Meath wins at Leinster Day 1

Dunboyne AC hosted the first day of the 2013 Leinster country championships on Sunday. The club provided an excellent course with a good covering of grass which stood up well to the rigours of the weather and over 1500 competitors for all but two of the fourteen races on the programme. The events were well supported by clubs and counties thoughout the province.

Meath runners put in a number of notable performances. The best results of the day came in the under age grades. The recent schools and county wins for Amy Clarke continued at provincial level for promising Na Fianna member, Amy Clarke. She took the under 14 title in style with Dunboyne runner Nicola Duffy delighting the local supporters in the runner up spot. Amy Clarke led the county to silver and her club to runner up spot also in the inter clubs.Alan Monaghan took the under 16 title in a commanding performance and led a formidable county team to inter county victory.
Deirdre Healy,Ratoath returned from recent injury to score a fine win in the under 18 girls . Her coach Gerry Finnegand described it as follows,"At the end of the 1^st lap in her U18 Leinster race Deirdre had a slight lead from Rachel Butler (St Senan’s AC) with Aoibhe Richardson (KCH) and Roseanne Healy (Mullingar) giving chase. Deidre pushed on in the 2^nd lap and opened up a substantial lead over Rachel to cross the line with 8 seconds to spare while Rachel held onto the silver medal with a one second margin over Roseanne Healy (Mullingar)." 

In the novice mens race Meath were second county team and Dunboyne AC were third in the inter clubs grade. There were strong performances from Thomas Moran, 5^th, and Loughlin Campion, 6^th, well to the fore throughout the race.

The Meath masters women were second in the their event with Emilia Dan crossing the line in the silver medal position. The mens over 50 team finished second in their category on a total of 43 points. The uneven ages and intermediate teams for the day 2 of the Leinster cross country championships at Adamstown, Co. Wexford, will be announced this week. In the meantime the county senior cross country chamionships will be staged at Bohermeen next Sunday. Also down for decision will be the juvenile inter club relays for U/10/12/14/16s. Action gets underway at 12 noon.

Summary of Meath results;

Masters men 35, 5^th county team, Masters men 50, 2^nd county team.

Masters women, 2^nd county team , Emilia Dan,Sonya Reilly,Mary Hanly,Bridget Clarke,Imelda Clarke,Mary Watters. Na Fianna 1^st club team W45. Mary Hanly,Bridget Clarke,Imelda Clarke.

Novice men; 2^nd county team, Thomas Moran,Loughlin Campion,Kieron Peters,John O Reilly,Rory Kavanagh,Paul Gannon.. The Dunboyne quartet of Campion, O Reilly, Kavanagh and Gannon were the 3^rd club team home.

Girls under 18, 1st, Deirdre Healy, Ratoath.

Boys under 16. 1^st Alan Monaghan. 1^st county team, 62 points, Alan Monaghan, Alex Hunter,Philip Marron,Paddy Maher,Eoin Smith,Peter Kilgannon. Ratoath AC 3^rd club team, Alex Hunter,Philip Marron, Peter Kilgannon,Brian Kiernan.

Girls under 14. 1^st Amy Clarke,2^nd Nicola Duffy. 2^nd County team with Sarah Clarke,Petra Reilly,Emma Neary and Hannah Gilligan. 2^nd club team, Na Fianna, Amy Clarke,Sarah Clarke,Aisling Byrne, Emma Neary.

Boys under 12 3^rd Shane Smith, Cushinstown AC.