Kerry County Novice and Juvenile Relays Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 Text by David Butler. Photos by David Kissane

It was team medal success for the adults and juveniles at Day 3 of the county cross country championships. The men’s novice team of John Lane, Jim O’Meara, Darren Kenny and Fearghal Grimes brought home bronze team medals with Sophie Norris and Noreen Stack running in the women’s race.

To the relays and it was a great start with the U10 boys team off first where Oisín Cashell, Jack Feehan, Tadhg Quille, James Sheehy had a strong performance across the legs of their race. Their combined run saw James bring the boys home in third place to win a bronze medal in one of the largest races of the day.

Next then it was the turn of the two U10 girls team running for the club, on the A team it was Ashleigh McCarthy, Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna & Niamh McGuckin and the B team it was Roisin Flaherty, Muireann O’Sullivan, Amanda Connell Meabh O’Sullivan. Both teams featuring two U9s running stepping up an age to run. Niamh was the first St Brendan’s girl across the line as her team placed 4th just outside the medals. Meabh running the final leg for her team as they finished just close to a top 10 finish.

U12 boys next to the start line as the races ran off quickly in the bright morning sun, Fionn Cashell leading off for the U12 boys before passing to Brandon Scanlon. Brandon gaining a number of positions on his leg using his trademark fast kick from the track. The boys were in 3rd place now at the changeover before the baton passed to Daniel Collins who held his position well before

passing to Jack Sheehy to bring the team home for the bronze medal.

Our two U12 girls' teams, towed the line together. In the A team it was Éabha Cowan, Einín Lawlor, Emma O’Flaherty; Grace McGuckin and in the B team it was Lily Mai Scanlon, Aisling O’Driscoll,

Lillie Feehan and Holly O’Driscoll. Again such was the interest in the relays the club was able to field two teams in this age group with two U11s stepping up for each team. Each athlete gave all for

their teammates to try gain positions across the legs. Grace McGuckin crossed the finish line first for the club as that team placed 4th and Holly O’Driscoll brought home the baton for her team just outside the top 10.

The final action for the club came in the U14 boys race where Corey O’Carroll, Seán Collins, John McCarthy; Conor Slattery lined up. Corey lead off the team with the boys in 2nd after the first

changeover, Sean taking on the baton then keeping the intensity of the run going for the team before passing over to John. John closed ground on the leaders before passing to Conor who

worked steadily throughout his leg and put pressure on the leading team in the finishing tunnel. In the end was 2nd place for the team and a strong result given two athletes on the team were

running out of age.

That closed out the juvenile championships for the club where we placed 4th for the 2nd year in a row but with an improved points total, increased participation at training and competition and

more medals won in the discipline which is a nice trend! Thanks to our club coaches preparing the athletes for the championships since mid-August and for supporting them on the day.

Kerry County Intermediate and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

By David Butler, juvenile head coach. Photo by David Kissane, PRO

Another successful day for the St Brendan’s athletes at the second day of the Kerry County cross

country championships.

Opening the day for the club again was Darren Kenny who was the club’s sole representative in

the adult races. Darren competed in the 7000m Intermediate Men’s race.

In the juvenile races that followed club athletes were successful in both individual and team

events.

Individual medallists

Gold – Cody McKenna for 1 st place in the BU13 race

Silver – Grace Winter for 2 nd place in the GU9 race

Silver – Zach Walshe for 2 nd place in the BU19 race

Bronze – Hollie McKenna for 5 th place in GU9 race

Bronze – James Sheehy for 4 th place in BU11 race

Bronze – Brandon Scanlon for 5th place in the BU11 race

Bronze – Jack Sheehy for 3 rd place in the BU13 race

Bronze – Aodhan Slattery for 5 th place in the BU17 race

Team medallists

Gold – BU13 (Cody McKenna, Jack Sheehy, Conor Slattery, Corey O’Carrroll, Tomás O’Flaherty

Silver – GU9 (Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna, Lauren Scanlon, Meabh O’Sullivan, Muireann

O’Sullivan)

Silver – BU11 (James Sheehy, Brandon Scanlon, Jack Feehan, Liam O’Driscoll)

Congratulations to all our medallists and well done to all the athletes representing the club at the

second day of the championships.

Girls U11 – Niamh McGuckin (7 th ), Ashleigh McCarthy, Emma O’Flaherty, Lily Mai Scanlon, Holly

O’Driscoll, Éabha Cowan

Girls U13 – Grace McGuckin (10 th )

Thanks to all the athletes who represented the club on the day and to the parents for bringing

them to the competition. Thanks to our coaching team for preparing the athletes for the

competition and supporting them on the day.

