Golden Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to Rhona Pierce, All-Ireland Schools Inter Girls XC Champion 2014, also to her teammates from Skerries Community College who retained the Inter Girls team title for a second successive year. Well done Rhona, Isabel, Sarah and Laura. Super runs also from Eryn and Eibhlin for Loreto Balbriggan. Full report to follow.
Top 3 Inter girl’s: Rhona Pierce win’s the title after a great battle with Clodagh O’Reilly 2nd and Fiona Everard 3rd #lovemud
Great footage of Saturdays All-Ireland Schools XC by Eibhlin McCarthy
Report from All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships 2014:Cork IT, Saturday 8th MarchAll things golden was the colour of the day for Skerries athletes who travelled to Cork IT for the prestigious All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships on Saturday 8th March 2014. The competition was the culmination of weeks of regional and provincial qualifiers which saw the best of Irelands young athletes gather to battle it out for All-Ireland glory.Once again Skerries athletes did not disappoint. Competing in the Intermediate girls race, Rhona Pierce in the singlet of Skerries Community College romped to an emphatic victory over the much fancied Clodagh O’Reilly (Loreto, Cavan) to take the Intermediate girls title. In close proximity was Isabel Carron, coming home in 8th place and ensuring both girls representation for a second successive year on the Irish Schools team for the upcoming SIAB International Cross Country in Bolton, England in 2 weeks time. The girls were ably backed up by Sarah Byrne in 31st and Laura Costello 58th thus sealing and retaining their victory from last year in the team event. On top of this the girls also brought home the prestigious Maeve Kyle award for the most successful girls team competing on the day.The Intermediate girls race also saw Eryn Devine competing for her school, Loreto, Balbriggan. As always, Eryn dug in and had a strong run around the 3,500mtr course finishing in 26th place overall. In the Junior girls 2,500mtr race, we had Eibhlin McCarthy in the colours of Loreto, Balbriggan. Eibhlin, who has gone from strength to strength over the past number of months over the country, finished in a highly commendable 25th place overall in her first All-Ireland Schools finals.It is hard to express how proud we, the coaches, parents and members of Skerries AC are of these group of athletes. We are fully aware of the dedication they put into their sport, but results like this make the commitment and sheer craft all the more worthwhile. It gives a great boost to our small club and an inspiration to our younger athletes who will aim to emulate this success in years to come. Congratulations girls, we salute you.
And all of them mature, kind and supportive of each other. It was a pleasure to watch them all race. Serious thanks to Joanne, Keith, Kevin and all the coaches. They wouldn’t have got there without you.
Well done to our athletes who turned out in huge numbers for Round 1 of the Juvenile Spring Series in sunny Santry Stadium yesterday. There were many impressive first time performances from our athletes. Wins were recorded by Daphney Hope Ndjatang, Joshua Ericson and Rapha Diamond Ebs with podium finishes also by the following, Shauna Prior (2nd u8), King Diamond Ebs (3rd u10), Holy Diamond Ebs (2nd u12), Cian Ensor (2nd u14), Stephen Byrne (3rd u14). Many of our athletes had top 10 placings in their races. Well done to everyone and thank you to Clonliffe Harriers AC for a most enjoyable morning. We now look forward to Round 2 in Skerries on Sunday 6th April.
Well done to our athletes who took part in Skerries 5k on Saturday, some inspiring performances, a special word of Congratulations to Orla Bollard who was 1st Jnr Female and Daniel Kelly 1st Jnr Male!!
