Cork schools enjoy huge success at Munster Senior Swimming Championships

The Munster Senior Schools Championships were held at the University of Limerick recently. 

This is a highly anticipated event on the swimming calendar, as it celebrates the talent and camaraderie of secondary school students across the province. 

Unlike the traditional regional/club competitions, there is a different dynamic at these championships, as swimmers unite to represent their schools, and so, regional rivalry is replaced with swimmers uniting as teammates. 

The inclusive nature of the event also allows students who may not typically compete in club level swimming, to proudly represent their schools on a competitive platform.

Beyond the immediate competition, the stakes are high, as the winners of each of the individual events earn the prestigious opportunity to represent Munster at the Senior Schools Interprovincial Championships in March 2025.

The day progressed over two sessions, with the Junior students, aged 12 – 14 years in action in the morning session, with the Intermediate 15-16 years and Seniors 17 and Over in the afternoon session.

Cork schools performed well against their provincial counterparts. 

On four occasions across the day, all podium places were awarded to Cork Schools. 

First to achieve this feat were Garvan Gillard, CBC Cork, Adam Mikolaj, St. Coleman’s Community College and Lev Lobanets, Glanmire Community College. 

They claimed the top three places in the Junior 100m backstroke final. Gillard doubled up with a second victory in the 100m butterfly final. Nothing could separate Lobanets and Dylan McGrath of Gaelchoiste Luimnigh as they both locked on 58.74 for t first place in the 100m freestyle final. 

Mikolaj shaved 12.73 seconds from his previous best to claim victory at 200m IM, 2:26.12.

Matilda Higginbotham, Coláiste Fionnchua, Fermoy was the first to medal for the Cork schools when she topped the podium at 100m backstroke 1:11.74. 

Isabella Malley, St. Aloysius Carrigtwohill and Ruth O’Flynn, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh placed 2nd & 3rd at 100m breaststroke.

The CBC quartet, Rasmus Jakobsen, Eamon Bradley, Garvan Gillard and William Egar won double gold in the medley and freestyle team relays. While the girls from St. Mary’s Mallow, Maeve O’Reilly, Lena Soja, Siun Herlihy and Alison Kerrisk placed 2nd in the medley and 3rd in the freestyle relay.

The afternoon session commenced with the Intermediate relays and CBC collected another two relay golds from the team of Phelim Hanley, Killian McCarthy, Thomas Bugler and Neil Fitzpatrick. 

The girls from Ursuline Cork, Poppy Nolan, Virag Szatmari, Alannah Mulvihill and Aine Burke were the victors in the medley relay with St. Mary’s Mallow, Rebecca Reid, Caroline Roche, Veronica Serafin and Kate Cronin in 3rd. 

The girls from Loretto Fermoy, Emily Donohoe, Aoibhe Holland, Naoise Forde and Emma Crowley were the champions in the freestyle relay.

Coláiste an Phiarsaigh’s Shauna Murphy led an all Cork trio in the Senior 100m backstroke. 

She was ed on the podium by Izzy McGrath, Bruce College and Daisy O’Toole, St. Mary’s Mallow. Murphy doubled up with victory at 200m IM with Amy Hawe, Midleton College in 3rd. 

Others to medal for the school included: Margaret Verling, gold at 100m backstroke; Elin Manson, double bronze at 100m butterfly & 200m IM. The girls were ed by Róisin Brannigan to close out a very successful day for the school with victory in both the Senior freestyle and medley relays. 

The girls were presented with the O’Connell Family Shield. St. Angela’s Cork and St. Mary’s Mallow placed 2nd & 3rd in the freestyle while Regina Mundi placed 3rd in the medley relays.

Phelim Hanley led an all Cork podium at 200m IM. 

He was ed by Tadgh O’Brien, Pobalscoil na Trionoide and James McIllroy, CBS Midleton. Hanley was pipped into 2nd place by his CBC school mate Thomas Bugler at 100m butterfly. O’Brien and McIllroy placed 1st & 2nd at 100m backstroke.

Lexi Dunne of Ashton was another double gold medallist. Her victories came at 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle. 

She was ed by Abigeal Logan 2nd, St. Angela’s in the breaststroke and Orna Higgins 3rd, St. Aloysious Carrigtwohill in the freestyle.

Other gold medallists and securing their place on the Interprovincial team included: Isabel Kidney & Izzy McGrath, Bruce College; Senan Harvey, Hewitt College; Alex Barrett, St. Francis College Rochestown and Ricky Fane, Midleton College.