Killarney Valley and Gneeveguilla AC dominate Kerry relay championships
Killarney Valley AC let loose in these championships, winning the Quill Cup as best men's senior club, the Chriss O'Shea Cup for best women's club, and the best all-round cup as top juvenile club.
Another special feature of the championships was the 50th appearance of Tralee Harriers' Patsy O'Connor in a county senior athletics championships. The Tralee Harriers man threw the senior javelin 28.32m to win the silver medal in the afternoon on Sunday.
Patsy first competed in 1975 in the javelin event in Sneem after discovering that there was no javelin available at the county championships proper in Cordal, but the event was later staged in the South Kerry venue. Patsy borrowed a javelin from the legendary Eddie Mulcahy of Sneem and the rest is history.
Another feature was the presence of 89-year-old Paddy O'Donoghue of Gneeveguilla AC who medalled in the discus, shot and weight-for-distance. His incredible career as athlete and official knows no bounds and he is an inspiration to all.
Another much-valued cup – the Eileen O'Riordan Cup that commemorates the late Gneeveguilla athlete who was an expert in the event – was on offer to the best weight-for-distance woman thrower at the championships.
The cup was won by Sheila O'Donoghue from Gneeveguilla who won the gold medal in the masters' WFD with a record throw of 7.06m, which will be a national W55 record when ratified. The fact that the Gneeveguilla supremo pulled a hamstring in achieving the huge throw did not deter Sheila from staying on to accept yet another cup – the Patick O'Riordan Cup for best masters club at the championships. That cup commemorates the late St Brendan's AC athlete and Kerry Athletics official who passed away just a year ago.
Tralee Harriers also collected a cup for the brilliant win by their U14 girls in the juvenile relays. They collected the Mary Lucey Cup as gold medallists in that U14 4 x 100m relay in a CBP time of 54.73.
Mary Lucey was a Glenflesk athlete who had a successful career as a sprinter some years ago and the cup was subsequently presented by Gneeveguilla to the county board for best U14 girls relay team at the county championships.
Senior Championships
The senior championships were strengthened by a band of teen and just-older athletes who have a high level of talent in a variety of disciplines. Killarney Valley's three men's relay teams came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the senior 4 x100m final. Their women did the same in the women's 4 x 100m final.
While Gneeveguilla and other clubs did well in the throws, Killarney Valley AC cleaned up in the men's jumps, winning high and long jumps commandingly, with their male athletes coming in 1, 2 and 3 in the long jump and taking gold and silver in the high jump.
Elsewhere, clubs were able to grab whatever medals escaped the Killarney squad. Kevin O'Shea (FFMV) was outstanding in the javelin, despite throwing the heavier 800g rather than the lighter javelin which he threw to a 54m CBP in the North Munster Schools Championships on Thursday last. Teen Kevin flung the 800g version beyond all-comers on Sunday, reaching 47.53m despite a gusting breeze. Podiums ahead for Kevin.
In the senior women's race walk, Lúsaí de Faoite of Kenmare flew to a fast 16:23.10 in the 3K final to claim the gold medal while US scholarship-bound Mollie O'Riordan (KVAC) was impressive in winning the 400m in 59.10 seconds.
