All Ireland Schools - Tullamore 31 May 2014

Deirdre Healy had a great win today in the All Ireland schools senior girls 3,000m. Deirdre took the lead from the start and after passing 1600m in 5 mins .20 sec she had opened up a 25m lead over the chasing pack.  She then appeared to go through a tough patch and with a lap to go Aoife Richardson had worked her way back to be within 10m but Deirdre showed all her experience and determination to maintain her lead in a great last lap. Her winning time was 10 min 29 sec - a new PB and club record by over 5 seconds

Aine O'Connor continues to improve with every race and she posted another PB of 5 min 39 sec in the u 16 girls mile when finishing a magnificient seventh, one day after winning the Ratoath schools Fairyhouse run in a new girls record of 10 min 05 sec. At the same event, Philip Marron won the male equivalent in 8 min 37 sec - another course record

Leinster Juvenile Relay Championships Report

The Leinster Juvenile Relays were held last Saturday at Shoreline Sports Park, Greystones, we had 8 teams competing from the club from U9-14. The uneven age groups were on in the morning session, the U9 girls’ team of Ciara Coroner, Erin O’ Reilly, Cara O’ Sullivan and Caoimhe Fitzsimons made their Leinster debut and put in a terrific performance to place third is a closely fought race to win the first medals of the day for the club. Next up were the U11 girls team of Sophie Quinn, Laura Kelly, Aimee Doherty and Molly Keane, the girls finished 2^nd in their heat and qualified for the final where they placed 4^th, a great performance from the girls. The u13 boys’ team of Matthew Buckley, Tom Kilgannon, Brian Kiely and Kevin Conway were very unfortunate in their heat; the lads dropped the baton and were unable to recover in time to make the final.  The lads were in great form coming in to this competition and would have been in the medals based on their training times, they will be back to fight another day. The u13 girls’ team of Emma Coroner, Kate Smith, Aoife Rutherford, Emma O’ Connell and Lili O’Connor were comfortable winners of their heat and ran a great final to place 3^rd in another close finish.

The afternoon session brought our u10 boys and girls teams into action, this was also a Leinster debut for the u10 teams, both teams qualified from their heats for the final, the boys team of Christopher Dunne, Harry O’ Connor, Cian Crawford and Eoin Kane put in a great run in the final finishing 5^th. The girl’s team of Niamh Murray, Ava Faye, Sophie Quinn and Laura Kelly were involved in one of the closest finishes of the day; the girls combined very well and were narrowly beaten into silver on the line by St. Josephs with a time difference of only 6 hundreds of a second. The U12 girls team of Emma O’ Connell. Lili O’ Connor, Aimee Doherty, Aoife Rutherford and Ella Healy were impressive in qualifying from their heat, the girls then went on to win their final in a time of 58.88s. The best performance of the day came from the girls u14 team who finished 2^nd in a very competitive field, the girls team of Aine Cooney, Ivie Okome, Lara Power and Emma Coroner were only running together as a team for the second time but had faultless change overs and were not far behind the winning team and All Ireland Champions St. Laurence O’ Tooles.  The girls time on the day 54.24s was also a new club seniors women’s record.

Thanks to everyone who made the trip to Greystones and best of luck to our teams who have qualified for the All Irelands in June & July.

Meath Inter Club League- Day 3

Day 3 of the Meath inter club league takes place this Wednesday at Claremont Stadium Navan commencing at 7pm. We would like to encourage all of our juvenile, Junior, Senior and Master athletes to attend.

Wednesday 28th May - 7.00pm

Program: Day 3

Boys & Girls			Born
U9	60m	Ball Throw	2006
U10	300m	Ball Throw	2005
U11	60m	Ball Throw	2004
U12	600m	Shot	2003
U13	600m	Long Jump	2002
U14	200m	Shot	2001
U15	200m	Long Jump	2000
U16	200m	Shot	1999

 U18 (Non League) 1500m

Junior, Senior & Masters League & Championship Events 1,500m & Shot Putt - 8.30pm

Meath Athletics Hurdles Workshop in Cushinstown Tues 27th May

There will be a hurdles workshop/session in Cushinstown this Tuesday the 27th May with Brian Corcoran.  All welcome.

