It was an impressive haul for the school as they won the team event in minor girls, junior boys and senior boys and also claimed the bronze team medals in the minor boys and intermediate boys races.

It was the first year in a long time that the event was hosted outside Ballyfin College but the O'Dempsey's GAA ground, with its particularly steep incline to the finish line, made for an ideal and challenging course for the county's young athletes.

Portlaoise CBS were just as impressive as Clonaslee. They completely dominated the minor boys and intermediate boys events, claiming all three individual medals in both races.

They had five of the first six across the line in the minor boys race and the first seven in the intermediate boys. It was also a good day for two of the counties newest schools as Portlaoise College and Mountrath CS both brought home medals.

Mountrath claimed the individual gold in minor girls (Shauna Hogan) and junior girls (Roisin Dunne) as well as the team gold in intermediate girls and team silver in junior boys. Portlaoise College, meanwhile, won the gold team medal in the junior girls race as well as silver and bronze in the senior boys race.

On an individual level, there was some powerful performances. Kate McDonald and Ailish Brennan (both from Heywood) romped home in the intermediate and senior girls respectively while Chris Finn (Portlaoise CBS) and Colin Maher (Clonaslee VS) in the intermediate and senior boys both well in control throughout their respective races.

The next stage for the successful runners is the South Leinster section where they'll be joined by the likes of Mary Mulhare (Presentation Portlaoise), Jason Campion (Portlaoise CBS) and Stephen Attride (Knockbeg College), none of whom competed last Wednesday.


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