The healthy state of under age cross country in Fermanagh was highlighted again at the Ulster Schools finals at a cold and windy Mallusk last Wednesday, with excellent results from several local school teams and individuals.
It is doubtful if in the 55 year history of Ulster schools athletics that Fermanagh athletes have ever filled three of the first four places in one race but that was the achievement of the St. Michael’s College trio of Sean Corry first, Tiarnan McManus third and Daithi Mohan fouth as the Drumclay school dominated the junior boys event.
Tom McMahon completing the scoring quartet for a comfortable team success with St Colman’s Newry in second.
The multi talented Corry becomes only the second Fermanagh boy to win two Ulster schools titles after Niall Cullen in 2006 (Junior) and 2008 (Intermediate)
He and McManus were not the only Fermanagh individual medalists as superb runs from Harry McKenzie in the Minor Boys and Annabelle Morrison in the Intermediate Girls saw the two Enniskillen running club athletes, representing Enniskillen Royal School, take silver and bronze respectively and places in the All Ireland finals in a month from now
There was also a team gold for Mount Lourdes in the Mini Girls where Grace Connolly, Eden Davis and Orlagh Kelly all finished in the top 15 for a comfortable win from Victoria College.
Fermanagh boys were well to the fore in the Intermediate (U17) age group as well, with an intriguing team tussle between the All Ireland Junior and Minor champions from 2020, going the way of a hugely talented Rathmore Grammar, who edged out a very young St Michael’s team featuring several 14 year olds.
One of those, Charlie Reihill led the team home followed by Frank Buchanan, Conor Mulligan and Patrick Sprice and with Ben Warnock of St Kevin’s and Patrick Williams of ERGS also in the top 15, this age group is particularly strong locally as by national inter county medals at both U15 and 16 level before Christmas
The final race of the programme saw Oisin Cassidy of St Michael’s contest the bronze medal for three of the four laps before fading on the final circuit but holding on the make the Irish finals for the sixth time.
Those finals are scheduled for Mallusk again on March 12 and the local athletes should again prove very competitive in what is always a very high quality competition to end the winter season over the country
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