CLUBS SET FOR FINAL FLOURISH IN TULLAMORE
The AAI National League Final is set to continue a feast of athletics over the coming days, serving up a final appetiser of domestic athletics action before Irish eyes turn to the Irish team set to compete at the European Athletics Championships in Munch from August 15th.
Tullamore is sure to provide its own fill of drama and memorable moments on the conclusion of this year’s outdoor league on Sunday (Aug 14th). The event gets under way at 10.30am for field events and at 11am for track events.
Defending men’s premier champions, Clonliffe Harriers, will look to continue their league domination as they bid to make it an 7th title in a row (no league in 2019). Should they manage the feat, it will mark a 12th men’s league title for the Dublin club since 2008.
Clonliffe qualified in 1st place after the 2 rounds and will face up against teams from Nenagh Olympic, Raheny Shamrock, Donore Harriers, Leevale, Ratoath, Galway City Harriers, Kildare County, and a DSD team boasting the quality of Paul O’Donnell and Sean Roth. The Leevale team is set to include Reece Ademola who secured 5th place at the world U20 championships in Columbia earlier this month with a new national U20 record in the long jump (7.83m).
Their will be new league champions in the premier women’s competition with defending champions Kildare County not in the final line-up. Clonliffe will look to do the men’s and women’s premier double but will face stiff competition from Tipperary County, DSD, Galway County, Sligo County, Louth County, Meath County and Raheny Shamrock.
Some names to look out for include national 200m champion Lauren Cadden of Sligo, Clonliffe’s Greta Streimikyte, and the evergreen Maria McCambridge of DSD.
The Division 1 titles went the way of Ratoath (Men) and Sligo AC (Women) last year and 2022 looks set to be yet another tightly contested affair.
The men’s competition looks hard to call on paper, but an Ennis Track team lead by Rory Chesser is sure to be right in the mix alongside teams from Tir Chonaill AC, Waterford AC, Kilkenny City Harriers, Sligo County, Galway County, and Bandon (CTC).
Leevale look to have a strong team of young athletes set to represent the club in the women’s D1 competition including Lucy May Sleeman, Una Brice, and Maeve Flemming. The Cork club can also call upon the class of Joan Healy following her appearance at the World Championships in Oregon last month.
They won’t have it all their own way however with strong representations from Ratoath AC, Lagan Valley AC, Enniscorthy AC, Ennis Track, Tir Chonaill, Bandon, and Lamba Sports.