The Farranfore Maine Valley AC enjoyed a highly
successful year in 2024, with athletes excelling across various disciplines and
age groups.
November saw the launch of Athletic Scribblings :- a history of athletics in the Farranfore area. This was written by 2 club stalwarts Jerome Crowley and Jim O'Shea.
Key Highlights of our athletes:
· Kevin O'Shea: Dominated in
throwing events, winning All-Ireland Schools titles in discus and javelin. He
also secured gold in the javelin at the All-Ireland Club Championships and the
Kerry Community Games.
· Ryan Vickers: Showcased
exceptional versatility. He won All-Ireland Schools titles in the 800m and Multi-Events,
and secured national club titles in the 800m and in won medals in the National cross
country championships. He also won county and Munster medals in Track and Cross
Country
· Conor McCarthy: Conor
excelled in middle-distance running. He won the Kerry Community Games 7km
marathon, placed 3rd in the Munster Schools Mile, and achieved multiple
personal bests in the 800m and 1500m. He won National medals in Community games
in both Marathon and 1500
· Isaac Vickers: Returned from
injury with strong performances, winning the Munster Indoor Schools 600m and
placing 5th in the National Indoor 800m. He also won the Munster Schools 800
metres and along with Samuel Scroope, Conor McCarthy and Ryan Vickers won a
bronze medal in the 4 x 200 metre relay
· David Kenny: Continued his
dominance in race walking, securing another National Indoor 5k Walk title.
Injury robbed him of a chance of competing in the Olympics in Paris. He
returned to form winning the National 20K race walk title before christmas
· Other Notable
Achievements:
o
Cathal O'Connor: Won the County Juvenile 600m,
earned silver in the Community Games Cross-Country Relay, and achieved strong
results in the county and Munster Cross country Championships.
o
Roisin Daly: Won medals at the Kerry
Community Games and the Kerry Colleges Athletics Championships.
o Natasha Myers: Won 200 metres at the county championship and was 2nd in long jump. Also represented MTU and the Intervarsity championships
o
Niamh O'Shea: Excelled in discus and shot
put, winning county titles and placing well in national competitions.
o
Sean O'Shea: Secured a silver medal in shot
put at the National Masters Championships.
o
Jerome Foley: Won gold in the 800m at the
Munster Masters Championships.
o
Jim O'Shea: Earned medals in long jump,
high jump, and pentathlon at the European Masters Championships.
o
Michael O'Connor: Won gold in the 3k walk at the
National Masters Championships and placed well in the European Masters 5k walk.