Emma Hickey (St Mary’s Secondary School, New Ross) and Caolan McFadden (Loreto Community School, Milford) claimed the senior titles in front of large crowds enjoying glorious sunshine at the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships at the Mallusk Playing Fields outside Belfast today (March 7).
Hickey, who won bronze in the U20 race at last December’s European Cross Country Championships, delivered a classy performance that saw her stretch clear of a quality field over the final lap of the 3,500m course. The Wexford athlete crossed the line in a winning time of 11:30, ahead of Dearbhla Allen (St Mary’s College) in 11:42 and Emma Stewart (Banbridge Academy) in 11:45.
The senior girls’ team title went to Loreto Kilkenny with 66 points, thanks to strong performances from Eleanor Doheny (15th), Shannon Doheny (16th) and Hazel Coogan (35th), while Evelyn McEvoy (60th) also contributed to the team effort.
The senior boys’ race proved a thriller, ultimately going the way of US-bound Caolan McFadden (Loreto Milford), who produced another tactical masterclass to win in 17:51. McFadden remained patient through the early stages before unleashing a decisive move with just over a kilometre to go to secure a comfortable victory.
There was no shortage of talent behind him. Odhrán McBrearty (St Columba’s, Stranorlar) claimed silver to add to last year’s intermediate title, while Lorcan Forde Dunne (St Mary’s Diocesan School) was rewarded for a brave front-running effort with bronze in 18:01.
The senior boys’ team title went to Belvedere College with 111 points, led home by Charlie O’Neill (6th) and Liam Morris (11th), with Daniel Hughes (45th) and Edward Blacque (49th) completing the scoring four. Fionn Trimble (55th), William Walsh (64th) and Ollie Ward (66th) also finished strongly to round out an excellent team performance.
The intermediate girls’ race once again saw Freya Renton (Sacred Heart School, Westport) dominate from gun to tape in one the most impressive performances of the day. Renton ran solo from the start and never relented, crossing in an outstanding 11:08 over the same course and distance as the senior race – a performance that would later see her awarded with the Rory Friel Memorial Trophy for performance of the day.
The race was packed with depth, with Ava Colreavy (Ursuline College, Sligo) finishing second in 11:27 and Madison Welby (Friends’ School, Lisburn) third in 11:29.
The intermediate girls’ team title went to Sacred Heart School, Westport with 63 points, led by race winner Freya Renton (1st) and Holly Renton (4th), with Emma McGing (58th) completing the scoring three. May Duckett (69th), Aoibhinn McNamara (70th), Lauren Clarke (81st), May Clarken (86th) and Matilda Moran (96th) also contributed to a strong team performance.
The intermediate boys’ race was a more straightforward affair as Darragh Whelan continued his rise by adding the intermediate title to last year’s junior crown. The Castletroy College athlete won in 15:15 ahead of Ruby Devereaux (Pobalscoil na Tríonóide) in 15:28 and Adam Noon (Templeogue College) in 15:29.
The intermediate boys’ team title went to St Malachy’s College, Belfast with 87 points, led by Thomas Coy (5th) and Cormac Leheny (9th), with Ruarcc Sheridan (32nd) and Leo McAuley (41st) completing the scoring four. Zac Connolly (60th), Joseph Irvine (79th), Senan McConnell (90th) and Caolan Lavery (101st) also ran strongly to support the team victory.
The junior titles went to Ailbhe Finucane (Loreto, St Stephen’s Green) in 8:17 and Dónal Coyle (Seamount College, Kinvara) in 10:53. Stephen Geraghty (St Flannan’s College, Ennis) in 7:46 and Matilda Cusack (Killina Secondary School, Offaly) were popular winners of the minor races and are both names to watch for in the future.
Full Results HERE
Results Summary
Minor Girls 1,900m
1 Matilda CUSACK Killina Secondary School Co. Offaly 6:20
2 Aisling HEGARTY Skerries Community College 6:25
3 Beibhinn BOURKE Our Lady&St Pats Knock 6:28
Minor Boys 2,500m
1 Stephen GERAGHTY St Flannans Ennis 7:46
2 Cormac CARABINE St Malachy’s Belfast 7:50
3 Daniel GREENE Borris Vocational School Co. Carlow
Junior Girls 2,500m
1 Ailbhe FINUCANE Loreto Stephen’s Green 8:17
2 Sinead FITZPATRICK Heywood Community School Co. Laoise 8:21
3 Roxane SANDS St Josephs Castlebar 8:26
Junior Boys 3,500m
1 Dónal COYLE Seamount College Kinvara 10:53
2 Jack BRENNAN Patrician Secondary School 10:54
3 Lucas BALLANTINE Coola PPS
Inter Girls 3,500m
1 Freya RENTON Sacred Heart School Westport 11:08
2 Ava COLREAVY Ursuline College, Sligo 11:27
3 Madison WELBY Friends’ School Lisburn 11:29
Inter Boys 5,000m
1 Darragh WHELAN Castletroy College 15:15
2 Ruby DEVEREAUX Pobalscoil na Trionoide 15:28
3 Adam NOON Templeogue College 15:29
Senior Girls 3,500m
1 Emma HICKEY St Marys Secondary School Newross 11:30
2 Dearbhla ALLEN St. Mary’s College11:42
3 Emma STEWART Banbridge Academy 11:45
Senior Boys 6,500m
1 Caolan MCFADDEN Loreto Milford 17:51
2 Odhrán MCBREARTY St Columbas Stranorlar 17:58
3 Lorcan FORDE DUNNE St. Mary’s Diocesan School 18:01
