Novice title for Royal County
Sharon Monaghan returned to the type of form that highlighted her on the national stage a few years ago when she led the Meath team to the All-Ireland novice title at the National Uneven Juvenile and Novice Cross-Country championships at Coleraine, Derry on Sunday. The Fr Murphy athlete finished in an impressive eighth place and was closely followed by Star of the Sea's Orla Timmons in 11th. The rest of the team was made up of Ursula Byrne (Dunshaughlin) in 20th, Eileen Rahill (St Brigid's) 32nd, Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin) 37th, Mary Walters (Navan) 42nd, Margaret Neary (Na Fianna) in 61st. The Meath team finished on 71 points and edged out Donegal by a point, with Dublin and Westmeath close behind on 73 and 75 points. Rory McDonnell of Dunboyne was the highest Meath finisher in 11th place in the men's race. Mark Lacey (South O'Hanlon) finished 83rd, Robert Caffrey (St Brigid's) was 97th, Don Mahon (Trim) was 118th and Dermot Farrelly (Bohermeen) finished in 127th. Bohermeen's Alan Monaghan put in a good run in the boys u-11 race to finish sixth while St Brigid's Shane Hanley finished 15th. Bohermeen's Darragh Rennicks finished ninth in the boys u-19 6km. Young Navan athlete Eva O' Donovan set the ball rolling for Meath The 10-year-old ran a superb race to win the girls u-11 All-Ireland title over 800 metres. The victory rounded-off a magnificiant year for this very talented athlete who won the Leinter title in the same age group as well as the u-12 title. The Meath Senior Cross-Country championships will be staged by Bohermeen AC on Sunday, 20th December with the ladies 3km at 11.0, the men's 8km decider at 11.15 and the juvenile cross-country relays at 12.0. Bohermeen have confirmed the venue at Ardbraccan cross in the field known locally as the Moat field, which is part of the Ardbraccan estate. The championship is sure to draw huge crowds with Irish and Meath champion Andrew Ledwith confirmed to participate and Moynalvey's National u-23 champion Sarah Treacy also expected to line out for her first ever Meath senior championship. Last year Dunshaughlin pair of Robbie Matthews and Shauna Moore were the winners and both are expected to return to defend their crown.