Top Clonliffe performer at today`s All Ireland Schools Cross Country at Mallusk Playing Fields in Belfast was young Daragh Carter in the junior boys race. Daragh has been ever improving in recent months and today put in his best race ever over 3,600m of a tough course to place an excellent 9th place. Also in the junior race Dermot Buckley put in his usual battling performance to finish 39th and with Sam Kowalczyk also running well in 62nd, both were on the St. Aidans team that placed 5th.
The inter boys raced over 5,200m and it was as classy a race as predicted with high quality athletes throughout. Both Clonliffe lads put in a very good account of themselves Aaron Cullen placing 45th and Craig Giles 57th. Tess Loftus was moving up a year racing in the senior girls race for Loreto on the Green and also puta solid run placing 47th, her school finishing 7th.
In the senior boys race, things didn`t go according to plan at all for the three in a row chasing St. Aidans team. Cold victim Sean O`Leary never looked comfortable at all over the 6,500m distance and struggled around 20th before eventually placing 17th. An unwell Joey Hession was forced to pull up, and with Daniel Lacey, moving up from inter, 36th, Greg Hossenny 38th, Fintan McManus 48th and Jordan Byrne 50th, the lads were very disappointed to finish up 4th, with Col. Mhuire Mullingar well up the road in 1st.