Ireland’s call for St Vincent’s girl Neasa

Dundalk run out of steam

NEASA Reilly, a second year student from St Vincent’s Secondary School Dundalk, can look forward with confidence to her international commitments after claiming a bronze medal following a magnificent performance in the All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country Championships in Mallusk, Co Antrim, earlier this month.

Neasa now progresses to the SIAB Cross-Country International in Wales when she will proudly represent her school and country.

In a packed field of Ireland’s finest young athletes, Neasa got off to a quick start and then settled into third place in the 2.5km race. She maintained this position for the duration of the race in spite of stiff competition and the extreme muddy conditions of the course at Newtownabbey.

The classy athlete executed a carefully planned strategy that would secure her place in the forthcoming international championships.

While the race was won by Munster’s Aimee Hayde, Neasa did more than enough to establish her place as a medal winner, finishing well ahead of her friend and rival Áine Kirwan, who had pipped her on the line in the Leinster Championships earlier this year.

Neasa was proudly cheered on by her dad (and coach) Fintan, mum Maeve, sisters, aunties, grandparents and teachers.

The SIAB championships will take place in Port Talbot, Wales, this coming Saturday and naturally the entire school community in St Vincent’s wish Neasa every success.