Lane V.E.C. Abbeyfeale
Teams
1. V.E.C. Abbeyfeale (3,6,8,9) 26pts
2. St. Brigids Killarney (5,7,11,12) 35pts
Intermediate Boys
1. Mark Hanrahan Douglas C.C.
2. Mark McCarthy Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney
3. Paidi O'Se Colaiste Chriost Ri
Teams
1. Colaiste Chriost Ri (3,4,8,15) 30pts
2. Douglas Community College (1,5,9,19) 34pts
3. St. Fintans C.B.S. Doon (7,13,20,21) 61pts
Senior Girls
1. Margaret O?Connor St. Brigids, Killarney
2. Stacey Healy V.E.C. Abbeyfeale
3. Tara O?Leary St. Brigids, Killarney
Teams
1. St. Brigids, Killarney (1,3,4,5) 13pts
Senior Boys
1. Arthur Fitzgerald Colaiste Phadraig
2. Tadhg O?Callaghan Colaiste Chriost Ri
3. Mark Lehane Hamilton High School
Teams
1. V.E.C. Abbeyfeale (4,5,6,11) 26pts
2. Colaiste Chriost Ri (2,7,10,16) 35pts
Best Overall School (Fr. Higgins Cup)
1st Colaiste Chriost Ri
2nd St. Brigids Killarney
3rd V.E.C. Abbeyfeale