Kerry Athletics Championships results
Senior Women
100m: 1 Keelie O'Connor (KV) 12.61. 2 Megan Lynch (LT) 12.82 3 Maddie O'Riordan (KVAC) 13.16
200m: 1 Keelie O'Connor (KV) 26.01. 2 Maddie O'Riordan KV) 27.42. 3 Nell Thompson (KV) 28.94
400m: 1 Mollie O'Riordan (KV) 59.1. 2 Clara Daly (Iv) 61.1. 3 Megan O'Reilly (KV) 63.44
800m: 1 Maria Murnane (KV) 2:21.19. 2 Jule Koller (LT) 2:46.47. 3 Ava Brosnan (R) 2:47.47
3,000m: 1 Maria Murnane (KV) 10:46.22. 2 Abby Stephenson (TH) 10:47.69. 3 Cara Leahy (LT) 11:23.63
3,000m racewalk: Lúsaí de Faoite (K) 16:23
4 x 100m: KV A 51.27. 2 KV B 53.29. 3 KV C 50.90
Hammer: 1 Máiréad O'Neill (GG) 50.72m
Long jump: 1 Rachel Bowler (TH) 5.10m. 2 Antonya Lejwoda (KV) 4.84m. 3 Natasha Myers (FFMV) 4.47m
WFD: 1 Máiréad O'Neill (GG) 7.03m. 2 Heather McCarthy (GG) 5.96m. 3 Aoibhinn Harte (LT) 5.52m
Shot: 1. Lidia Salazar (St B). 2 Heather McCarthy (GG). 3 Sophie Norris (St B)
Javelin: 1 Taesha Verasoo (KV) 27.56m. 2 Abby Littlejohn (K) 14.58m. 3 Lidia Salazar (St B) 14.34m
High jump: 1 Antonya Lejwoda (KV) 1.30m. 2 Maddie O'Riordan (KV) 1.25m. 3 Taesha Verasoo (KV) 1.20m
Senior Men
200m: 1 Brendan O'Leary (LT) 22.83. 2 Oisín O'Regan (KV) 24.37. 3 Derek Pyne (KV) 25.71
400m: 1 Lamine Diarrassouba (Dooneen) Guest 50.95. 2. Dion Marcos (R) 52.45. 3. Oisín O'Regan (KV) 54.04
800m: 1. Conor Kissane (KV) 2:02.36. 2. Darren Kenny (St Br) 2:56.45
3,000m: 1 Conor Kissane (KV) 9:03.18. 2 Karl James O'Neill (KV) 9:15.88. 3 James Dillon (LT)
4 x 100m relay: KV A 47.91 secs. 2 KV B 48.12. 3 KV C 49.20
Hammer: 1. Tomás O'Neill (GG) 41.76m. 2 Micheál Ó Néill (GG) 40.48m
Discus: 1 Alan O'Connor (TH) 40.45m. 2 Pádraig McCarthy (LT) 32.37m. 3 TomásÓ Néill (GG) 29.30m
Long Jump: 1 Dara Looney (KV) 6.38m. 2 Dominik Wasila (KV) 6.22m. 3. Derek Pyne (KV) 5.53m
WFD: 1 Alan O'Connor (TH) 5.76m. 2 Pádraig McCarthy (LT) 5.29m
Shot: 1 Alan O'Connor (TH) 11.56m. 2 Jordan Lee (KV) 9.49m. 3 Jason Roche (TH) 8.80m
Javelin: 1 Kevin O'Shea (FFMV) 47.53m. 2 Patsy O'Connor (TH) 28.32m. 3 Finn Moloney (KV) 24.76m
High Jump: 1 Alan Delaney (KV) 1.75m. 2 Bartlomiej Zglinski (KV) 1.75m. 3 David Watson (KV) 1.65m
Athletics news
There was good news for US scholarship holder Oisín Lynch (Killarney Valley AC and Adams State University) as he broke 1:50 for the 800m for the first time at the weekend. Running in the Franson Meet in California, Oisín clocked 1:49.98 (PB) when finishing fourth in the race.
In the Irish Milers Meet in Belfast, Mollie O'Riordan (Killarney Valley AC) ran a PB of 2:18.38 for the 800m ,which is also a club record.
Jack O'Leary (Killarney Valley AC) clocked 1:51.01 for his 800m at the same meet.
