March 19, 2018 
A week of snow, followed by torrential rain, ensured the course in Carriagnore for the All Ireland schools was a brilliant display of slimey, deep and deliberate muck. Never before have I seen this tough course display such depths of mud and such slippy conditions. Even standing at the top of the hill watching the race – has one sliding backwards towards what seems like middle earth.
The day got off to a great start with Tadgh Connolly of St Senans AC running for the Abbey CC finishing 6th abd St Kierans college finishing 2nd in the minor boys. Tadgh started off strongly and pretty much maintained his 6th place for the duration of the race. The St Kierans boys, they were so so agonisingly close to winning the team event – jiust 4 points adrift of Nenagh CBS. On another day with better conditions the title would surely have been St Kierans. The team consisted of Tom Lodge (KCH), David Williams (St Senans), Killian Doylle, Rob Ring, Padraig Naddy, Mick Carroll, Joe Kearns, Conor Kavanagh.
The Loreto girls could not have done any better than they did – with a 1,5 and 10th placings, they were easy winners of the team title. Elenore Goddin (KCH) upset the odds by coming through the latter half of the race strongly to over take long time leader Hannah Kehoe (Gowran). Leinster Champion Fiona Dillon (Thomastown) was 10th. Both Elenore and Hannah now qualify for the Schools International in Nottingham in 2 weeks time.
St Kierans had one representative in the Intermediate boys – Kevin Burns who finished 44th. The Intermediate ladies saw Loreto girls take the bronze team medal. Hannah O’Keeffe Thomastown representing Loreto finished 8th and thus qualified for the International Schools Cross Country in Nottingham. Tara Ramsawmy St Senans, representing the Presentation Waterford was in 9th place and must wait her international fate until Tuesday.
The Senior girls produced another team medal for the Loreto KIlkenny. This time a sliver. Led home by Annie McEvoy in 14th place the girls packed well with a fantastic run by Annie O’Connor. Ava Richardson was the 3rd team member.
Shay McEvoy finished 7th in the Senior boys with St Kierans 5th in the team section.
Athletics Kilkenny 
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