Meath athletes win gold at Tullamore

Former Meath minor footballer Eamonn Wallace (pictured) announced himself on the national scene with a stunning victory in the u-19 200 metres final at the National Juvenile Track and Field Championships at Tullamore on Saturday. Wallace, who played for the Meath minor football team in the Leinster MFC against Longford, has worked hard at schools level with Ratoath College and his recent success at provincial level was translated into national glory when he claimed the 200m title in a time of 22.51 seconds, almost .30 quicker than Carrick-on-Shannon's Eanna Madden in second and Cormac Lynch (Marian) in third in 22.84. There was also gold for Dunboyne's Michael Hanlon, Star of the Sea's Andrew Coscoran and Bohermeen's Kevin McGrath. Hanlon was a convincing winner of the u-18 discus with a 46-metre throw, Gneeveguilla's Andrew McCarthy was second on 41.58 and the host club's James Mulligan was third with a throw of 38.03m. Star of the Sea sensation Coscoran continued his outstanding form when he claimed the u-17 1,500m title with a 4:05.94 win ahead of Mullingar Harriers' Padraig Moran (4:06.52) and Shane McGowan from City of Derry in 4:11.46. The fourth gold medal went to Bohermeen's Kevin McGrath in the u-14 1,500m as he led home a one-two for his club in 4:32.95 with Alan Monaghan second in 4:37.22 with Shercock's Daragh Drury in third (4:38.44). Four other Meath athletes also finished amongst the medals with Trim's Shane Aston producing a jump of 1.83m to take silver in the u-18 high jump behind Bray's Lorcan Murray, 1.86m. The remaining three medals went to the girls with Bohermeen's Karen Dunne taking third in the u-19 high jump with a 1.55 leap, .18m behind winner Sorcha Murphy from Ferrybank. Kelly Brady was second in the u-16 hammer with her 41.76m throw well behind winner Aoife Vaughan-Witts (Borrisokane) who threw 47.33m. Navan's Eva O'Donovan was third in the u-14 1,500m in a time of 5:01.09, well behind winner Stephanie Cotter from West Muskerry (4:53.43).