Smyth and Gaffney shine in the muck
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The start of the 8k men’s race at the Meath Senior Cross-Country Championships on Saturday. Photos: Stephen Ball.Image 2 of 12
Meath Athletics President Olivia Clinton presented the medals to the first three home in the Ladies race on Saturday (from left) Tara’s Leona O’Reilly (third) and Trim pair Edel Gaffney (first) and Ava Costello (second).Image 3 of 12
Meath Athletics President Olivia Clinton presented the medals to the first three home in the Men’s race on Saturday (from left) Dunshaughlin’s Sean O’Connor (third), Tara’s Eoin Smyth (first) and Bohermeen’s Kevin McGrath (second).Image 4 of 12
Ready for the off at the start of the ladies race at the Meath Senior Cross-Country Championships on Saturday.Image 5 of 12
Dunboyne AC’s Jane Bandila leads eventual bronze medallist Leona O’Reilly (Tara) .Image 6 of 12
Meath Ladies All-Star footballer Niamh Gallogly finished seventh.Image 7 of 12
The Na Fianna team (from left) Sarah Clarke, Emma Neary, Sinead O’Malley and Louise Bailey received the winning team medals from Meath Athletics President Olivia Clinton.Image 8 of 12
The Tara AC team that won the men’s team title at the Meath Senior Cross-Country Championships on Saturday.Image 9 of 12
There was plenty of support for the Dunshaughlin athletes at the Meath Senior Cross-Country Championships on Saturday.Image 10 of 12
On their marks for the start of the Juvenile League final.Image 11 of 12
Dunboyne AC athletes and supporters at Boyerstown on Saturday.Image 12 of 12
Some of the Bohermeen AC athletes who were in action in the Juvenile League final on Saturday.Tara AC's Eoin Smyth and Trim AC's Edel Gaffney were the big winners at the Meath Senior cross-Country Championships which were held on McNally's Farm just off the main Navan to Athboy Road at Boyerstown on Saturday.
In tough grueling conditions Smyth and Gaffney held off the challenge of multiple previous winners to claim the titles in convincing fashion.
The men's 8k race saw a field of over 65 athletes face starter Philip Cogavin. Over the course of the five laps it was a battle of the two most recent past winners Kevin McGrath from host club Bohermeen AC, a winner in 2023 and 2024, and Smyth, who won in 2022. As the leaders notched off the laps Smyth edged ahead in the soft terrain and came home to win his second title. McGrath took the silver medal from Sean O'Connor of Dunshaughlin who was also third last year.
The senior ladies race over 4k started at 11am and the field of 40 was led out sharply by last year's runner up Gaffney.
The Trim AC runner showed her intent from the gun as she led from start to finish to win comfortably from her clubmate Ava Costello, with Leona O'Reilly of Tara in bronze place.
Na Fianna ladies led home by Sarah Clarke in ninth place won the ladies team title for the first time since 2007, with Trim and Dunboyne taking the silver and bronze team medals respectively.
Smyth's victory in the men's race helped Tara AC to the team title ahead of Ratoath AC and Dunshaughlin.
After the race Smyth said he is eyeing up a Leinster 10,000m target and McGrath has both eyes firmly on the indoor season ahead.
In the final of the Meath juvenile cross-country league there were athletes from 15 clubs across Meath scoring points for their club, with Ratoath retaining the title from Dunshaughlin and Tara, with hosts Bohermeen in fourth and grade B winners.
Bohermeen AC expressed their thanks to Adrian McNally for the use of his facilities for the event and to Cathal Smith also for his help. Thanks were also extended to the stewards on duty, the Meath Civil Defence and the Meath Co Board.