Kerryman Article 29/3/10

The recent Munster road Championships in Ballyea, Co. Clare, saw the county continue its strong tradition by claiming high rankings in many of the team events. In the men’s race the Kerry edged out Tipperary to take first place in the team event. Led home by Cian Murphy, Iveragh, in fifth place the other members of the team were Brain Murphy, Iveragh in eight, Arthur Fitzgerald, Farranfore Maine Valley in eleventh as well as Frank Mangan, Ed Murphy and John Barrett. In the novice men’s section the results of Brian, Arthur, Frank and Ed were added along with those of Sean Cahalane of Gneeveguilla and Cian Hogan of An Riocht but a strong performance by the Tipperary novice team saw them reverse the Senior places and take first overall county with Kerry in second.

In the novice women’s section Anna-Marie Costelloe put in an excellent performance to finish in second place, which bought her in in forth in the senior race. Niamh O’Sullivan of An Riocht was second in the senior race and these two finishes got Kerry third in the county team event when added to the results of Clan Barrett with Breda showing no family sentimentality by finishing one place ahead of her daughter Siobhan.

Two athletes from Farranfore Maine Valley made the trip to Lee Valley in Enfield for the BMAF British Masters Indoor Championships over the weekend. Jim O’Shea, one of the counties most prolific jumpers and administrators, had a convincing win in the M65 high jump clearing 1.31 to beat the best Britain could throw at him. Fellow club mate Michael O’Connor didn’t appear too rusty in the M60 3000m walk, an event he has only recently returned to after an absence of a few years. While he finished over a minute ahead of the next British competitor he was just piped to the line by another Irish athlete which should set up a good grudge match for the Irish Masters Outdoor Championships in August.

On Easter Monday, April 5^th, Gneeveguilla AC will hold the 20^th annual Jack O’Keeffe Festival of Road Races with a 4 mile race from Boherbue to Kiskeam starting at 2pm. Prizes will be awarded for the first 10 finishers in the Senior men’s race, the first 3 in the junior men’s and men’s O35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60. In the women’s there will be prizes for the first 6 in the senior race and the first 3 finishers in the women’s and women’s O35, 40, 45 and 50 as well as Fit 4 Life, Team prizes and first local male and male unplaced.  All finishers will also receive a competition t-shirt. Starting at 12 noon is a juvenile race for boys and girls born 1996 to 2005 and a non-competitive 2 mile walk starting at 1pm. All entries will be taken at Kiskeam GAA club where refreshments will be served after the races as well as a prize draw. Not a day to be missed for any road race fans. For more information contact 064 7756309 or 0879339087.