Allen on Ireland team that lands silver in schools’ cross-country

THE national sports campus in Abbotstown was the venue for SIAB schools’ international cross-country championships last Saturday.

This event is for the cream of the crop from Ireland, England Scotland and Wales, and St Peter’s AC’s Dearbhla Allen was selected for the intermediate girls’ team following her recent silver medal finish in the Irish schools’ championship. This was Dearbhla’s fourth international but this one was really special as it was taking place in Ireland and allowed support to travel to the Dublin venue.

The race itself was of the highest quality with each team having eight athletes with six to score. The English team took the team gold but the real exciting battle was for the minor medals with Ireland and Wales doing serious battle with the lead between the teams changing several times throughout the race.

As the athletes approached the home straight, the team result was up for grabs and with the home support willing the Irish girls on, they managed to take the silver by just five points.

This was a tremendous experience and a proud day for Louth athletics as three of the team were Louth stars as, along with Dearbhla, there was also Eimear Cooney and Sholah Lawrence from Ace on the same team of eight.

In total, Louth had six athletes on international duty with Cormac Greene and Dáire Matthews, both from Dunleer AC, and Lorcan Forde-Dunne, from Ace, making it an unprecedented amount of Louth athletes on international duty at a single meeting, which is testament to the work being done in the county.

Next up is the national indoor championships, which will takes place on the weekend after next.