Matthews best local at Dunshaughlin event
The host club"s Robbie Matthews was the top Meath finisher at the Dunshaughlin 10km Road Races on Saturday evening when he finished in third spot behind Clonliffe Harriers Mark Kenneally and Raheny Shamrock"s Vinny Mulvey. A record field of 306 runners hit the roads of Dunshaughlin for the 29th running of the event. From the gun the men"s race developed into a battle between Kenneally and Mulvey (Raheny). The two went through the first mile in four minutes, 37 seconds and they covered two miles in nine minutes, 28 seconds by which stage Kenneally had opened up a 10-metre gap on Mulvey. As the line approached it took a sprint finish to separate the Dublin pair and it was Kenneally"s superior speed that proved the difference. He crossed the line in 29 minutes, 45 seconds, just two seconds ahead of Mulvey. Their times put them third and fourth respectively on the all-time list. There was a great battle for third, which Matthews shaded by knocking over a minute off his personal best in a time of 31 minutes, 36 seconds. Raheny"s Eoin Brady was the first veteran home four seconds ahead of Mick Byrne who set a new men"s over-45 record. SBR club from Ferns in Wexford defended their title in fine style from Sportsworld and Raheny Shamrocks. The reigning Evening Herald Ladies Mini-Marathon Champion, Annette Kealy, whipped 10 seconds off Mary Donoghue"s seven-year-old record with a stunning time of 34 minutes, 50 seconds which put her well clear of Elizabeth Cluskey (Tullamore) and Meath woman Fiona Mahon (Donore Harriers). Mahon led her big Donore contingent to victory in the team event for the second year in-a-row from Sportsworld and Na Fianna. Catherine Dunne (o-35), Denise Ryan (o-40), Linda Gunning (o-45), Helen Ingram (o-50) and Evelyn McNelis (o-55) were best of their respective categories. Former Meath All-star and All-Ireland winner Trevor Giles swapped his football boots for running shoes and finished strongly in 45 minutes. RESULTS Men - 1, Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers) 29.45; 2, Vinny Mulvey (Raheny Shamrocks) 29.47; 3, Robbie Matthews (Dunshaughlin) 31.36; 4, Noel Kelly (Mullingar) 31.40; 5, Paul Buckley (Ferbane) 32.09; 6, Dave Byrne (Tallaght) 32.17; o-40 - 1, Eoin Brady (Raheny Shamrocks) 32.21; 2, David Carey (South O"Hanlon) 34.29; 3, Tommy McElwaine (S.B.R.) 34.36. o-45 - 1, Mick Byrne (Sli Culainn) 32.25; 2, Seamus Rooney (Raheny Shamrocks) 37.58; o-50 - 1, Chris Keeling (Raheny Shamrocks) 38.15; o-55 - 1, Pat Comey (Trim) 39.51; o-60 - 1, Jim McNamara (Donore Harriers) 43.50; junior - 1, Sean Wall 37.00; 2, Eddie McSweeney 44.14; teams - 1, SBR Wexford 69pts; 2, Sportsworld 117; 3, Raheny Shamrocks 124. Ladies - 1, Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrocks) 34.40; 2, Elizabeth Cluskey (Tullamore) 37.14; 3, Fiona Mahon (Donore Harriers) 37.18; 4, Elaine Caul (Civil Service) 37.19; 5, Mary Hanley (Na Fianna) 37.38; 6, Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld) 37.55; o-35 - 1, Catherine Dunne (Dunboyne) 38.59; 2, Kathleen Horgan (Sportsworld) 41.13; 3, Rachel Morgan (Sportsworld) 41.29; o-40: 1, Denise Ryan (Raheny Shamrocks) 38.56; 2, Brigid Clarke (Na Fianna) 40.53; o-45 - 1, Linda Gunning (Bohermeen) 43.16; 2, Marie Reilly (Navan) 44.07; o-50 - 1, Helen Ingram (Rathfarnham) 42.05; o-50 - 1, Helen Ingram (Rathfarnham) 42.05; teams - 1, Donore Harriers 223pts; 2, Sportsworld 238; 3, Na Fianna 272. LEINSTER Two O"Carolan"s College students, Feilibh O Cinneide and Torlach Grant were part of the Leinster 4x400m relay team that took gold last weekend in the Kit-Kat Schools Tailteann games at Santry. O Cinneide also ran on the 4x100m relay team only minutes beforehand, but was the first out of the blocks in the longer distance race and ensured that the team was a good position after the first 400 metres. The team capitalised on this and won the race, narrowly missing out on the current record. CLUB Bohermeen: Thursday, 3rd July - Meath beach run, Gormanston beach, 8.0. Navan: The girls u-15 team performed very well in securing the bronze medal at the Leinster Championships in Greystones at the weekend. The team of Niamh Lister, Ciara Grant, Karen Blaney and Susan Whelan finiahed in medal winning positions with excellent performances in the hurdles, 800 metres, long jump, and the shot.