St. Michael’s Minor Boys claimed All Ireland gold at the Schools’ Championships at a rain soaked SETU in Waterford on Saturday.

And this was not the only medals secured by local runners with St. Michael’s also taking silver in the Intermediate Boys while there was bronze for Mount Lourdes in the Minor Girls section as well as a number of strong individual performances by local athletes.

It was the St. Michael’s Minor Boys though who took the top honours on the day as they returned home as All Ireland champions, a fifth All Ireland crown for the school.

The team were led home by a great run by Jack Donnelly who was fourth with Nathan Coyle (27), Conor Ratchford (36) and Michael Miller (38) following on to clinch the victory for the Blue Vests ahead of St. Colman’s Newry and Belvedere College.

St. Michael’s were agonisingly close to a second title in the Intermediate Boys before being pipped by the finest of margins by St. Aidan’s CBS (Dublin). Sean Corry (7th) and Charlie Reihill (10th) both produced superb runs as they claimed top ten finishes while Frank Buchanan (24) and Tiarnan McManus (25) were high up the finishing list too as St. Michael’s finished with 66 points on the board.

However, St. Aidan’s also had 66 points meaning that the deciding factor was which of the teams fourth placed finisher came home higher and that went the way of St. Aidan’s. It was a painful defeat for St. Michael’s as the winner of the Intermediate race qualified for the World Schools’ Championship in Uganda next year.

Ben Warnock, St Kevin’s Lisnaskea, also caught the eye in the Intermediate Boys race as he came home in 20th position.

Mount Lourdes were also to return with a medal as they secured bronze in the Minor Girls race. Eden Davis was the first of their runners home in 21st position and with Megan Mullally (33), Grace Connolly (41) and Orlagh Kelly( (49) also impressing it sealed third spot for the Enniskillen school behind SH Westport and Loreto College Foxrock.

Annabelle McKenzie also performed well in the Minor Girls section with the Enniskillen Royal runner coming home 44th.

There was a wonderful run by Enniskillen Royal’s Harry McKenzie in the Junior Boys race as he finished in sixth spot while Annabel Morrison (Enniskillen Royal) was another to put in fine display as she took ninth place in the Intermediate Girls.

Mount Lourdes also had a strong run in the Senior Girls as Nadine McIntyre (25th) led them to a fifth place finish while in the Senior Boys Patrick Williams claimed 30th place.

 

Get a treat with our March sale - £3 for three months digital subscription. Click here to subscribe