Local links to Ardee archers

THE IRISH national indoor archery championships took place recently in the National Sports Arena, Sports Campus Ireland, Blanchardstown, Dublin.

And among the ten members of CúChulainn Archers - who meet in Ardee, Co. Louth - competing were Éamonn Rogers and Deirdre Rogers, formerly of Knocktown, Duncormick, and Michael Furlong, also a one-time resident of Duncormick.

Éamonn Rogers competed in the Senior male compound category, coming third in a very hotly-contested final.

‘I shot some of the toughest and tightest matches of my life,’ he said. ‘My first match was with Rob Bradley of Enniscorthy Archers who shot a score that would have won most of the matches.

‘After that I had one-point wins in each of the following matches and then was beaten in the semi-final by the eventual winner which consigned me to the bronze final.

‘There, after yet another tough match, I came away with third place. I then competed with two other members of my club in the compound team event where we took fourth place.’

Deirdre Rogers competed in the Masters compound category, coming first and breaking two Irish records. She then went on to compete in the Senior category seeding sixth, but finishing in ninth position.

Next came the team event, where with two other members of the club she came away with the silver medal.

Michael Furlong, formerly of Duncormick but now living in Duncannon, also competed in the nationals in the barebow category. He shot very well in what was his first-ever Irish nationals, seeding seventh and finishing in overall seventh postion.

Michael has only just returned to target archery after some years’ absence, and we look forward to seeing him on the shooting line again.