Adamstown in south Wexford was the venue for day two of the Leinster cross country championships on Sunday. There was a strong Meath representation with a number of notable individual and team results. The condition of the course and event organisation was a credit to Athletics Leinster and the local organisers Wexford Athletics.
Outstanding performances from the Meath under 15 boys team who along with Gold for Alan Monaghan and Bronze for Paddy Maher occupied four of the top ten slots. Alan Monaghan put in a very strong and mature run taking control from the off. He went into an early lead and at no stage during the race did his lead look to be in any danger. He crosssed the finish line twelve seconds clear of Dunleer runner Jack McCullough to add a second provincial cross country victory
to the under 16 title which he claimed in Dunboyne a fortnight ago.
Ratoath AC under 11 girls were led to victory by Aimee Doherty, with great team support coming from Ella Healy, Aoife Rutherford and Lili O'Connor. The county squad including the Ratoath girls finished second in the inter counties contest. Deirdre Healy , Ratoath took second place in the girls under 17 behind the prodigious Siofra O'Flaherty, SLOT in Carlow. There will be a good representation from the county in the Leinsterr team which will go forward to next months national uneven ages championships at Carriganore outside Waterford city.
In the mens intermediate race Loughlin Campion,Dunboyne AC went bracely with the early pace of the 8km race. After two kilometres of action a trio of Campion,Carol Cronin, Sportsworld, and Brian Kirwan, St Laurence O'Toole broke away from the field and continued a close tactical tussle until Cronin made a decisive move with about 800 metres to go. He opened an eight or ten metre gap on a downhill section but Campion stuck to his task and over the final run towards the finish Campion claimed back ground and reduced the margin to a few strides at the finish.
Next Sunday 17 November the AAI senior inter counties and the national even ages, under 10/12/14/16/18 championships will be staged in Santry Demesne. This venue is well known to cross country fans as it was the venue for the 2009 European championships. The action gets underway at 11.30 am. There is optimism Meath athletes will get among the medals individually and as club or county teams given the strong performances at the provincial deciders which were so well hosted by Dunboyne AC last month.
Individual Results.
Boys under 15; Meath had four runners in the top 10. Alan Monaghan,1st,Paddy Maher 3rd,Alex Hunter,4th.
Girls under 15;Nicola Duffy 7th,Amy Clarke,10th,Sara Clarke,11th.
Girls under 17; Deirdre Healy,2nd.
Girls under 19,Ciara Rooney,5th.
Boys under 19; Gavin Maher,10th.
Intermediate men,Loughlin Campion,2nd.
Club and county team results
Girls Under11;Second County Team;Ratoath AC first club team; Aimee Doherty,Ratoath,Ciara Smyth,Cushinstown,Ella Healy,Ratoath,Aoife Rutherford,Ratoath,Lili O'Connor,Ratoath,Doireann NíFhlatharta,Dunboyne,Chloe Frazer,Dunboyne,Emma Lyons,Dunboyne,Roisin O'Connor,Dunshaughlin,Jenna Gonsalves,Trim,
Boys Under 13;Second County Team;Thomas Reilly,Dunshaughlin, Meath,Shane Smyth,Cushinstown,Meath,Jake Cullen,Tara,Cian McNulty Casey,Star of the Sea,Luke Mitchell,Dunshaughlin,Paul O'Brien,Tara,Luke McCarthy,Dunshaughlin,Christopher Clarke,Na Fianna, Antony Slawski,Na Fianna.
Girls Under 15; Second County team,Na Fianna third club team;Nicola Duffy,Dunboyne,Amy Clarke,Na Fianna,Meath,Sarah Clarke,Na Fianna,Aine O'Connor,Ratoath,Martha Reidy,Fr. Murphy,Eva O'Donovan,Navan,Hannah Gilligan,Trim,Emma Neary,Na Fianna,Sarah Daly,Na Fianna,Grainne Cullen,Bohermeen, Niamh Fahey,Trim.
Boys Under 15; First County team; Alan Monahan,Bohermeen A.C,Paddy Maher,Dunshaughlin,Alex Hunter,Ratoath,Kevin McGrath,Bohermeen A.C,Jarlath Jordan,Tara,Jonathon Nangle,Trim A.C,Liam Shaw,Trim A.C,John Halton,Trim A.C,David Hawes,Tara,Eanan Peppard,Bohermeen A.C,Gareth Doyle,Ratoath,Sean Byrne,Tara,Evan Butler,Dunshaughlin.
Boys Under 17; Third county team;Eoin Smyth,Cushinstown,Philip Marron,Ratoath,Ciaran Crowther,St.Andrews,Ciaran Leech,Na Fianna,Ciaran McCarty,Ratoath,Paul Gill,Na Fianna.