The Athletics Leinster InterCounty Team

The Athletics Leinster InterCounty Team event is an relatively recent annual event for U14 and U16 boys and girls county teams from across Leinster. Team compete in 100m, 800m, Long Jump, Shot Putt and 4 x 200m with two athletes from each county competing in each event and points being awarded based on finishing position. The county team with the most points after the 5 events receives a plaque commemorating their achievement. This event was held for the second time on 15th September 2012 at Navan and being the host county, Meath entered teams in all 4 age categories. It proved to be a very successful day with Meath winning 2 of the 4 team events, the boys U14 and Girls U16 events. For the boys U14 team, there was wins for Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen) in the 800m (in an unofficial time of 2:06, not bad for a 13 year old) and Marc Shelly (Fr Murphys) in the Long jump. Kevin and Marc were supported all the way by Alex Hunter (Ratoath) who was 3rd in the 800m and Jack Hetherington (Dunshaughlin) who finished 2nd in the 100m. The quartet then combined superbly to win the 4 x 200m easily and the competition overall. The girls U16 also had several individual winners with Niamh Hetherington (Dunshaughlin) winning the 100m, Ashling O'Hare (Na Fianna) the 800m and Kelly Brady (Bohermeen) the Shot Putt. Sarah Armstrong (Bohermeen) put in a battling performance to finish 2nd in the 800m. Niahm, Ashling and Sarah were joined by Martha Dineen (Rathkenny) for the 4 x 200m which they won to confirm their place as champions in the overall competition. The girls U14 team of Olwyn Halligan (Rathkenny), Mairead McFadden (Bohermeen), Niamh Hand (Navan), Niamh Cowan (Dunshaughlin) and Ava Mangan (Dunshaughlin) competed very well in a tough competition to finish as 5th county overall. The boys U16 team of Luke McCabe (Cushinstown), Aaron Kealy (Dunshaughlin), Ivan Maher (Ratoath), Darragh Costigan (Dunboyne) and Shane Joyce (Cushinstown) were hampered be an early injury to Aaron and finished in 4th place overall. Well done to all these athletes.