Andrew Coscoran clinches All-Ireland cross-country title

Star of the Sea athlete Andrew Coscoran maintained the conveyor belt of talent from the east Meath club as he clinched the All-Ireland under-15 Cross-Country Championship crown at Charleville Demesne, Tullamore on Sunday. The Novice and Uneven ages cross-country had been deferred from mid-December, but the delay was no hindrance to Coscoran as he benefited from his gruelling training at Ardgillan Castle to lift the title with almost 80 metres to spare. In the extremely competitive race Coscoran bided his time in the leading group for the early stages and at the bell it was between the Star of the Sea prospect and Conor Christie as they pulled clear of their closest rivals. At the top of the only significant climb, Coscoran pushed for home. Over the final kilometre the Meath runner put a significant distance between himself and Christie who in turn had a safe margin over third-placed Padraig Moran. Dunshaughlin's Linda Fahy finished 38th in the ladies Novice race place as she led the Meath ladies to sixth place in the team event. Fahy's team mates were Imelda Clarke (41), Maggie Higgins (58), Mary Watters (64), Annmarie McCluskey (99), Margaret Neary (100) and Ann Tobin (106). Bohermeen's Derek Croal had a fine run to finish 21st in the mens Novice and lead Meath to a seventh place. The other members were Morgan McDonagh (51), Neville Reilly (54) and Loughlin Campion (56). In the younger age groups Eoin Smith from Tara AC led Meath to fourth place in the inter-county competition when finishing second in the boys u-13 race. The next Meath runner across the line was Alan Monaghan (Bohermeen) in fourth place. The best Meath club performance of the day was in the girls u-11 race where third placed Sarah Clarke led her club colleagues from Na Fianna AC to third place in the inter-clubs competition and the county to fourth. The Na Fianna squad was completed by Amy Clarke, Emma Neary, Sara Daly and Aideen Slattery. In the u-11 boys race the leading Meath runner was St Brigid's Shane Hanley who finished in a very good 10th place. The u-19 girls had an exciting tussle over the finishing straight between long-time leader Mary Mulaire (North Laois) and Mary Ann O'Sullivan who produced a kick that brought her into the lead and ensured victory. Fourth place in this race went to Shauna Moore from Dunshaughlin AC who is establishing herself at the forefront of the very competitive women's junior distance ranks. The county team finished second to Dublin and included Shauna Moran who put in a storming final two kilometres to finish 12th, two places ahead of Rachel Neary. Track specialist Elaine Plunkett completed the scoring quartet.