Kerry County Senior, U20 and Even Age Juvenile Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

By David Butler, St Brendan's AC Juvenile Head Coach.

Photos by David Kissane, PRO.

Well done to our club athletes who competed in Killarney at the Day 1 (21 September 2025) of the county cross country championships.

Individual medalists

Gold – James Sheehy for 1st place in BU10 race

Gold – Jack Sheehy for 1 st place in BU12 race

Silver – Niamh McGuckin for 2 nd place in GU10 race

Bronze – Jack Feehan for 6 th place in GU10 race

Bronze – Grace McGuckin for 5 th place in GU12 race

Bronze – Brandon Scanlon for 5 th place in BU12 race

Bronze – Zach Walshe for 3 rd place in MU20 race

Team medalists

Bronze – GU10 (Aoileann Clifford, Grace Winter, Ashleigh McCarthy, Niamh McGuckin, Hollie

McKenna; Lauren Scanlon)

Bronze – BU12 (Jack Sheehy, Sean Og O’Keefe, Daniel Collins, Brandon Scanlon, Liam O’Driscoll)

Congratulations to all our medalists and well done to all other runners representing the club on

the day.

BU10 – Ollie McCarthy & Tadhg Quille

GU12 – Aisling O'Driscoll, Einín Lawlor, Holly O'Driscoll, Lillie Feehan

BU14 – Corey O’Carroll, Seán Collins

Senior Men – Darren Kenny

National Masters' Track and Field Championship 2025

 

The club brought its largest ever contingent to the 123.ie Athletics Ireland national masters' championships in warm Tullamore on Sat, July 26th. It was an occasion filled with action, fun, a first-ever relay success, one broken toe, personal bests, maiden performances, a few surprises, runs, jumps, throws and walks and , oh yes, All Ireland medals!

The best prepared club squad ever (with months of Monday throws sessions, Tuesday interval sessions and Thursday distance sessions behind them) made their way to the mecca of national masters' athletics on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Valentina and David located a nice groundsman on Friday evening who opened the gate especially for them to set up the club gezebo, sponsored by McElligotts KIA. Then Jim and Geoff arrived, complete with Jim's rainbow toe which had a collision with a Fenit sandstone the previous week but declared good enough to compete both on the track and in the javelin.

Sunblock on, numbers pinned to sky blue vests, warm-ups performed, time-tables checked and all ready for action.

And first in action was newcomer to national action, Noreen Stack. The North Commons flyer entered her first ever national 100m with spikes borrowed from one of our former teen athletes, Jessica Leen. Getting a pair of new spikes to fit properly is like getting a set of dentures for the mouth of the Shannon so Noreen had to abandon socks and off she went like a rocket up the Tullamore home straight in the W60 final. It was a hotty-burny-boy race, with experienced athletes and well fitted spikes burning up the track ahead of the Tralee GP. But, despite the fact that no medal would be around Noreen's neck after the race, she finished with a trade-mark smile that encapsulated the joy of masters' athletics. Noreen's daughter, Marie Clair still has one up on her mom as she won the national Community Games gold medal in the 200m some years ago, but Noreen still had the 200m to come, so could that issue be levelled out! The day would tell!

St Brendan’s AC Results National Masters 2025

Noreen Stack W60: 5th 100m, 17.29 secs; 7th 200m, 38.66 secs

David Kissane M70: gold 5K race walk, 36:46.33; 7th shot, 7.68m and 5th discus, 21.56m

Denis Brosnan M70: silver discus, 24,30m; 4th shot, 8.83m; bronze javelin, 20.86m

Martin Butler M70: 6th discus, 19.02m; 5th WFD, 5.12m

Jim O’Meara M65: 4th javelin 14.58m; 5th 5000m, 22.56.35;

Geoff Stacey M75: gold 5000m, 26:33.14; silver javelin, 17.51m

David Butler M40: 5th WFD, 4.36m; 6th shot, 6.80m

Valentina Tykhonenko W50: bronze WFD, 2.35m; 4th shot, 5.35m; 4th hammer, 17.02m (pb)

Ursula Barrett W45: gold long jump, 4.30m

Linda O’Sullivan W35: gold long jump, 2.78m

Marian McElligott W60: gold race walk 19:54.80

Áine McKenna W45 race walk: TR54.7.1

4 X 100m relay: bronze, 61.87 secs – Ursula Barrett, Linda O’Sullivan, Noreen Stack and Áine McKenna (PB)

Total: 5 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze.

Report and photos by David Kissane, PRO/Chair

BANNA 10K/5K Run/Walk, 2025 - INFO

 

REGISTER HERE

St Brendan’s AC will host the Banna Run 5K & 10K on Sunday, 3rd August 2025 at 9.30 am in Banna, Ardfert, Co Kerry. This is one of the club's main fundraisers and your support would be very much appreciated on the day. 