6.30-7.30pm U11 - U14
7.30-8.30pm U15 upwards (Please arrive @ 7pm for warm up to commence session @ 7.30pm)

Any queries please contact either Aideen Murray 087-9893274 or Maggie Higgins 087-2866815.

Meath Club Track Relays

 

The Meath club track relays were held last Wednesday night at Claremont stadium Navan, We had an incredible 30 teams competing on the night from u9s to Senior’s level. The club had its best championships ever winning gold in 8 of the 16 juvenile events, along with 3 sliver and 3 bronze. We also won the senior medley relay and took silver in the junior and senior men's 4x100m relay events.

Results:

Girls

U9 Girls Blue Team 1^st, Yellow Team 4^th, Red Team 4^th in heats                                                    

U10 Girls Blue3 Team 1^st, Yellow Team 3^rd, Red Team 6th

U11 Girls Blue Team 3^rd, Yellow team 3^rd in heats

U12 Girls Blue Team 1^st, Yellow Team 3^rd in Heats

U13 Girls Blue Team 1^st, Yellow Team 2^nd

U14 Girls Team 2^nd, Yellow Team 4^th

U15 Girls Team 1^st

U16 Girls Blue Team 3^rd, Yellow Team 4^th

Boys

U9 Boys Team 4^th

U10 Boys Blue Team 2^nd (DSQ Later) Yellow Team 3^rd

U11 Boys Team 1^st

U12 Boys Team 4^th

U13 Boys Team 1^st

U14 Boys Team 1^st

U15 Boys Team 6^th

U16 Boys Team 2^nd

Junior Men’s Team 2^nd

Senior Men’s Blue  Team 2^nd, Yellow Team 3^rd (DSQ Later)

Senior Men’s Medley Team 1^st

Great credit to all parents and athletes who attended in large numbers on the night. The Club would like to apologise to parents and especially our younger athletes for the late finishing time of the event, this matter will be brought to the attention of Meath County Board at the next monthly meeting.

RATOATH/RATHBEGGAN COMMUNITY GAMES REMEMBERS ANDY EIFFE

ANDY EIFFE the man who started Ratoath/Rathbeggan Community  Games over forty years ago was remembered  when the athletics competitions took place recently at the Ratoath Athletic club track in Jamestown.   

Since Community Games started in Meath in 1971, Ratoath /Rathbeggan have been ever present and today it is one of the best organised areas in the county giving children up to the age of 15 an opportunity to participate and represent their area in a wide range of sporting and cultural activities.

During his lifetime Andy Eiffe made a huge contribution to the sporting and community life of his beloved Ratoath.  In his younger days Andy was a great athlete and was a Meath 100 yards champion as it was then. He also played GAA with Ratoath. Andy really came into his own a sports organiser/ administrator.  He was mentor to generations of young GAA players in Ratoath. He was a Director/Secretary of a Ratoath Development  company which brought soccer, GAA & Pitch and Putt together at the Codliss on the Skyne Road.  As well as bringing Community Games to Ratoath he was also one of the founder members   in the early 1970’s of an athletic club in Ratoath called Oliver Plunketts which is the forerunner to the current Ratoath Athletic Club. Later he was instrumental in purchasing the land at Brownstown for the GAA club where their great facilities are now located.

Community Games and ANDY EIFFE were a perfect fit. In the early days of the games in Ratoath under Andy’s stewardship there was a great success for Ratoath children at both county and national level. Among those who were successful were Andy’s two sons Sean & Brian. Sean was a great GAA footballer and represented Meath at minor and junior level.  Brian was a serious runner and won national titles in the  100 meters at various age levels in community games. He later was an international standard sprinter in the 1980’s.

Andy died in June 2000 but he has left a massive legacy of community involvement and achievement. Tragically less then eighteen months after his own death, Andy’s eldest son Sean was killed while working as a member  of An Garda Siochana as a Detective Sergeant on duty on an operation at Abbeyleix, Co Laois. The GAA grounds in Ratoath are named after Sean.