Oisín Murray (Riocht) ran a PB of 3:45.6 for the International 1,500m also at the same meet in Belfast, finishing 9th in a top-class field.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry Cumann na mBunscol: Gneeveguilla NS win 4/5 teacher title for the first time
Gneeveguilla NS 5-5 Coolard NS 1-6 History was made at Austin Stack Park as Gneeveguilla NS were crowned 4/5 Teacher county champions for the first time. The game got off to a lively start with Coolard's Síun Kennelly opening the scoring with a composed point. Gneeveguilla replied immediately as Amelia Fleming finished confidently to the net. Another Kennelly free reduced the gap, but Gneeveguilla were quick to respond, with Sinéad Hurley firing home their second goal. Coolard kept pressing and were rewarded with a fine point from Orla O'Rahilly. However, Gneeveguilla began to pull away when midfielder Aisling Fenton struck for her side's third goal, followed by a point from Hurley to stretch the lead. A free from Kennelly and a long-range point from Orla Lyons kept them within reach. Gneeveguilla's response was swift Aisling Fenton added a free, and Sinéad Hurley split the posts with a superb long-range point to give her side a commanding 3-4 to 0-5 lead at half-time. Orla Lyons got Coolard off the mark in the second half with a point that briefly raised hopes. But Sinéad Hurley soon dashed any hope of a comeback, netting her second goal with a blistering run through the defence. Coolard battled on, and a sweeping move upfield ended with Sophie O'Flaherty finding the net. Gneeveguilla weren't done yet. Ava Knee capped off a brilliant team move with a fifth goal, putting the result beyond doubt. Sinéad Hurley then put the icing on the cake with a stunning point off the outside of her boot, rounding off a Player of the Match performance. As the final whistle blew, Gneeveguilla's supporters celebrated a historic victory, one that emptied the village as the community turned out in full force to witness the occasion. This was a performance built on teamwork, skill, and no shortage of talent. Though defeated, Coolard NS can hold their heads high after a valiant effort. Remarkably, it was their second county final appearance in just a matter of weeks, having also reached the Girls' Mini 7s decider, where they narrowly lost out to Rathmore NS. GNEEVEGUILLA NS: Mia Horgan, Cara Mcllroy, Olivia O'Connor, Jessica Lynch, Sinéad Hurley, Aisling Fenton, Máiréad O'Leary, Amelia Fleming, Ava Knee. Subs: Makayla O'Leary, Megan Looney COOLARD NS: Emer O'Sullivan, Matilda O'Donnell, Olivia Kissane, Sarah Walsh, Sophie O'Flaherty, Orla Lyons, Siún Kennelly, Orla O'Rahilly, Mollie O'Connor. Subs: Olivia Rulak, Róisín Dalton, Abbie Walsh.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Kerry athletes excel at Munster combined events championship
The plan by the Munster Athletics board to hold certain juvenile events on the same day as U20s and upwards has worked well, with young and not-so-young supporting each other in the various competitions. It also ensures a full house, even on a damp and sometimes cold weekend as it turned out in the fine Tipperary athletics venue. Among the many highlights that were there to be savoured for Kerry was the success of the Gneeveguilla squad in a variety of events in the masters' championships and especially in the throws. In three events, various members of the club had a clean sweep of the medals on offer. The women's W40 shot was dominated totally by Gneeveguilla. Gemma O'Connell, Michelle Murphy and Michelle Knee had the medal podium to themselves at the end of a hotly contested final. In the men's masters M55 weight for distance final, Gneeveguilla did it again. Denis O'Donoghue, Fred O'Sullivan and Niall Ó Donnchú got gold, silver and bronze with excellent application. The women did it again in the masters' W40 weight for distance…Michelle Knee, Gemma O'Connell and Marie Murphy owned the podium there again. There were many other throws success for the club also. If it's throws you want to see, come to Gneeveguilla. THERE is no doubt about the ability of Kieran Keane (Ríocht) in the shot business. The young lion from Lispole (who wakes at 6am some days to do his weights' session), putted the iron ball high and long in the U20 final in Templemore to claim another title, ahead of his All Ireland schools' appearance on this weekend. On Saturday, as the showers fell with annoying rhythm, he putted 15.43m a PB for that U20 shot weight. It could be another Keane show in Tullamore where he will face-up the best in the Irish schools' boys' shot-putting community. His application is infectious and he has now attracted a huge following of throwers wherever he putts. KERRY senior athletes had outstanding success over the weekend in a variety of events. Perhaps one of the most interesting was the tense battle in the 5,000m between Conor Kissane from Killarney Valley and Jamie Moloney of Nenagh Olympic. The Tipp athlete did everything in his power to shake off Kissane mid-race, and it seemed for a while that his sheer power would open a gap, but the Killarney man stuck like a leech over the last three laps and fired on all cylinders in the last 100m overtake and to claim the gold in a time of 16:06.22 with the rain coming down. ADVERTISEMENT THE juvenile pentathlons were a sight to behold. Each athlete took on five events and, as in the Olympics, accumulated points as they proceeded from one to the next. You saw them running hurdles to open their show, then they would stream over to the high jump, and the shot, and the long jump and then a distance race to finish off. Kerry were prominent in most of the age-groups from U11 to U16 and took gold in a number of the age-groups. The Tralee Harriers pair of Aria Collins and Harriet O'Loghlen dominated the U13 girls' pentathlon amidst huge opposition from a large number of Munster clubs, but claimed the gold and silver respectively at the end of a hectic day. Jack Sheehy of St Brendan's won gold in the U12 boys event and and Donnacha Quilter who copied that at U15 level. One huge facet of those pentathlons is that the athletes mix more with opposing athletes better than in any other event and generate pals in the course of the day. The athlete also help themselves to become total athletes with the sampling of the different disciplines. Overseas success Jack O'Leary (Killarney Valley) came home third in the BMC Manchester senior 800m event in a time of 1:51.23 at the weekend, continuing his upward trajectory at this distance. Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley) had a season's best in the 100m in Brussels with a time of 11.65 seconds and was the lead runner on the Irish 4 x 100m relay team that won their race at that FAM event. The team clocked 44.23 seconds which puts them up in the top 7 Irish women's relay performances since 2019. The team was Leahy, Neville, Lavin and O'Leary. All-Ireland Schools Athletics Championships The big event this weekend in the All Ireland Schools Athletics Championships which begin in Tullamore on Friday and reach a climax all day Saturday. It will be worth a visit as Kerry will be strongly represented in these, the most prestigious athletics event of the year for the youth.
