ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS’ ACTION RETURNS WITH A BANG

Tullamore played host to another thrilling day of athletics action today (June 4th) at the 2022 Irish Life Health All Ireland Schools' Track and Field Championships. Over 1000 athletes from 369 schools offered up an action-packed day of athletics competition across the 122 finals.

On a day which ultimately celebrates the great achievement in making it to an all-Ireland Schools’ final, it was Lucy-May Sleeman (Bruce College Cork), Sean McGinley (St Eunans Letterkenny), and Lucy McGlynn (Colaiste Cholmcille Ballyshannon) who provided stand out moments to take double gold medals on a day filled with quality performances.

Track Triumphs

The walks got the track action underway underway and Meabh O’ Connor (Waterpark College) took one of the early gold medals in a tight fought race in the senior 2,000m, crossing in 15:52.86. Aisling Lane (Mercy Ballymahon) showed her class in the intermediate race to cross in 9:47.74 for 2,000m.

Matthew Glennon (St Finians Mullingar) took the senior boy’s race in 12:28.26 with Jake O'Brien (St Geralds Castlebar) and Sam O'Sullivan (Rockwell College) filling the podium places.

Jane Buckley (Col na Toirbhirte Bandon) was first across the line in the senior girl’s 3000m in 9:51.30. It was a race with plenty in contention and Avril Millerick (St Marys Midleton) and Roise Roberts (Dominican Col Belfast) were right there heading into the closing stages.

Lucy McGlynn (Colaiste Cholmcille Ballyshannon) starred on the day to claim double gold in the senior 100mH (14.35) and 400mH (1:02.61), continuing her brilliant form over recent weeks.

Adam Nolan (SLOT) and Sean Carmody (CBC Cork) had a brilliant race in the senior 110mH race, with Nolan ultimately coming out on top in a time of 14.73. Carmody would not end the day without gold however, claiming a 400mH title in 56.18.

Decathlon specialist Finn O'Neil (Limavady GS) continues his remarkable season, storming to the intermediate 100mH hurdles title in 13.44.

Sean McGinley (St Eunans Letterkenny) claimed the senior 2,000m steeplechase gold in 6:02.87, before going on to win a stacked senior 1500m in 3:58.17. The 1500m final was right in the melting pot going into the final 200m and would see Jack Fenlon (Col Iosagain Portarlington) finish second in 3:58.64, with all Ireland schools’ cross country champion, Scott Fagan in third (Castleknock CC) 3:59.97.

The 1500m races were stacked across all categories, no more so than the senior girl’s race which on paper looked potentially the race of the day. And it didn’t disappoint with Hannah Kehoe (Loreto Kilkenny) securing the win in a thrilling race to cross in 4:31.27. Kehoe would finish ahead of the talented Down HS Downpatrick pair of Rebecca Rossiter (4:31.77) and Kirsti Foster (4:33.19).

The intermediate race was just as enthralling with Jennifer O`Leary (Marys Nenagh) 4:38.97 claiming gold ahead of a close second Lucy Foster (Down HS Downpatrick) 4:39.11. Oliver Hopkins (St Declans Cabra) stole the show in the intermediate boy’s race, crossing in isolation in a time of 4:05.24.

The sprinters didn’t disappoint on a day of not stop action, with Lucy-May Sleeman (Bruce College Cork) continuing to look like a star in the making in taking the 100m title in 11.96 before following up with the 200m title in 24.78.

Oliver Sweeney (Dominican Portstewart) secured a world U20 standard last week and followed up by taking the senior 100m title with a classy 10.59. It was a super race which saw Nkem Onwumereh (St Declans Cabra) second in 10.81 and Padraic Hassett (Glenstal Abbey School) third in 10.96.

Hasset and Onwumereh would clash again in the 200m with Onwumereh having to settle for second once again with a time of 21.97. Hasset looked super smooth in crossing the line in a winning time of 21.82.

The boy’s senior 800m race was a cracker, with Oisin Kelly taking the title in 1:54.57. It was one of the finishes of the day and Nathan Sheehy Cremin (SMI Newcastlewest) crossed right alongside Kelly, ultimately finishing second (1:54.58). Finn Woodger (Castleknock CC) was third in 1:55.10.