Andy would have been very proud of the numbers and the standard of the 2014 community games athletics competition. This group will be the strongest in years representing Ratoath/Rathbeggan in county finals in Cushionstown in June.  The rise in the standard of athletics reflects the rapid growth and great coaching provided by Ratoath Athletic Club. The club is flourishing and is now has the largest membership of any sporting club in the area for children under 16.

There huge numbers in the younger age group with a 4,5and 6 categories with many of the participant’s athletic debutantes. In the girls events the most competitive race of the night was the girls under 12 100 meters where Ella Healy prevailed in a great race. Aimee Doherty was a pillar to post winner in the 600 meters at the same age group. Also at this age group Emma Scattergood and Aoife Rutherford  won the long jump and ball throw  events respectfully. Laura Kelly had a double in the under 10’s winning the 100 & 200 meters.  There was fierce competition in the under 14 age group also.  The versatile Karen Hayes took 800m and then doubled up in the Puc Fada. Emma Coroner also doubled up at this age group winning gold in the hurdles and long jump. Lara Power took gold in the Shot Putt and last year’s community games national under 12 100 meters champion Ivie Okomo won the u 14 100 meters although she was pressed hard right to the line by Aine Cooney. It was great to see such large numbers of girls in the under 16 age group where Katie Lewis took the 100 meters and Aine O’Connor looked very impressive winning the 1500 meters despite very bad weather conditions which affected the end of the programme.

The overall impression - dare one say it  - of the boys competition, was   that it was not quite as competitive as the girls. Normally in Community Games the competition tapers off in the older age groups. In the under 16 boys this was certainly not the case with a dead heat in the 100 meters between Brian Kieran and Peter Kilgannon. The 1500 meters was a through run race in dreadful weather conditions where winner  Philip Marron looks a real prospect although the runner up Alex Hunter kept him honest with his usual doughty display.  Matthew Buckley dominated the under 14 category with three golds and was especially impressive in the 100 meters.  Tom Kilgannon dominated the under 12 age group  also with 3 victories. Special mention to Sean Murphy who won the Puc Fada. This  lad pucked the sliother 90 meters (where the ball stops)  - not bad for an eleven year old. Stars of the future  could have been unearthed in the under 10 and under 8 age groups with Kyle Witter with three wins  at under10 and Cian Maye with two wins at under 8.  Sean Buchanan won the under 12 ball throw while at under 14 Krisada Cooke  took the honours in the Shot Putt and Dara Casey emerged victorious in the Long jump.  

It was a great night of Athletics at the Jamestown venue. The Community Games committee remembered ANDY EIFFE with a short ceremony during the competition. A citation was read and presentation from the Community Games Children of 2014  - represented by Katie Doherty and Tom Kilgannon  - was made to Andy’s wife Alice  who was accompanied by her daughter Meave Flood.

