Five Cork Athletes on Irish Team for European Cross-Country Championships 2016
Cork Trio of Darragh McElhinney, Fearghal Curtin and Charlie O'Donovan Form Core of Irish Junior Mens Team
Chia, Italy
Sunday December 11th 2016
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| Darragh McElhinney (Bantry AC) | Fearghal Curtin (Youghal AC), flanked by Paddy Buckley (Cork Athletics) and John Foley (CEO Athletics ireland) | Charlie O'Donovan (Leevale A.C.) |
Five Cork athletes have been selected on the Irish Teams for next month's European Cross-Country Championships, in Chia, Italy. Three of the five, Darragh McElhinney (Bantry A.C.), Fearghal Curtain (Youghal A.C.) and Charlie O'Donovan (Leevale A.C.), form the core of the six-person Junior Mens team. Leevale AC's duo of Mark Hanrahan and Michelle Finn are the other two Cork representatives, on the Senior Mens and Senior Womens Teams respectively.
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| Mark Hanrahan (Leevale A.C.) | Michelle Finn (Leevale A.C.) |
The squad was announced earlier today, following yesterday's Athletics Ireland National Cross-Country Championships, in Abbotstown, Dublin.
Athletics Ireland Press release - Feidhlim Kelly
McCormack heads European Cross Country Selections
Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole) heads the Irish team entries for the European Cross Country Championships in Chia, Italy on December 11th.
McCormack had a fine win yesterday at the IAAF permit meeting in Alcobendas, Spain yesterday, and she will be hoping to lead another strong women’s team which includes UCD’s European `1500m bronze medallist Ciara Mageean.
The team also includes European 3,000m steeplechase finalists Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) and Michelle Finn (Leevale) who also competed at the Olympics in Rio. It is rounded out by An Riocht’s Shona Heaslip who won the Irish Life Health National Cross Country Championships yesterday which incorporated the trial.
The senior men’s team includes marathon specialists Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) and Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) who both competed in Rio. Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) won the trial yesterday and is no stranger to European competition.
Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) heads the junior entries and will be looking to build on his 23rd place finish from last year.
Irish Teams for European Cross Country Championships
Chia, Italy
Sun December 11th 2016
Senior Men
Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers A.C.), Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock A.C.), Mark Hanrahan (Leevale A.C.), Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers A.C.) Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders A.C.), Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock A.C.)
Senior Women
Shona Heaslip (An Riocht A.C.), Kerry O'Flaherty (Newcastle & District A.C.), Ciara Mageean (U.C.D. A.C.), Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole A.C.), Laura Crowe (An Riocht A.C.), Michelle Finn (Leevale A.C.)
U23 Men
Karl Fitzmaurice (Ennis Track A.C.), Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. A.C.)
U23 Women
Bethanie Murray (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Amy O'Donoghue (Emerald A.C.)
Junior Men
Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers A.C.), Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.), Darragh McElhinney (Bantry A.C.), Fearghal Curtain (Youghal A.C.), Barry Keane (Waterford A.C.), Charlie O'Donovan (Leevale A.C.)
Junior Women
Sophie Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Amy Rose Farrell (Blackrock A.C.), Emma O'Brien (Inbhear Dee A.C./Sli Cualann), Carla Sweeney (W.S.A.F A.C.), Jodie McCann (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Aisling Joyce (Claremorris A.C.)
