Lucan young guns make National CC podium
By Stephen Leonard
LUCAN Harriers were out in force at the recent National Cross-Country Championships in Abbottstown with athletes competing in all races from Under 12 to 18.
Dara Donoghue emerged the top performer for the club, winning the Under 16 Boys competition for what was his first National title.
Having previously served up a victory in the Dublin Championships earlier in the season, Donoghue was determined to reproduce that form on the national stage.
And having done so, he will now represent Ireland at the Celtic Cross Country in Stirling on January 11th.
It has been a superb season so far for the young Lucan runner who was also a part of the Dublin side that won the county team title and finished third on the provincial stage.
Meanwhile, the Lucan Girls Under 12 team finished 13th with Rachel Jez leading them home in 35th place followed by Eva Collis, Eve Clarke, Alison Bracken and Ellen Kenny.
In the boys equivalent, David Coakley crossed the line in sixth, winning an individual medal and leading the Lucan team to a seventh place finish.
Also performing well for this squad was Davis Quinn, Charlie Hughes and Donncha Mac Fiaich.
The Lucan Under 14 girls missed out on a team medal by a mere 12 points despite a strong display by Saoirse Fitzgerald who finished runner-up and helped them to sixth place overall.
Maggie Jez came home 24th with Isabel Cuffe, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Sadhbh Ni Bhuachalla and Niamh Lamon also playing their part for the team.
Liam Fitzgerald was Lucan’s sole representative in the Under 14 Boys’ race and came home in ninth position, subsequently helping the Dublin team to second place in the inter-county division.
While Millie Hughes enjoyed a great run in the Under 16 girls’ class, Aoife Coffey finished 11th in the Under 18 Girls and 19th in Junior Ladies’ contests, also helping the Dublin team to second place on podium.
TAGS Sport
