Cork Institute of Technology, Saturday 13th March 2010.

After weeks of local and regional competition, the cream of young Irish athletic talent will get set to compete at the much anticipated All-Ireland Schools’ Cross Country final which will take place this year on Saturday, 13th March 2010 at the Cork Institute of Technology, Cork starting at 12 noon. This annual fixture is the culmination of six long weeks of tough competition for young athletes throughout Ireland, who have progressed through regional and provincial championships to secure their coveted place in this All-Ireland final.

Ciara Mageean showed her class with a smooth Senior Girls victory in the AVIVA Ulster Schools Cross Country at Mallusk last week. Ciara is once again the hot favourite to retain the title with Eimear Black, Dominican Belfast, Rachel Campbell, Belfast Royal Academy, Maire Aine Ni Shuilleabhain, Gaelcolasite Ceatharlach, the Leinster Schools’
Champion and local girl Orla Farmer, St Mary’s Mildleton fighting out the minor places.

In the Senior Boys’ the Munster Schools’ Champion, Shane Quinn, De La Salle Waterford, will be attempting to challenge the National Junior Champion from last Sunday, John Travers, Inchichore VS.

Race of the day could be the Inter Boys with at least six potential winners. Twins Andrew and Patrick Monaghan, St Colman’s Newry, are in great form at the moment and will be hard to beat but Adam Ingram and Leinster Schools’ Champion, Stephen Attride, Knockbeg College, are also running well.

In the Intermediate Girls’ Munster Schools’ champion, Amy O’Donoghue, Villiers School Limerick, will be expected to do well. Others to watch include Emma Mitchell, Banbridge High School, Claire Brennan, Castleknock Community College and Ciara Hewson, Maynooth Post Primary School.

In the Junior Girls’ race Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, Colaiste Iosagain, was the easy winner of the Leinster Schools’ title in DCU and will be expected to do the same on Saturday.

Those lucky enough to qualify in the All-Ireland Cross Country will go on to represent Ireland in the upcoming Schools’ International Cross Country which will be held in Truro Corwall on Saturday 27th March.