Day 2 of the Laois Cross Country Championships took place in Abbeyleix on Sunday last. The town was awash with blue and yellow as they geared up for the Senior Hurling Final later that day. At the Cross Country it was St Abbans who were once again out in great numbers with athletes from U9 all the way up to Intermediate. The action got underway with a Fun Run, followed by the U9 girls which got the Championship programme up and running. Underfoot conditions were solid for the most part with one testing section for athletes to navigate. In comparison to the Day 1 the weather was perfect with temperatures unusally high for this time of the year.

Ava Brophy was first home in the Girls U9 leading the St Abbans team of Ava, Meabh Kearney Amelia Flanagan to team gold. In the Boys U9 Conor Keegan took the gold medal individually, while the team of Issac Fitgerald, Conor Boran and Darragh Hosey claimed team gold medals. St Abbans also took bronze medals with Sebastian Harding, Jack Brennan and Donnacha Lynch completing the team.
In the U11 Girls, Roisín Kearney led the field home followed closely by Penelope McMahon in 2nd place and Isabelle Brophy Roberts in 3rd to complete a St Abbans sweep on the podium. Aoife Lawlor completed the team which saw St Abbans take the gold medal in the team competition. Lily Knowles, Amelia Fitzgerald, Kate Kelly and Emilia Pampaliega all packed closely together which saw them claim silver team medals.
The first six athlete’s home in the Boys U11 were all St Abbans athletes. Daire O Sullivan broke the tape, Liam Doyle was 2nd and Edward McDonald 3rd to complete the podium. Paudi Murrin, Daniel Curran and Joseph Lawlor all followed in close behind to ensure St Abbans collected all 3 sets of team medals in the Boys U11 race. Daire, Liam, Edward and Paudi made up the gold medal team, while Daniel Curran, Joseph Lawlor, Callum Kenny and Adam Mooney claimed silver medals and the bronze medals went to Brenin Haughney, Oran MCCarthy, Marcus Harding and Aaron O Connor.

Sinead Fitpatrick claimed gold in the Girls U13 with Aoibheann Carter finishing 3rd. The St Abbans team of Sinead, Aoibheann, Zoe Dunne and Leah Dunphy ensured they claimed gold team medals. The second quartet of Ellie Knowles, Mollie Kelly, Heidi Buggy and Lily O Neill won silver team medals. In the Boys U13 Eoin Dowling, John Conway and Shane Kelly claimed gold, silver and bronze individual medals. Cathal English completed the team which saw them win team gold. Harry Brennan, Josh Delaney, MJ Dowling and Darragh Kennedy combined to win bronze medals for St Abbans.  

In the Girls U15, Katie Hartnett finished in 2nd for silver and Cara English was just behind her in 3rd. Rachel Dooley and Sarah Kennedy completed the team for St Abbans who won gold. In the Boys event Will Duffy was first home and close behind was Adam Kelly in 3rd place. Eoghan Mitchell completed the St Abbans team in 5th place which saw them take gold just ahead of St Micheal’s AC.

Rachel Ayers was the outstanding winner of the the Girls U17 and she also led the team of Aine Carter and Annabel Lawlor to team gold. The Boys U17 was dominated by St Abbans with Finn Craig the winner, John Delaney in 2nd and Micheal Lacey making a return in 3rd, with James Hyland and Cormac Dineen the team won gold.

Once the juvenile programme had finished, it was on to the Intermediate races. Aileen Lynch was our only competitor in the Intermediate ladies where she finished in 3rd place. In the Men’s David McEvoy followed up his Novice victory by finishing in 3rd in this race, behind Jack McMahon and Barry McEvoy. The St Abbans team of David McEvoy, Conor Barry 7th, Billy Ramsbottom 8th, Patrick Dune 9th and Philip O Hara 14th were agonisingly close to team victory just missing out by two points to Oughaval A.C.
 

Once again it was an outstanding showing from all of our athletes on the second day of the Laois Cross Country Championships. Well done to all the coaches, parents and athletes involved. Many thanks to Ballyroan/Abbeyleix and District for hosting the event today. Most athletes will continue their Cross Country season now on the 21st October where Mountain View in Ballyhale Co Kilkenny will host Day 1 of the Leinster Cross Country.