𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐁 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

 

Text by David Butler. Photos by David Butler & Mags McKenna

Cork Athletics Cross Country grounds in Slieveroe Riverstick is a drone free zone due to being on the flight path to Cork Airport but it was far from a medal free zone for St Brendan’s juvenile athletes today.

Hollie McKenna started off Super Sunday with a great run in the U9 girls 750m where she placed 22nd overall and was the second Kerry athlete across the line. Combining her results with her county mates from Kenmare and Tralee Harriers the girls won a bronze county medal. An excellent achievement for these girls to win a Munster medal in their first year of athletics.

James Sheehy who started off fast in the U11 boys 1000m race to get into a great position in the lead group. With 128 boys running in this race and James stepping up from his U10 age group this was not going to be an easy run but James kept pushing the whole way through the race and crossed the line in 5th place to win a bronze medal. James was the first Kerry athlete across the line with the county team placing 4th.

After watching his clubmates races Cody McKenna toed the line in the U13 boys 1500m race. Cody used his trademark speed right from the off to get to the front of the race over the first 100m. He kept his position throughout and delivered an outstanding run to lead the pack of 77 boys around the undulating leg sapping course. Pushing all the way up the same final climb as Hollie and James before him Cody finished strong and in his case to win the gold medal for 1st place. Cody was followed soon after by a large contingent of Kerry athletes and combined together with the scores from the boys from Iveragh and Star of the Laune the boys won a silver medal for the county.

Congratulations to our trio on their excellent performances and to all Kerry athletes on the day. Thanks to the parents for bringing them to represent the club and thanks to our coaching team for preparing the athletes and supporting them on the day.

Munster Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

Text by David Butler. Photos by David Butler, Mags McKenna, Gary Scanlon

Zach Walshe won a bronze medal for his 10th place finish in the U19 boys 5000m race. Zach made his debut for his club 10 years ago and has gone from strength to strength every year. Winning that elusive Munster A cross country medal in his last year as a juvenile athlete before moving to the senior races was a great reward for him.

Brandon Scanlon raced in the U11 boys 1500m and won a bronze medal as part of the Kerry county team as they placed 3rd in the race. In the individual race he placed 34 out of a huge field of 155 runners. This was Brandon’s first time racing at Munster Cross Country and he has qualified to Nationals with the Kerry county team, scheduled for Sunday Dec 7th in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Our youngest athletes on the day were Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna & Lauren Scanlon also making their Munster Cross Country debuts in U9 girls 750m race. Big numbers in this race with 121 finishers but the girls did fantastic and gained great experience from it all. Grace (48th) was the first of our trio across the line with Hollie (77th) and then Lauren (93rd). Grace and Hollie both scored on the Kerry county team that placed 5th.

Cody McKenna and Jack Sheehy had strong performances in the U13 boys 2500m race with both boys scoring on the Kerry county team that placed 4th. The boys gained many places throughout the races and finished well up the individual placings with Cody in 19th and Jack 26th out of 121 finishers.

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