Hat-trick of medals at national finals

The national finals of the Community Games Track and Field took place at the IT track in Carlow on Saturday last. Fifty children representing Roscommon and the Connacht region took part in the various competitions.

It was an early start for all the competitors from Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea, Croghan/Drumlion/Cortober, Drum/Clonown, Elphin, FBD Roads, Kiltullagh, Knockcroghery/St. John’s, Roscommon/Kilteevan, Strokestown, Tarmonbarry/Scramogue, Taughmaconnell and Tulsk.

It was a long and busy day through the sunshine and downpours for all involved, especially county managers Bernie Ryan and Geraldine Kavanagh who co-ordinated all the County Roscommon competitors with their singlets alongside assisting them with venues for their events.

The amount of silverware brought back to the county was small, but it was still great to win three national medals.

J.K. Van Aarde from Elphin was the bronze medal winner in the U-12 boys’ ball throw competition. Having moved from Africa to Tipperary and subsequently to Elphin two years ago, J.K. was supported by his father, mother, granny and sister who were very proud of his achievement.

One of the youngest competitors on the day in the U-8 80 metres was Devan Curran from Tulsk. Devan reached the final following his placement in the heats and the semi-finals before coming home with a fourth place medal. His brother Garvan competed in the U-10 200 metres, but didn’t make the podium.

U-12 long jump competitor, Ciara Keane from Roscommon/Kilteevan, also made it to the podium with a fourth place national medal.

All the county’s individual athletes competed to the best of their ability in their chosen events, with some of them unlucky not to win a medal.

Five relay teams — four from Roscommon/Kilteevan (U-10 mixed, U-12 girls and U-12 boys and U-14 girls) and one from Ballaghaderreen (U-14 boys) — represented the county at the finals. Unfortunately, the U-14 girls’ team were the only ones that reached the final. Having to run in terrible weather conditions, disappointment struck when the baton was dropped at the first change over, resulting in disqualification.

It was disappointing to note that nine individual competitors from the county/regional finals and one relay team of six runners from the county finals failed to attend the national finals for different reasons.

Two areas, Tulsk and Kiltullagh who re-formed in 2023, were represented at the national finals. Tulsk had the Curran brothers, Devan and Garvan, competing.

The Kiltullagh area has been re-formed after many years of inactivity. The new committee’s efforts were rewarded during 2023. Seven children competed at the national finals. The Kirrane family were well represented when three members of the family — Seán, Mark and Deane — competed with the best in the country in the U-12 long jump, U-8 60 metres and U-10 200 metres. Ronan Murphy was the area’s U-10 60 metres competitor. Seán Kirrane and Luke Bailey competed in the U-12 boys’ long jump, and Alannah Cunningham took part in the U-12 girls’ long jump.

County managers Bernie Ryan and Geraldine Kavanagh would like to thank the men from Elphin and Kiltullagh that assisted them in erecting the tent that was badly needed for the downpours in the afternoon, and the men from Roscommon/Kilteevan that took it back down in the evening.

Congratulations to the county’s three medal winners and well done to all the other competitors that represented their areas with such distinction. Well done to the parents, especially the ones that travelled from their homes early in the morning to make sure their children reached their venue on time.

Finally, thanks to Roscommon Community Games Secretary, Declan Regan, who does trojan work behind the scenes to ensure that everything is in order for the entrants.