Gerry Brady

07 March, 2010

Photos (email gerry.brady at imra.ie for a high resolution photo)
Junior women: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24280411@N06/sets/72157623449777761/
Junior men: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24280411@N06/sets/72157623449911643/
Senior women: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24280411@N06/sets/72157623574688874/
Senior men: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24280411@N06/sets/72157623450308443/

Siobhan O'Doherty (Borrisokane) had a fantastic run in the national cross-country championships to finish in second place. Niamh Denny (DSD) and Emmet Jennings (DSD) both finished in 3rd place in the junior races. John Heneghan (Clonliffe) and Brian MacMahon (Clonliffe) were both on the winning club team in the senior men's race.

The first race to start was the junior women. Niamh Denny was prominent throughout and she was well-supported by clubmates Meghan Ryan and Carol Huet for a team win. Niamh in her first season of mountain running competed in the Youths, Europeans, Worlds and British and Irish races in 2009. Breda McDonald ran well to help North Laois to bronze medals.

The junior boys race was a more topsy turvy race up front. Shane Quinn (Waterford) and Liam Tremble (Metro St. Brigid's) were the early leaders. John Travers (Donore) who is the reigning Irish and Leinster schools senior mountain running champion made his move in the middle of the race for a win that was well deserved. Emmet Jennings (DSD) was in the top five throughout and as ever ran a gritty race to take the bronze medal. Michael Dowling (Sli Cualann) was with the leaders for the first lap before losing some ground as the race progressed. Kevin Dooney who ran the 2009 Irish schools championships led Raheny to a well-deserved victory in the team event.

The senior women's race was largely settled on the first lap. Linda Byrne (DSD) broke away and Siobhan O'Doherty (Borrisokane) who ran in the 2009 World mountain running championships opened a small gap in second position. Siobhan had to fight grimly for the remaining three laps and fight she did as she pulled away again towards the end after almost being caught by her pursuers. Fiona Reid (Dunboyne) was close to the leaders for the first half of the race before missed training through injury saw her gradually slip back to a very commendable tenth place. Cathy McCourt (North Belfast), Niamh O'Boyle (Donore), Helen White (Sportsworld) and Mags Greenan (Clonliffe) all ran well.

Last race of the day was the senior men. John Heneghan who was 68th in the 2009 World mountain running championships came around in the first half dozen at the end of the first of six laps. From lap 2 onwards he ran in a group of around eight runners with Brian MacMahon (Clonliffe) chasing. This group splintered over the last few laps but John held on well and Brian finished strongly for both to finish on the winning Clonliffe team. Philip Kilgallon (Sportsworld), Jason Kehoe (Crusaders), Richard Healy (Crusaders), Niall Coppinger (Tallaght) and Desie Shorten (Tallaght) all completed what is traditionally one of the most competitive and gruelling cross-country races on the calendar.