The junior girl’s 800m saw a notable performance from Emma Bonar (Loreto Letterkenny) who fought off some stiff competition to cross in 2:16.24. Maeve O'Neill (MICC Dunmanway) raced with supreme confidence in the senior 800m, showing brilliant race tactics to claim victory in 2:09.97.

Senan O'Reilly (St Colmans Fermoy) took the intermediate 800m honours in what looked on paper to be one of the most competitive races of the day, clocking a 1:57:82. JD Kelly (St Josephs Rushclaven) and Oisin Lynch (St Brendans College) completed the leading 3 positions.

Kate O'Connell (Mt Sackville Chapelizod) continued her outstanding progress as she battled to a brilliant win in the senior 400m final, finishing in 56.67 ahead of the consistent Maeve O'Neill (MICC Dunmanway) in 56.80.

Jakob Hamilton (Campbell Col Belfast) put in a superb performance to take the senior 800m title, powering up the home straight to cross in 49.09.

Field Finals

Gallen sisters Caoimhe and Adrienne of St Columbas Stranorlar looked ultra-impressive in taking their respective hammer throw titles. Adrienne secured gold with a 49.44m throw in the senior event, while sister Caoimhe took the honours in the junior hammer competition with a 54.30m best.

Laura Frawley (St Marys Charleville) 5.88 claimed the senior long jump title in what was a brilliant competition. Katie Nolke (St Angelas Waterford) 5.70 and Grace Fitzgerald (St Annes Tipperary) 5.67 will undoubtably be competing for more national titles over the years to come.

Frawley would also collect a silver in the high jump, finishing second to Michelle Cashman (Newbridge College) in what was another super jumps competition with both athletes clearing 1.63.

Ava Rochford (Rice College Ennis) cleared 1.71 to take the intermediate high jump gold, while also securing an impressive second gold in the pole vault (3.20m).

Aisling McHugh of St Marys Naas posted a 11.47 in the triple jump which was enough to claim gold for the Kildare athlete.

Ben Little is the senior new long jump champion, bring the title back to CP Rath Cairn Ath Bui thanks to his 6.62m, while Evan Hallinan (Presentation Athenry) took the senior high jump title with a clearance of 1.95m.

Conor Callinan (Col an Chroi Naofa) was pushed all the way by Ben Connolly (St Josephs CBS Nenagh) in the senior pole vault competition. Both athletes would clear 4.10m, with Callinan taking gold based on a countback of clearances.

Callinan’s clubmate Una Brice added another title to her growing collection, taking the senior pole vault for Mount Mercy Cork with a 3.50m clearance.

Ballinrobe CS pair of Dairmuid Duffy and Oisin Joyce battles it out for gold in the senior javelin, Joyce eventually coming out on top with a best of 58.71. Leanne Healy was brilliant in the senior girls javeline, taking bragging rights back to Col Muire Ennis thanks to her 41.24m throw.

Callum Keating  (Hazelwood Col Dromcollogher) took the senior shot put win with 14.06m, while Koyryna Pacerinskaite (Pres Mitchelstown) also left with gold in the senior shot thanks to a 11.04m best throw.

Anna Gavigan (Loreto Balbriggan) continues to impress and too the senior discus title with a 47.95m throw, while Callum Keys took the boy’s equivalent for Royal Belfast Acad Inst with 40.70m.

Relay Fever

The relay scene in Ireland continues to gather pace thanks to all the work being put in at grassroots level across the country. Today’s relay finalists have no doubt been inspired by recent international successes and there was no shortage of thrills and spills as 80 relay teams battles it out during the final events of this year’s championships.

The senior titles went the way of:

• 4x100m Blackrock College, Senior Boys Blackrock College 43.34
• 4x100m Mercy Tuam,     Senior Girls Mercy Tuam 51.28
• 4x400m St Brendans College, Senior Boys St Brendans College 3:29.86
• 4x300m Laure Hill Secondary FCJ, Senior Girls     Laure Hill Secondary FCJ (SG) 2:54.81

Event Summary

• 369 Post Primary Schools Represented
• 1000+ Athletes
• 80 Relay Teams
• 122 Finals
• ONE DAY

Full Results: HERE