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Killarney Valley and Gneeveguilla AC dominate Kerry relay championships
Killarney Valley AC let loose in these championships, winning the Quill Cup as best men's senior club, the Chriss O'Shea Cup for best women's club, and the best all-round cup as top juvenile club. Another special feature of the championships was the 50th appearance of Tralee Harriers' Patsy O'Connor in a county senior athletics championships. The Tralee Harriers man threw the senior javelin 28.32m to win the silver medal in the afternoon on Sunday. Patsy first competed in 1975 in the javelin event in Sneem after discovering that there was no javelin available at the county championships proper in Cordal, but the event was later staged in the South Kerry venue. Patsy borrowed a javelin from the legendary Eddie Mulcahy of Sneem and the rest is history. Another feature was the presence of 89-year-old Paddy O'Donoghue of Gneeveguilla AC who medalled in the discus, shot and weight-for-distance. His incredible career as athlete and official knows no bounds and he is an inspiration to all. Another much-valued cup – the Eileen O'Riordan Cup that commemorates the late Gneeveguilla athlete who was an expert in the event – was on offer to the best weight-for-distance woman thrower at the championships. The cup was won by Sheila O'Donoghue from Gneeveguilla who won the gold medal in the masters' WFD with a record throw of 7.06m, which will be a national W55 record when ratified. The fact that the Gneeveguilla supremo pulled a hamstring in achieving the huge throw did not deter Sheila from staying on to accept yet another cup – the Patick O'Riordan Cup for best masters club at the championships. That cup commemorates the late St Brendan's AC athlete and Kerry Athletics official who passed away just a year ago. Tralee Harriers also collected a cup for the brilliant win by their U14 girls in the juvenile relays. They collected the Mary Lucey Cup as gold medallists in that U14 4 x 100m relay in a CBP time of 54.73. Mary Lucey was a Glenflesk athlete who had a successful career as a sprinter some years ago and the cup was subsequently presented by Gneeveguilla to the county board for best U14 girls relay team at the county championships. Senior Championships The senior championships were strengthened by a band of teen and just-older athletes who have a high level of talent in a variety of disciplines. Killarney Valley's three men's relay teams came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the senior 4 x100m final. Their women did the same in the women's 4 x 100m final. While Gneeveguilla and other clubs did well in the throws, Killarney Valley AC cleaned up in the men's jumps, winning high and long jumps commandingly, with their male athletes coming in 1, 2 and 3 in the long jump and taking gold and silver in the high jump. Elsewhere, clubs were able to grab whatever medals escaped the Killarney squad. Kevin O'Shea (FFMV) was outstanding in the javelin, despite throwing the heavier 800g rather than the lighter javelin which he threw to a 54m CBP in the North Munster Schools Championships on Thursday last. Teen Kevin flung the 800g version beyond all-comers on Sunday, reaching 47.53m despite a gusting breeze. Podiums ahead for Kevin. In the senior women's race walk, Lúsaí de Faoite of Kenmare flew to a fast 16:23.10 in the 3K final to claim the gold medal while US scholarship-bound Mollie O'Riordan (KVAC) was impressive in winning the 400m in 59.10 seconds. Kerry Athletics Championships results Senior Women 100m: 1 Keelie O'Connor (KV) 12.61. 