Sports briefs: Irish titles and final hopefuls
Moy Valley racewalker Jake O'Brien after competing in the U23 Men's Walk 3k final.
Athletics: The width of a sheet of paper is all that separated Jake O’Brien (pictured) from claiming the gold medal in Saturday’s men’s U23 3K Walk at the 123.ie Junior and U23 Indoor Championships. The Keelogues teenager, who represents Moy Valley AC, went head to head with Matthew Glennon in what turned into a thrilling contest, but it was the Mullingar Harriers AC walker who pipped O’Brien by .5 of a second, taking the title in a winning time of 12:09.49 ahead of Jake O’Brien’s 12:09.99.
There was lots of other local interest in the championships which were held at the TUS International Arena in Athlone.
Caoimhe McDonagh of South Sligo AC took part in the U23 triple jump, finishing second by 58cm to Anna Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC with a jump of 11.24m.
Mark Wallace of St Colman’s South Mayo AC took part in both the U23 men’s triple jump and long jump, finishing sixth and eighth respectively, while his clubmate Moya O’Connell was sixth in the women’s U23 60m hurdles.
Cathal Kennedy of Claremorris AC raced to a seventh place finish in the U23 800m.
Boxing: Carlagh Peake added to her ever-growing list of accolades when she was crowned U18 national champion at 50kg at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.
The remarkable achievement of Ballyhaunis BC fighter is all the more impressive as Carlagh is the first female boxer to bring home an U18 title to the East Mayo club – and the first boxer overall to win this type of title since the reign of Darren Cruise 15 years ago.
Carlagh dedicated her title to her grandmother Patsy Gleeson who sadly passed away in June last year.
There was also success for St Anne’s Boxing Club’s Padraig Corduff of Westport, who beat Shay O’Dowd (Swords) to be crowned national champion at 80kg level.
It was not to be for Geesala’s Daniel McDonagh however, as he was narrowly beaten by Edward Barrett (Titans) in the 75kg final.
GAA: A host of Mayo secondary schools will be looking to book their places in the finals of the Connacht Post Primary Schools Football Championship this week.
Rice College, Westport, will travel to The Neale to take on Coláiste Baile Chláir in the senior ‘A’ semi-final tomorrow (Wednesday). The throw-in is at 12.30pm.
The winners of that game will play either St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, or Summerhill College, Sligo, with that semi-final to be played at the Connacht GAA Centre, Bekan, this Friday, January 26, at 7pm.
St Muredach’s College of Ballina will face Carrick-on-Shannon Community School in the senior ‘B’ semi-final tomorrow (Wednesday) and Ballyhaunis Community School will play either St Joseph’s College, Foxford or Ballinamore Community School in the senior ‘C’ semi-final at 12.30pm on Friday, January 26, in the Connacht GAA Centre. The St Joe’s v Ballinamore game is down for decision (tomorrow) at 12.30pm in Bekan. Extra-time will be played in all games if necessary.
Camogie: The draws for this year’s Glen Dimplex All Ireland Camogie Championships were released by the Camogie Association yesterday (Monday).
Mayo have been drawn in a six-team Group 2 in the Premier Junior Championship, alongside Laois, Roscommon, Cavan, Louth and Limerick. The group sees four teams who qualified for the knockout stages in their respective 2023 competitions.
Group 1 is set to be equally exciting one, with five counties competing: Tipperary, Armagh, Tyrone, Down and Wicklow. Tipperary and Armagh both came close to Championship success in 2023.
The championships will commence on Saturday, May 25 and will culminate in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior, Intermediate and Senior Championships in Croke Park on Sunday, August 11.
