Markham and Ó Lionaird share the Munster spoils

THE future stars of Irish athletics produced impressive displays at the Kit Kat Munster Schools track and field championships in CIT on Saturday.

Ciarán Ó Lionaird, David McCarthy, Brian Markhan and John Shine continued to build on their growing reputations at the Bishopstown venue.

Ciara Cronin, an exciting new prospect from Waterford, ran 2:11.77 to win the junior 800m title, knocking a second off Paula Sheehan’s record from 1996.

Once again Ó Lionaird (De La Salle, Macroom) and Markham (St Flannan’s) were locked in combat and eventually shared the spoils in the senior boys’ 800m and 1,500m events.

John Shine (Coláiste an Spioraid Naomh) set the pace for an enthralling 800m with a quick opening lap but when Ó Lionaird stormed into the lead with 200 metres to go it appeared the title was his. But Markham, lurking in third place, unleashed his effort off the final bend to win in spectacular fashion in 1:55.80 with Ó Lionaird second in 1:56.14 and Shine third in 1:57.22.

The same trio dominated the 1,500m, but this time Ó Lionaird, who has qualified at the distance for both the European Youth Olympics and the world youths championships in Marrakech, won impressively in 4:02.32 from Markham, 4:07.03, and Shine, claiming his place in the All-Irelands in Tullamore in two weeks’ time in 4:08.25.

There was never going to be any doubt about the intermediate boys’ 800m. David McCarthy, another with a European Youth Olympic qualifying standard, won with ease in 1:53.39.

It was slightly outside the 1:52.9 he ran at the East Munsters in Waterford but it again bettered the Irish schools record which James Nolan set at 1:54.6 and which will be his target at the Irish schools championships in Tullamore on June 4. The 16-year-old completed an exciting afternoon by equalling his personal best of 51.50 secs to add the 400m title to his string of successes.

Derek Duff (Glanmire CC) turned in a powerful sprinting performance to win the senior boys’ 100m in 10.97 secs and the 200m in 22.20 secs, ahead of Cian Aherne (Crescent CC) on both occasions in 11.05 secs and 22.80 secs.

Christopher Crowley (Coláiste Chriost Rí), who set the record at 2:01 last year, returned to winning form after the South Munsters to win the high jump at 1.80m but also the long jump at 6.73m.

Timmy Harrington (Kinsale CS) won the junior boys’ long-jump with a best of 6.47 metres, obliterating the record set by Owen Verling (Hamilton High School) at 6.30m in 1989. Harrington won the triple jump with 11.86m and then took the bronze medal in the discus.

In the senior girls’ competition, Kelly Proper (St Paul’s, Waterford) won the 200m in 25.42 secs from Eimer Crowley (Intermediate School, Killorglin), 25.67 and Laura Crowe (Presentation, Tralee) 26.36 secs.

Proper completed a double in the 100m hurdles while Crowe won the 800m in 2:14.72 and finished second in the 400m which was won by Claire McSweeney (St Aloysius, Carrigtwohill) in 57.35 secs.

The intermediate girls’ discus saw Eadaoín Ashe (Ardscoil na nDéise) take the title with 31.70m with Sarah Bradfield (Bandon GS) second with 30.93m and Karen O’Connor (St Joseph’s, Abbeyfeale) third with 29.18m. St Augustine’s, Dungarvan, were in the thick of everything and Br Lennon’s squad won the Overall Cup for a sensational 15th successive year.