2 Megan Lynch (LT) 12.82 3 Maddie O'Riordan (KVAC) 13.16 200m: 1 Keelie O'Connor (KV) 26.01. 2 Maddie O'Riordan KV) 27.42. 3 Nell Thompson (KV) 28.94 400m: 1 Mollie O'Riordan (KV) 59.1. 2 Clara Daly (Iv) 61.1. 3 Megan O'Reilly (KV) 63.44 800m: 1 Maria Murnane (KV) 2:21.19. 2 Jule Koller (LT) 2:46.47. 3 Ava Brosnan (R) 2:47.47 3,000m: 1 Maria Murnane (KV) 10:46.22. 2 Abby Stephenson (TH) 10:47.69. 3 Cara Leahy (LT) 11:23.63 3,000m racewalk: Lúsaí de Faoite (K) 16:23 4 x 100m: KV A 51.27. 2 KV B 53.29. 3 KV C 50.90 Hammer: 1 Máiréad O'Neill (GG) 50.72m Long jump: 1 Rachel Bowler (TH) 5.10m. 2 Antonya Lejwoda (KV) 4.84m. 3 Natasha Myers (FFMV) 4.47m WFD: 1 Máiréad O'Neill (GG) 7.03m. 2 Heather McCarthy (GG) 5.96m. 3 Aoibhinn Harte (LT) 5.52m Shot: 1. Lidia Salazar (St B). 2 Heather McCarthy (GG). 3 Sophie Norris (St B) Javelin: 1 Taesha Verasoo (KV) 27.56m. 2 Abby Littlejohn (K) 14.58m. 3 Lidia Salazar (St B) 14.34m High jump: 1 Antonya Lejwoda (KV) 1.30m. 2 Maddie O'Riordan (KV) 1.25m. 3 Taesha Verasoo (KV) 1.20m Senior Men 200m: 1 Brendan O'Leary (LT) 22.83. 2 Oisín O'Regan (KV) 24.37. 3 Derek Pyne (KV) 25.71 400m: 1 Lamine Diarrassouba (Dooneen) Guest 50.95. 2. Dion Marcos (R) 52.45. 3. Oisín O'Regan (KV) 54.04 800m: 1. Conor Kissane (KV) 2:02.36. 2. Darren Kenny (St Br) 2:56.45 3,000m: 1 Conor Kissane (KV) 9:03.18. 2 Karl James O'Neill (KV) 9:15.88. 3 James Dillon (LT) 4 x 100m relay: KV A 47.91 secs. 2 KV B 48.12. 3 KV C 49.20 Hammer: 1. Tomás O'Neill (GG) 41.76m. 2 Micheál Ó Néill (GG) 40.48m Discus: 1 Alan O'Connor (TH) 40.45m. 2 Pádraig McCarthy (LT) 32.37m. 3 TomásÓ Néill (GG) 29.30m Long Jump: 1 Dara Looney (KV) 6.38m. 2 Dominik Wasila (KV) 6.22m. 3. Derek Pyne (KV) 5.53m WFD: 1 Alan O'Connor (TH) 5.76m. 2 Pádraig McCarthy (LT) 5.29m Shot: 1 Alan O'Connor (TH) 11.56m. 2 Jordan Lee (KV) 9.49m. 3 Jason Roche (TH) 8.80m Javelin: 1 Kevin O'Shea (FFMV) 47.53m. 2 Patsy O'Connor (TH) 28.32m. 3 Finn Moloney (KV) 24.76m High Jump: 1 Alan Delaney (KV) 1.75m. 2 Bartlomiej Zglinski (KV) 1.75m. 3 David Watson (KV) 1.65m Athletics news There was good news for US scholarship holder Oisín Lynch (Killarney Valley AC and Adams State University) as he broke 1:50 for the 800m for the first time at the weekend. Running in the Franson Meet in California, Oisín clocked 1:49.98 (PB) when finishing fourth in the race. In the Irish Milers Meet in Belfast, Mollie O'Riordan (Killarney Valley AC) ran a PB of 2:18.38 for the 800m ,which is also a club record. Jack O'Leary (Killarney Valley AC) clocked 1:51.01 for his 800m at the same meet. Oisín Murray (Riocht) ran a PB of 3:45.6 for the International 1,500m also at the same meet in Belfast, finishing 9th in a top-class field.
