SPORT can be exhilarating for children…..and nerve-wracking for mums!
Kieran Carlin captured this superb image during the Under-12 National Cross-Country championships in Ratoath at the weekend.
And it was a race which saw another rising star for Finn Valley Athletics Club in Shane McMonagle.
“Shane ran with a calmness rarely seen at this young age, with a determination that eventually drove him to an exciting individual win,” said the club’s Patsy McGonagle.
Shane (left) is a pupil at Tooban National School Burnfoot and becomes the third athlete from that school to take outright national cross victory – Denver Kelly and Ryan McDaid were the others.
“Certainly there have been others from the same school collecting national medals in various disciplines over some 12 years underlining the obvious benefit of a positive influence from school staff and unselfish parental support,” said Patsy.
In support on the team on the day a squad that medalled Jack Gillespie 7th ,Gleneely NS recovering to his absolute credit from an early fall, Alex McGeehin, Doooish NS, John Reid, St Bridgets NS Convoy, Adam Mc Crudden, Tooban NS and Diarmuid McHugh, St Cairealls P S.
A happy coach was Dermot Mc Granaghan . Team result -Mullingar 76,West Waterford 102,Finn Valley 121.
Aoife Mc Grath got her tiny frame up to 10th U-12 girls a team that just missed out West Muskerry 86,Naas 177,Mullingar 217 and then Valley 257 .Emer O Neill ,Daniella Jansen et al all put in a good effort in difficult conditions .
Aron Mc Glynn under 14 now a student at Cu Uladh,Ballinamore had a right good go but found the 3k journey a step too far faded to 5th and in his own relative age group 2500k its all set to focus approaching with determination on nailing the gold under 13 age division 2 weeks time in Wexford.
Denver Kelly like Aaron was a member of Donegal county team bronze medallists and an added bonus was Aarons medal with Ulster regional team. Oisin Gallen was a deserving scoring member of Ulster under 16 team hence his medal .
Day one done and dusted a big shout out to all who travelled athletes, parents and family members not to mention coachs .
Before leaving the event a word of congrats to Christopher Johnson LAC under 23 winner and is now sure to join Valleys Sarah Collins on that travelling Irish squad to Budapest for European Cross a sgroup managed by LAC’s Teresa Mc Daid and with our own Neil Martin on coaching staff.
