With this weekend's All-Ireland age group finals looming large the St Michael's cross-country squads had a useful outing on Saturday last at the Malcolm Cup at a cold Sixmilewater Park in Ballyclare. Despite the recent downpours the going was generally good and the 'blue vests' returned with twelve individual awards and a good marker as to what needs to be done as they move towards the schools championship events after Christmas.
Best individual performance of the day came from Finn Corrigan who engaged in a race long struggle with Neil Johnston of Pegasus AC and Dalriada school, these two pulling well clear of the field on the second of three circuits and then going toe to toe with Johnson proving the stronger over the closing 400m to pull five seconds clear by the line. Paul foy had a good run in third just ahead of the inform Denis Green with Kevin McDonnell slightly disappointed with his 5th place. There was a good mid pack battle between the St Michael's quartet of Mark Dolan, Niall McKeever, Leigh Jones and Gavin Dolan with McKeever finishing the strongest to pip Dolan who improved by some two minutes on his 2008 time over the same course, with Stephen McGullion completing the St Michael's team.
The U15 team had the unusual experience of missing the start of their two mile event and so set off at a disadvantage but despite this Ruairi Maguire finished a good 4th behing Irish U14 champion Conor Christie of Springwell and last years Ulster schools silver medallist Glen Willis of North Down. Thomas McHugh was the second St Michael's athlete across the line in 7th with last year's U13 winner Adam Breen just behind in 8th. Oisin Mahon and Peter Gallagher both had solid runs with Lorcan Love fading badly after trying too hard to recoup the losses incurred at the start. Garvin Jones, Keelen Kelly, Ryan Gormley, Joseph McCann, Oran Magee and Daire Dillon completed a strong and very committed junior squad who can look forward to some interesting battles with the likes of St Malachy's in the post christmas schools events.
First home for St Michael's in the U13 race was Peter Leonard in 3rd just ahead of Rian McGovern who had an excellent run to take 4th spot and another rapidly improving athlete Nathan Jones in 5th. Eoghan McManus, Conall Boylan, Oisin Murphy, Conor Magee,Darragh Ferguson,Niall Hoy, Nathan Bruce, Jason McGlone,Rory McCaffrey,Conor Gormley, Conor Goodwin and Darren Gallagher completed the squad and they too can look forward to a productive schools campaign.
This coming weekend sees four St Michael's teams qualified for the All-Ireland uneven age group finals which will be held at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. This event offers a chance for a final quality competition before Christmas and will be a good measure of current levels of fitness and competitiveness although any Irish medals are highly unlikely at this early stage in the season for those aiming at late February and early March.