It was another fruitful day for Skerries AC athletes in the Leinster Schools XC Championships at Santry Demesne which is becoming a happy hunting ground for our competitors. Following a morning of wind and rain of almost biblical proportions, the Spring sun did shine through before the midday start and this optimism was certainly encapsulated by our athletes despite heavy underfoot conditions and a strong wind.In the Minor girls race, Sarah Whelan was very unlucky when falling close to the finishing line but managed to pick herself up from the mud and finish in a respectable 42nd position.Fortunes picked up in the Junior girls race which saw Eibhlin McCarthy (Loreto, Balbriggan) battle heroicly for a superb 13th position, securing qualification for the All-Ireland Schools XC on the 8th March in Cork IT.Competing in the Intermediate girls race were the all conquering team representing Skerries Community College who again claimed the Inter girls title following impressive performances, Rhona Pierce having the most successful podium finish of her schools career to date striding to victory and taking the Leinster Schools title ahead of her class mate Isabel Carron in 2nd. Equally precious points were picked up by Sarah Byrne in 22nd place and Laura Costello in 42nd. The girls taking the team title on 25 points ahead of Dominican, Wicklow on 40 points and Colaiste Iosagain on 70 points. The girls now travel to Cork with a realistic chance of repeating last years All-Ireland Schools victory.Also securing individual qualification for AI Schools in Cork in the Inter Girls race was the ever consistent Eryn Devine (Loreto, Balbriggan). She ran a very mature race in finishing an excellent 11th place.Our two athletes competing in the Senior events also emerged from their respective races with fine performances. Daniel Kelly competing for CUS in the Senior Boys 6k, we are awaiting confirmation of finishing position, had a credible run in stamina sapping conditions.Orla Bollard competing for Loreto, Balbriggan had qualification snatched from her grasp when narrowly missing out for 15th place after an exciting sprint finish, surely brighter days await for this dedicated and ever improving athlete.We now look forward to the prestigious All-Ireland Schools Championships in Cork IT on Saturday March 8th and wish our athletes the very best of luck.
Good luck to our members contesting tomorrows Leinster Schools XC Championships in Santry:Minor Girls: Sarah Whelan (Skerries CC)Junior Girls: Eibhlin McCarthy (Loreto, Balbriggan)Inter Girls: Rhona Pierce, Isabel Carron, Sarah Byrne, Laura Costello (Skerries CC), Eryn Devine (Loreto, Balbriggan)Senior Girls: Orla Bollard (Loreto, Balbriggan)Senior Boys: Daniel Kelly (CUS)
Top 3 Inter Girls (1) Rhona Pierce (2) Isabel Carron (3) Niamh Corry #lovemud
Also news that Eibhlin McCarthy (Junior girls) and Eryn Devine (Inter girls) finished inside top 15 and have secured qualification for the All-Ireland Schools XC.Hard luck to Sarah Whelan who suffered a nasty fall towards the end of the minor girls race!
Full credit to Orla Bollard in the Senior Girls race who had a great run but unfortunately was just pipped on the line and finished in 16th place!!
Mullingar was the venue for yesterdays North Leinster Schools XC. After the torrential downpour the previous night the conditions were less than favourable for all the athletes with underfoot conditions testing to say the least, nevertheless our warriors battled through each race and there were super performances from everyone! Results as follows:
Minor girls:
7th Sarah Whelan (Skerries CC) qualifying for Leinsters, 17th Mairead Ni Chleirigh(Loreto, Balbriggan), 43rd Roisin Owens, 49th Ciara Downey (both Skerries CC)
Junior girls:
7th Eibhlin McCarthy qualifying for Leinsters, 23rd Saoirse Waddilove, 26th Orla Thompson (all 3 athletes Loreto, Balbriggan), 38th Lauren Byrne (Skerries CC)
Junior Boys:
17th Stephen O’Connor (St. Josephs, Rush)
Intermediate girls:
1st Rhona Pierce, 4th Isabel Carron, 17th Sarah Byrne, 19th Laura Costello (all Skerries CC), Team 1st and qualifying for Leinsters
7th Eryn Devine (Loreto, Balbriggan) qualifying for Leinsters
Intermediate Boys:
38th Conor Tuck (Skerries CC)
Senior Girls:
5th Orla Bollard (Loreto, Balbriggan) qualifying for Leinsters
Well done to all and Congratulations to those who now go forward to Leinster Schools XC on Weds 12th Feb in Santry.
Congrats to the Intermediate Girls from the 1986 Intermediate boys champions (Team Gareth McQuillan, Mark O’Shea, Killian Keane, David O’Sullivan, Donal Connolly)
A big well done to our athletes who took part in the juvenile 800mtr and mile races at Raheny 5 yesterday, you all ran exceptionally well. Well done also to our Senior!!!!!athletes who ran the 5 mile race, Keith, Dylan and Greg. Great performances!!
ARC Cancer Support Centre are delighted to be one of the chosen charities for the Skerries Post to Post 5k Fun Run. The race will take place on Feb 22nd @ 10am, starting and finishing in Skerries Rugby Club. Entry fee is €20. This promises to be a fantastic day so sign up now on: https://www.activeglobal.com/…/skerries-charity…/205692
Skerries Athletic Club 