Sligo AC’s young members showed the way with some impressive medal winning performances at the all-Ireland cross country championships in Gransha, Derry on Sunday.
From under 11 through to the masters category Sligo AC was well represented and the club’s coaches can be quite pleased with how the day went.
In unusually mild weather for cross country, the day got off to a great start when the club’s girls’ under eleven representatives, Meadhbh Mooney, Amy Deering and Caoimhe Connor helped the county to the bronze medal position.
The club’s girls’ under 13 team of Aoife Morris, Ailbhe Morgan, Tara Carty, Eadoinn Kinsella and Nadine Deering earned bronze medals while the under 13 boys’ team led by Leo Doherty (4th) and Noel Bourke, Liam Carty and Jack Connor were third which helped secure silver medals in the inter-county category.
There were also bronze medals for the club at girls’ under 15 level with Caelinn McGonagle (10th) leading home Kate Carty, Rhiona Connor and Jane McCormack.
Keenan Deering represented the club at under 15 while Thomas Delahunt was the club’s sole runner at under 17, both putting in spirited performances.
The club had ladies and mens masters’ teams and by the time their races came on in the afternoon conditions were quite testing.
The ladies team were led home by Mari Johnston, who was returning to cross country after a lengthy lay off due to injury, Cindy McCarty, Deirdre Deering and Cathy McCarthy.
Michael O’Connell continued his impressive cross country form of late with an excellent effort in the masters’ race, leading the club’s team home in a top thirty finish with Mel Casserly, Rory Connor, Bill Carty and Paul Deering following in.
The intermediate team acquitted themselves well also and featured debutants, Jonathan Hill, Ross Downey and Andrew Duffy. Conal Sexton also competed while Seamus Somers was first across the line for the club.
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