St Brendan's AC is a vibrant club in the rural North Kerry area. The club caters for athletes of all ages from juveniles to masters. 2025 has been another busy year at St Brendan's AC and all funds from this event go back into the club for the benefit of our athletes.

The route is relatively flat, perfect for chasing PB's and all finishers will get a medal. Tasty home treats will be available after the race and is enjoyed by all each year.

Please note that Athletics Ireland introduced a €2 charge in January 2023. This means that Non AAI members will be charged an additional €2 to take part in this event and is transferred directly to Athletics Ireland.

The price of the event is as follows :

10k - €23  (AAI Member)

10k - €25  (Non AAI Member)

5k -   €15  (AAI Member)

5k -   €17  (Non AAI Member)

5k -   €9   (Student rate / Aged 13-19 yrs on day of event for AAI Members) 

5k - €11 (Student rate / Aged 13-19 yrs on day of event - Non AAI Members)

• Online Registrations until the event sells out
• Walkers are also very welcome to take part

The start of the 5k and 10k is 750m approx. from the Banna Sea Rescue.

To compete in the 5k, participants have to be aged 13 or older on the day of the event as per Athletics Ireland guidelines. 

To compete in the 10k participants need to be aged 15 or older on the day of the event.

The men's winners of the 10k will be presented with the Tom O'Riordan Memorial Shield and First Lady of 10k will be presented with the Chris O'Shea Memorial Shield.

The routes are AAI certified and this a permitted road race. Chip timing will be provided by My Run Results.

St Brendan's AC look forward to welcoming you all to Ardfert again this year on Sunday 3rd August. It is an event that is enjoyed by all so spread the word. 

Munster U14-U19 (incl. 13 walks) Track & Field Championships 2025 Report

 Munster U14-U19 (incl. 13 walks) Track & Field Championships 2025 Report

By David Butler, St Brendan's AC Juvenile Head Coach. Photos by David Kissane

Another weekend on the road for St Brendan’s athletes but again more success was the order of the days. On the individual front our competitors came away with 3x gold medals, 1x silver medal, 1x bronze medal, 2x 4th places and all athletes placed in the top 10 in their events as 5x new personal bests were recorded.

Eoin Wins Again

On the jumps Eoin Malik (BU18) first competed in his favoured triple jump and hit the 13m mark on the button to win the gold medal in his age group. Eoin also competed in the long jump placing 4th in that event.

Gold, Silver and Bronze in Race Walks

Our walkers quartet of Hannah Sheehy, John McCarthy, Colm Fletcher and Tomas O’Flaherty all came away with personal bests and medals with U14s Hannah and John qualified for Nationals. Hannah recorded the second faster time of all the 2000m walker recorded across the boys and girls in the U13-U15 age groups just 1.5 seconds off the overall fastest time.

Aoibhinn's Munster Star Award

During Saturday afternoon Aoibhinn O’Driscoll was a presenting with a Munster Star Award from Munster Athletes as a reward for her stellar performances at Munster level in 2024. Aoibhinn is recovering from injury so was unable to compete on this occasion but we look forward to seeing her back in action for the club next season.

Katie into Nationals

To the throws. Katie Butler (GU14) started Saturday off with Shot Put where she was 5th overall with her 2nd longest throw in competition, then it was onto javelin where she placed 6th equaling her PB. On Sunday, Sean Collins placed in the top 10 in the BU14 javelin. Katie closed off the action for the club on Sunday where she placed 4th in the discus with a new pb and qualified to nationals.

Well Done to Parents and Coaches

Full results for this weekend’s competitors follows, very well done to them on their performances at Munster level and we look forward to national competition in the coming weeks for our qualifiers. Thanks as ever to the parents for bringing the athletes to competition and our coaching team for preparing our athletes and supporting them over the weekend.

Details

U13

Colm Fletcher – 2000m walk, 14:09.31 (pb & Silver medal)

Tomas O’Flaherty – 2000m walks, 14:11.74 (pb & Bronze medal)

U14

Hannah Sheehy – 2000m walks, 12:03.36 (pb & Gold medal)

John McCarthy – 2000m walks, 12:48.94 (pb & Gold medal)

Katie Butler – Javelin, 19.71m (6th place), Shot, 9.17m (5th place), Discus, 16.60m (pb & 4th place)

Seán Collins – Javelin, 19.26m (10th place)

U18

Eoin Malik – Triple Jump, 13m (Gold medal) & Long Jump, 5.80m (4th place)