Sportshall Games 2025

 

Well done to all of our athletes who participated in the Kerry Sportshall Games where the club placed joint 3rd overall in a close competition. This development competition is often the first occasion many new club athletes get to make their debut for the club and it was no different this year with 23 athletes competing for the club for the very first time. There was success across all the age groups in the full range of events, starting with the U9s where Lauren, Muireann and Grace made it a clean sweep for the club in the sprints through to U12s where Caoimhe won bronze in the shot put and Fionn winning gold in standing long jump and bronze in sprints. Our relay teams were to the fore as all runners gave their best for the teams with gold medals won by our U9 Girls, U10 & U11 Boys, silver medals for the U12 Girls and bronze for the U9 Boys. Thanks to Kerry Athletics for hosting the event this year and all volunteers who helped to run off the events. Thanks to our club coaches for preparing the athletes for the competition and supporting them on the day and to the parents supporting our efforts in bringing the athletes to the competition.

In action today was

U9 Girls

Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna, Kate Flaherty, Lauren Scanlon, Meabh O'Sullivan, Muireann O'Sullivan

U9 Boys

Conor Lawlor, Donal Casey, Eoin O’Regan, Jack Flaherty, Jamie O’Driscoll, Micheál McCarthy

U10 Girls

Amanda Connell, Anna Winter, Aoife Clifford, Aoileann Clifford, Ashleigh McCarthy, Caoimhe O’Halloran, Roisin Flaherty

U10 Boys

Alex Diggins, Jay Hanafin, Liam Bunyan, Odhran Brosnan, Oisín Cashell, Seán Maguire, Tadhg Quille

U11 Girls

Cassie O'Connor, Hazel O’Regan, Holly O’Driscoll, Lily Mai Scanlon

U11 Boys

Liam O'Driscoll

U12 Girls

Amelia Dineen, Caoimhe O’Driscoll, Ella Casey, Ella O’Sullivan, Grace McGuckin, Kara Lawlor, Lillie Feehan, Millie Flavin, Roisín Diggins, Sarah Duggan

U12 Boys

Fionn Cashell, Tomàs Brosnan

Individual medallists

U9

Grace Winter, Gold in Speedbounce

Hollie McKenna, Bronze in Speedbounce

Lauren Scanlon, Gold in Sprint, Gold in Standing Long Jump

U10

Ashleigh McCarthy, Silver in Speedbounce

U12

Caoimhe O’Driscoll, Bronze in Shot Put

Emma Joy, Silver in Standing Long Jump

Fionn Cashell, Gold in Standing Long Jump, Bronze in Sprints

Relay medallists

U9 Girls Gold – Hollie McKenna, Grace Winter, Lauren Scanlon, Muireann O’Sullivan, Kate Flaherty, Meabh O’Sullivan

U9 Boys Bronze – Conor Lawlor, Michéal McCarthy, Jamie O’Driscoll, Donal Casey, Jack Flaherty

U10 Boys Gold – Michéal McCarthy, Oisin Cashell, Liam Bunyan, Seán Maguire, Donal Casey

U11 Boys Gold – Liam O’Driscoll, Oisin Cashell, Liam Bunyan, Seán Maguire

U12 Girls Silver – Roisin Diggins, Caoimhe O’Driscoll, Grace McGuckin, Emma Joy

David Butler, Head Juvenile Coach

National Juvenile Indoor Championships 2025

Jack Sheehy is the National U12 Boys Indoors Champion, a headline performance from a young athlete. Jack opened his account today today with a jump of 4.23m to take the lead in the event. He did not cede that lead and improved firstly to 4.26m in his second jump but kept his best till last. Going into the top 8 final Jack again jumped 4.26m as his nearest competitor closed to 4.23m, a valuable mark should countback come into place but with the gold medal secured Jack jumped last in the final round and he closed out the event with a jump of 4.31m. An exciting moment for Jack, his family and all associated with our club to see an athlete win a National gold medal at such a young age.

In the early afternoon then Conor Slattery competed in the BU13 shot putt and threw further than his old personal best of 8.84m on two occasions and made the final. Conor’s first throw of 8.74m was a good opener but then he fired the shot to 9.01m on the 2nd round and 9m on the 3rd round to show fine consistency. He qualified for the final when all the throws were completed he placed 7th overall with his mark of 9.01 in a tight competition. This was Conor’s first time reaching an individual National final and an experience he relished and is he looking forward to competed in the high jump next weekend.

Closing out the day for the club was Eoin Malik in the BU18 long jump. Eoin’s opening jump of 5.71m put him into contention for the podium positions and he reached the final in 4th place. Working his way through the rounds Eoin’s mark improved in the 5th round where he was rewarded with a season’s best long jump of 5.89m. A slight break on that final jump as he pushed towards the medal positions saw Eoin place 5th overall. Eoin will be back jumping in Athlone next Saturday in the triple jump.

Well done to our athletes today, thanks to their parents for bringing them to the competition and our club coaches for preparing the athletes for today’s events.

Hannah’s Bronze and PB

A second national medal for St Brendan’s and for the Sheehy family and this time it was Hannah Sheehy bringing home a bronze medal in a superb performance in the GU14 race walk in her debut at National level. Hannah was simply irrepressible right from the start going off as a fast pace to ensure a good position. Over the next 5 laps she gave it everything and her level of pure determination whilst maintaining the correct style caused her nearest competitors to draw the eyes of the judges as they tried everything to keep with Hannah. Hannah crossed the line in a massive pb time of 5:26.35, her previous best for the distance was 6.03.03. There was an anxious wait then to see was it going to 3rd or 4th for Hannah and when the judges’ scorecards came in Hannah was confirmed to 3rd place and great celebrations for all. A performance that will stick in the memory for a long time, this is the first national juvenile medal by one of our club walkers since the walks programme resumed at the club under the coaching David Kissane in 2022 and will provide great inspiration for the future.

Maddison’s Triple Jump

Earlier in the day Maddison O’Connor completed in GU16 triple jump. This was Maddison 2nd time competing at national indoors and opened her jumps account of the day with 8.82m. With a pb of 8.96m, Maddison had set target of 9m set for the day she made adjustments in each round to try set a mark across that threshold. With her jumps completed, 8.82m was her best jump on the day as she placed 16th overall in her age group.

John’s New PB and 7th Place

Back to the walks and it was John McCarthy who was next on the track in the BU14 race. John showed great form and jockeyed for position throughout the race. Coming into the home straight it looked like a sub 6 K was on the cards for John and a huge pb (his pb was 6:40.45) and crossing the line there was a broad smile on his face when he saw the time of 5:53.72. His position was confirmed as 7th overall in his debut at national competition.

Oisín’s 5th Place and New PB

Our final athlete in action on Day 2 was Oisín Fletcher who no doubt was inspired by his club mates for his BU15 1K race. Working hard from the start he was in close quarters with other competitors in the event as each place was challenged for. Oisín’s pb going into the event was 6:27.50. He showed good pace over the course and a clean style Oisín crossed the line in a great time of 6:16.35, a new personal and was classified in 5th place for his first time at national indoors.

Thank You

That closes off Day 1 & Day 2 of the national juvenile Indoors. Very well done to all our athletes on their performances and thank you to our club coaches for preparing them to give their best on the day. Thanks as ever to the parents for supporting our efforts and bringing the athletes on the long trip to the middle of the country.