Proud day for Dunleer club in Abbotstown
A GROUP of four Dunleer AC athletes acquitted themselves superbly when representing the Monasterboice/Tullyallen community at the recent Community Games Finals in Abbotstown.
Evan Costello, Grace and Matthew Fitzpatrick all competed in the sprint events and Aeyla Orr took part in the long jump and it was a huge honour for them to represent their county, having qualified from their area heats.
It was a great privilege also for John Roche (Mr Community Games in Louth for many years) to have his grand nephew Evan competing for the county at under-8 level and reaching the semi-finals.
John’s daughters Fiona and Laura are both runners, as is his son Shane, while his niece Cora Russell is a former Community Games National final winner. Fiona has had county, provincial and National success in cross-country and is the record-holder in the ladies section of the 4 Mile Road Race in Dunleer.
Members of the Russell and Roche families have competed for Dunleer AC over the years and John and Shane are great stalwarts of the Rás na hÉireann organising committee, and it is great to see John continuing the tradition of athletics in the area.
Meanwhile, a great day was had by the Dunleer contingent in Sunday’s Ardee & District AC Track & Field Sports.
A great haul of medals was won by Aeyla Orr, Grace Fitzpatrick, Sean McEvoy, James Matthew Fitzpatrick, Vanessa Brennan, Danielle Brennan, Ciaran Brandon Daire Mathews, Conor Brennan, Evan Costello, Ashling Gormley and most importantly Pauric, Conor and Alex in the tiny tots race.