Laois Senior Cross Country Championships, Barrowhouse 17/12/2023

Barrowhouse was the setting for the Laois Senor Cross Country Championships. Hosted by St Abban’s A.C on the land of 6 time champion Colm Burke, the underfoot conditions were perfect with the wind providing an additional challenge for athletes. The event also celebrated the 60th year of Men’s Senior Cross Country Championships taking place in Laois and it was great to see a host of previous winners back to celebrate the occasion. The senior women’s race were first to toe the line with pre-race favourite, Mary Mulhare living up to her favourite tag and taking the running up from the gun. As expected Cheryl Nolan tried to follow the early pace that Mary set and both girls broke away from the rest of the group. A real battle developed for 3rd with Kate Connolly, Niamh Staunton and Caitlin McDonald all swapping places on numerous occasions. Mary’s pace didn’t let up throughout the 5km course and she took victory by about 100m ahead of Cheryl Nolan. Caitlin McDonald won the battle for 3rd coming home ahead of Kate Connolly and Niamh Staunton in 4th and 5th. St Abbans won the team competition with a total of 17 points ahead of Oughaval who amassed 46 points. The team of Cheryl Nolan, Caitlin McDonald, Niamh Staunton and Siobhan Burke have achieved back-to-back Laois senior titles.
In the Men’s race, 39 athletes went the line on the 60th occassion of running Laois Senior Cross Country Championships. A large group developed early in the race with 12 athletes all happy to sit and wait for someone else to take up the running. On a number of occasions, different athletes from St Abbans and Balyroan/Abbeyleix and District all went to the front but the group continued towards half way. Around the half way mark the pace did heat up, with Cian McDonald looking to stretch the pace. Jack Fenlon and Cian Kelly followed and soon after Jack had broken clear from the group. Cian Kelly gave chase leaving Brian Kelly, Jack McMahon, Cian McDonald and Conall Whelan battling for 3rd place. Jack continued to press the pace and had about 30 metres on Cian Kelly as the entered the final lap. Cian was well clear in 2nd and the battle for 3rd continued with Brian Kelly leading from Jack McMahon. On the team side of things, St Abbans and Ballyroan/Abbeyleix were very tight with the 5th and 6th runners constantly swapping places. As they emerged over the hill for the final time it was Jack Fenlon, the athlete competing in his first ever Laois Senior Cross Country Championship, had built an unassailable lead celebrated down the home straight to take victory. Cian Kelly finished in 2nd place and Jack McMahon got up for 3rd place. St Abbans packed particularly strongly with Jack and Cian up top, Brian Kelly was close behind in 4th, David McEvoy was next for the club, Colin Coyne and John Fenlon helped to round out the team. It was a soecial day in the Fenlon house with father and son helping St Abban’s to club victory. Balyroan/ Abbeyleix and District finished 2nd in the team competition on 52 points with St Michaels 3rd on 123 points.
A large crowd gathered in Shanganmore NS, Barrowhouse where 60 years of Laois Senior Cross Country running were celebrated. The previous 22 winners of the event were invited back and all of them were presented with a special commemorative medal to mark their achievement. A huge thank you to all at St Abbans for their hosting of the event, a thank you also to Colm Burke and family for the use of their land, thank you also to Shanganmore NS for the use of the school to facilitate presentations. Finally, a huge thank you to the County Board for all of their work in putting the event together.