League glory up for grabs
The mantle for Ireland’s best club is at stake once again at the GloHealth National League final at Tullamore Harriers Stadium on Sunday.
Leevale’s men and DSD’s women will be looking to retain their GloHealth National League team titles in the premier division but will be facing some stiff opposition.
Sam Healy, 5th in the long jump at the European Junior Athletics Championships, is part of a strong Leevale team. Clonliffe Harriers look like the favourites though with likes of 400m international Brian Gregan in their line-up. Gregan will run a leg of the 4x400m relay.
Clonliffe crack squad
Clonliffe Harriers look like they will be the team to beat in the men’s national league final with the likes of Dara Kervick (400m), Timmy Crowe (400m hurdles), Declan Murray (800m) and Brian Gregan (4x400m relay) lining out. Kervick, European indoor semi-finalist, will combine with Crowe, Murray and Gregan in the 4x400m relay and the national club record of 3:10.59 set by Crusaders could be under threat.
With the likes of Ian Rogers in the pole vault and Andrew Heaney in the high jump, Clonliffe will be a force to be reckoned with when the points are tallied on Sunday evening.
League stalwarts St Abban’s will be looking to get in the mix for a top three finish and will be looking to their trusted members Paul Byrne (400m hurdles), Eoin Kelly (long jump and triple jump), Brian Kelly (800m) and Cormac Kelly (1500m) to put them into contention.
DSD looking to retain their title
DSD ’s women’s team are interestingly fronted by former Dublin marathon champion Maria McCambridge. She will compete in the 800m and 3,000m. Leevale’s Michelle Finn will also compete in the 3,000m as she continues her preparation for the 3,000m steeplechase at the world championships later this month.
DSD will be looking for big points from Anita White in the javelin and the shot put along with Sinead Denny in the 200m, 400m and both relays (4x100m and 4x400m). Leevale, Clonliffe, Tir Chonaill and Wexford County will be among the clubs looking to make the top three
Finn Valley a force to be reckoned with in Division 1
Finn Valley have strong men’s and women’s teams going in Division 1 with the women headed by London 2012 Olympian Tori Pena in the pole vault. Another key member will be schools sprints star Janine Boyle in the 100m, 200m and long jump as they bid for promotion to the Premiership.
The Finn Valley men have an impressive array of talent with John Kelly in the shot put, Dempsey McGuigan in the hammer and Mark Hoy in the 800m.
Tipperary County look to have a strong women’s team headed by Sharlene Mawdsley in the 100m and 200m. Mawdsley was 7th in the 200m and anchored the Irish 4x100m relay team to 4th at the European Athletics Championships.
Teams
Women Division 1
Tullamore Harriers
Finn Valley AC
Kerry Athletics
Lagan Valley
Tipperary County
Antrim Combined
Donore Harriers
Sli Cualann
Premier women
North Down AC
Leevale AC
Kildare Athletics
Dundrum South Dublin
Galway County
Clonliffe Harriers
Tir Chonaill
Wexford County
Premier men
Crusaders
DSD
Tullamore Harriers
St Abban’s
Leevale
Tipperary County
Clonliffe Harriers
Galway City Harriers
Men Division 1
Finn Valley
Bandon Striders
St Laurence O’Toole
An Riocht
Kilkenny City Harriers
Clare County
Antrim Combined
Sli Cualann