Ratoath /Rathbeggan Community Games 2014

Girls Results- Girls U4-1. Sienna McCarthy 2. Doireen O’Sullivan 3.Megan Lane: Girls U5 – 1.Cara O’Neill; 2. Daisy Mae; 3. Sarah Murphy; 4. Erin Grace; Girls U6 – 1. Ava Scarrett, 2. Melissa Connolly, 3. Rachel Hyland, 4. Louise Byrne;Girls U8 1.Katie Doherty 2.Molly Kearns 3.Erin O’Reilly 4.Caroline Byrne; Girls U8 80 m-1.Katie Doherty 2 .Kate Raftery 3.Erin O’Reilly 4. Molly Kearns & Emily Malone; Girls U10 100m -1.Laura Kelly 2.Bronagh O’Sullivan 3.Ava Fay 4.Aibha Forde; Girls U10 200m-1.Laura Kelly 2.Laura Smith 3.Niamh Murray 4.Ciara Coroner; Girls U10 60m Hurdles-1.Eilis O’Farrell 2.Bronagh O’Sullivan 3.Laura Kelly 4.Laura Smith; Girls U12 100m -1.Ella Healy 2.Aoife Rutherford 3.Emma O’ Connell 4. Aimee Doherty; Girls U12 600m -1. Aimee Doherty 2. Ella Healy 3.Emma Scattergood 4.Molly O’Toole; Girls U12 Ball Throw-1. Aoife Rutherford 2. Molly O’Toole 3.Matilda Ruhan; Girls U12 Long Jump-1. Emma Scattergood 2. Laoise Murphy 3.Orla Hayes; Girls U14 100m -1.Ivie O’Kome 2.Aine Cooney 3.Emma Coroner 4. Lara Power; Girls U14 800m-1. Karen Hayes 2. Kate Smith 3.Maria Rogers 4.Sophie Dunne; Girls U14 Shot Putt-1. Lara Power 2. Karen Hayes 3.Nicola Breslin 4.Rachel Doherty; Girls U14 Long Jump-1. Emma Coroner 2. Karen Hayes 3.Lara Power; Girls U14 Long Puck-1. Karen Hayes 2. Aoife Kelly 3. Rachel Doherty; Girls U14 80m Hurdles-1. Emma Coroner 2. Lara Power 3. Maria Rogers 4. Aine Cooney; Girls U16 100m -1.Katie Lewis 2.Aine O’Connor 3.Kate Byrne 4. Lauren Kelly; Girls U16 1500m -1. Aine O’Connor 2. Jennifer Bradley 3.Alba Walsh

Boys  Results - Boys U4 – 1. Michael Murray, 2. Jacob Brady, 3. Max Wyatt, 4. Cillian Owens & Matthew Maher; Boys U5 – 1. Sean O’Sullivan, 2. Adam Forde, 3. Ben, 4. Luke Rafferty; Boys U6 – 1. Dennis OLara, 2. Matthew Lynch, 3. Sennan Lynch, 4. Cormac O’Flaherty; Boys U8 60m  – 1. Cian Maye, 2. Fionn Heffernan, 3. Louis Finglas, 4. Jack Kelly & Aaron Bisselle; Boys U8 80m – 1. Cian Maye, 2. Fionn Heffernan, 3. Louis Finglas, 4. Robert Hayes; Boys U10 100m  – 1. Kyle Witter, 2. Michael O Hoka, 3. Christopher Dunne; Boys U10 200m – 1. Kyle Witter, 2. Sam Carey, 3. Christopher Dunne; Boys U10 60m Hurdles – 1. Kyle Witter, 2. Cian Crawford, 3. John O’Connell, 4. Christopher Dunne; Boys U12 100m  - 1. Tom Kilgannon, 2. Brian Kiely, 3. Brandon Barnes, 4. Oisin Kelly; Boys U12 600m – 1. Tom Kilgannon, 2. Oisin Kelly, 3. Fionn Drummond, 4. Tony McCann; Boys U12 Long Puck – 1. Sean Murphy, 2. Will Lanigan, 3. Sean Goggan; Boys U12 Ball Throw – 1. Sean Buchanan, 2. Tom Kilgannon, 3. Oisin Kelly, 4. Will Lanigan; Boys U12 Long Jump – 1. Tom Kilgannon, 2. Fionn Drummond, 3. Oisin Kelly; Boys U14 100m – 1. Matthew Buckley, 2. Krisada Cooke, 3. Dara Casey, 4. Fergal Kilgannon; Boys U14 800m – 1. Matthew Buckley, 2. Harry Bailey, 3. Dara Casey, 4. Fergal  Kilgannon; Boys U14 80m Hurdles – 1. Matthew Buckley, 2. Krisada Cooke, 3. Dara Casey; Boys U14 Shot Putt – 1. Krisada Cooke, 2. Evan Maher, 3. Daniel O Hoka, 4. Ross Healy; Boys U14 Long Jump – 1. Dara Casey, 2. Krisada Cooke, 3. Tomas Brady; Boys U16 100m -  1. Brian Kiernan & Peter Kilgannon, 2. Stephen Shaw, 3. Gareth Doyle & Paddy Petrovich; Boys U16 1500m – 1. Philip Marron, 2. Alex Hunter, 3. Peter Kilgannon