Kilkenny Intermediate Cross Country Championships

This year it was decided that the 2025 Intermediate Championships would be incorporated with the Senior races in the Kilmacow at the open day, due to such a hectic local, provincial and national cross country season throughout the winter months. Last year it was cancelled numerous times due to adverse weather warnings, so the sun shining today, above the athletes competing was a welcome sight. In the Ladies race, the U18, Junior, Senior and County Intermediate took to the start line together for the 3000m race, running two full laps around the pitches and down the embankment to the gravel path along the river. The hill back up to the field is a true test of endurance for the athletes but the good underfoot conditions favoured many of the runners. Grainne Behan of KCH swapping out the track for the cross country field was the first lady home in the Intermediate with Caoimhe Barry of St. Joseph’s finishing second, and Karen Maher of St. Senan’s taking the third place on the podium for the ladies race. St. Senan’s were the only ladies team in the Intermediate race with Karen Maher, Sinead Madden, Caroline O’Connor, Cristine O’Shea and Esther Lannon making up the team. In the Men’s race the Junior, Senior, Master and County Intermediate took to the start of the 7000m, which saw the athlete navigate the first lap around the main pitches and then 4 laps of the 1500m route, around the two pitches and down each time by the river and the endurance hill to overcome each time. The men’s overall race was comfortably won by guest Peter Arthur who never looked under pressure from any of his competitors. Neil Shanahan and Michael O’Shea from Thomastown were the nearest to Arthur and it was Neil that took the Intermediate win from Michael with an extra push on for the finish line. JP Vereker St. Joseph’s was the 3^rd home to take the last podium position. Thomastown won the Men’s team event, while St. Senan’s took the silver team place and KCH took the bronze team spot. Well done to all in St. Senan’s and Kilmacow for an excellently organised event again this year to kick off the cross country season. Full results below

Intermediate Women 1^st Grainne Behan KCH, 2^nd Caoimhe Barry St. Joseph’s, 3^rd Karen Maher St. Senan’s, 4th Sinead Madden St. Senan’s, 5^th Caroline O’Conor St. Senan’s, 6^th Christine O’Shea St. Senan’s, 7^th Esther Lannon St. Senan’s

 Intermediate Men’s1^st Neil Shanahan Thomastown, 2^nd Michael O’Keeffe Thomastown, 3^rd JP Vereker St. Joseph’s, 4^th Mike Cullen KCH, 5^th Tadhg Ryan Thomastown, 6^th Evan Aylward St. Senan’s, 7^th Paddy Aylward St. Senan’s, 8^th David Fitzgerald KCH, 9^th Marty Moseley Gowran, 10^th James Kelsey Gowran, 11^th Brendan O’Driscoll KCH, 12^th Adrian Cunningham Gowran, 13^th Patrick Galvin St. Senan’s, 14^th Evan Walsh St. Joseph’s, 15^th Conor Hickey St. Senan’s, 16^th Eamonn Bookle St. Joseph’s, 17^th Gerry Walsh Gowran, 18^th Ger Long St. Senan’s, 19^th Gerry Walsh Thomastown, 20^th Keith Cody St. Senan’s, 21^st George Carpendale St. Senan’s, 22^nd Len Galvin St. Senan’s.