Leinster Schools to deliver top class action

Top class action in Santry Demesne

The Irish Life Health Leinster Schools Cross Country Championships will see some of Ireland’s best young distance talent on show in Santry Demesne tomorrow (February 15).

The intermediate girls’ 3,500m looks like being the highlight in terms of quality and strength and depth.

Amy Rose Farrell (Mount Anville) recently set an Irish Youth 3,000m record indoors of 9:35.20 but she won’t have it all her own way with Sarah Healy (Holy Child Killiney) still the one to watch. Add Abby Taylor, Grace Dervan (both Wesley) and Roisin Tracey (St Gerard’s) to the list and that’s only the beginning of the depth of the race.

The intermediate boys’ 4,500m sees Jack Moran looking for individual and team honours with Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar where Cian May (Salesian) and Fathi Aden (Synge St) should be in the mix if fully fit.  

The first 15 athletes and the first three teams in each race will qualify for the Irish Life All Ireland Schools in Mallusk Playing Fields, Newtownabbey on the 11th of March. Some of the leading teams throughout the day will be the likes of Loreto Kilkenny, Dominican College Cabra, Loreto Mullingar, Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar, St Aidan’s, St Kieran’s Kilkenny and Knockbeg to name but a few.

The senior races will be hotly contested. Sean O’Leary will be looking to guide St Aidan’s to the team title in the senior boys 6,500m and continue their bid to defend the All Ireland title they won in Sligo last year. Brian Fay (Belvedere) will be among the individual contenders.

It will be a question of speed over 2,500m in the senior girls’ race with Jodie McCann (Institute of Education), Sophie Murphy (Mount Anville) and Emma O’Brien (DCW) among those vying for the top positions.

Aine Kirwan (Loreto Kilkenny) and Aime Kenna (St MacDara’s) are among those in contention in the junior girls’ 2,000m, with Seanie Dalton (Malahide CS) looking to keep his good form in the junior boys’ 3,000m.

There are good entries in the minor girls’ 1500m and boys’ 2000m where the expected cavalry charge will ensue.

Clonliffe Harriers are hosting the event in Santry Demesne for the tenth consecutive year for these championships with action underway at 12pm.