Dunboyne race a big success

Dunboyne's Luke Forde was the best local finisher in the 42nd Dunboyne four-mile road race which attracted over 1,000 runners, the largest number to take part in the event. This race was won by Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers) who took an early stranglehold on the race and coasted to a comfortable victory in 18 minutes 26 seconds. Kenneally will be chasing an Olympic qualifying time in the Madrid marathon in three weeks time. Second was Richard Corcoran (Raheny Shamrock) while Thomas Fitzpatrick (Tallaght) was third. Forde, who finished third in the Meath Cross-Country Championships in early March again discovered some good form in the Dunboyne event and clocked up a time of 20.51 for 21st overall. Another Dunboyne athlete to perform well was Neville Reilly, the former Meath hurler who has made a successful transition to the running game. He registered 20.58 to cross the line in 25th place. Next to finish was Tommy Maher who put in a sustained performance to claim 29th place in 21:10 and Dunboyne's Morgan McDonagh was 32nd. The evergreen Paddy Mangan rolled back the years with a superb run for fifth Meath athlete home in 22.09 while other local runners to finish in the top 100 included Robert Caffrey (St Brigid's), David O'Connell (Bohermeen), Alan Maye (Na Fianna), Ramunas Meskausas (Bohermeen), Aidan Swan (Dunshaughlin), Dermot Farrelly (Bohermeen), Sean O'Neill (Trim), John Keogh (Fr Murphy), Sean Keany (Dunboyne) and Paul O'Rourke (Dunshaughlin). Linda Fahy from Dunshaughlin was the first female Meath athlete home in a good time 25.52 followed by Emilia Dan from the host club in a time of 26.08 with Ursula Byrne (Dunshaughlin 26.11) and Mary Watters (Navan, pictured) 26.26) finishing close behind.