Kerry Sen/Jun Cross Country

The Kerry cross country season came to conlusion on Sunday last in Currow with the Senior/Junior and Juvenile Relay cross country championships.While it gave down heavy rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning it cleared away for race time at 12 o clock leaving good underfoot conditions considering the amount of rain.

Cian Murphy Iveragh once again defended his senior mens 10km title finishing over one hundred metres ahead of team mate Brian Murphy in second with James Doran An Riocht not far behind in third place.The race was tight for the first few laps with a breakaway group of the three above and Ed Murphy moving clear of the rest of the field.On the fourth lap Brian and James temporarily took the lead but that didnt last long when Cian decided to move to the front again and push on the pace which the following athletes just could not respond to.The team title here was won by An Riocht with Iveragh second and Gneeveguilla in third.

   Niamh O Sullivan also defended her 6km senior womens title from clubmate Laura Crowe in second with Anna Meria Costello Gneeveguilla AC in third.The team title here was also won by Riocht.Jack O Sullivan Farranfore Mainevalley was an easy winner of the junior mens 6km title with Grace Lynch Iveragh following up on her impressive Munster performance a few weeks to win the junior womens 4km from Mary Fitzgearld An Riocht in second and Niamh De Hora Farranfore MV in third.

  Kenmare AC won their first overall juvenile cross country title finishing the third day of competition with a total of 223 points with Iveragh AC in second on 146 points and Gneeveguilla AC in third on 123 points.Lios Tuathaill AC had a very strong third day when they won the division two title on 84 points even though they only came into the final day in third place;Spa Muckross AC were second on 75 points and Farranfore MV AC third on 66 points.

   The Juvenile relays as always provided some fantastic entertainment with some very close and enthralling battles.Gneeveguilla finished the day with three team gold,one silver and one bronze;Lios Tuathaill AC finished on one gold and three silver with Kenmare finishing on one gold,two silver and one bronze.Well done to all who competed and good luck to those who will be selected on the Kerry cross country relay teams for that event in Clare on January 16th.Also the Kerry county board would like to thank all the land owners,all the volunteers and all the clubs for a well run and enjoyable Kerry cross country season.

Dates for the diary-

Nov 7th-Munster Intermediate & Juvenile Unevenage XC-Charleville,Cork.

Nov 21-AAI Novice & Juvenile Evenage XC-Derry

Shane :)