Report from All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships 2014:Cork IT, Saturday 8th MarchAll things golden was the colour of the day for Skerries athletes who travelled to Cork IT for the prestigious All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships on Saturday 8th March 2014. The competition was the culmination of weeks of regional and provincial qualifiers which saw the best of Irelands young athletes gather to battle it out for All-Ireland glory.Once again Skerries athletes did not disappoint. Competing in the Intermediate girls race, Rhona Pierce in the singlet of Skerries Community College romped to an emphatic victory over the much fancied Clodagh O’Reilly (Loreto, Cavan) to take the Intermediate girls title. In close proximity was Isabel Carron, coming home in 8th place and ensuring both girls representation for a second successive year on the Irish Schools team for the upcoming SIAB International Cross Country in Bolton, England in 2 weeks time. The girls were ably backed up by Sarah Byrne in 31st and Laura Costello 58th thus sealing and retaining their victory from last year in the team event. On top of this the girls also brought home the prestigious Maeve Kyle award for the most successful girls team competing on the day.The Intermediate girls race also saw Eryn Devine competing for her school, Loreto, Balbriggan. As always, Eryn dug in and had a strong run around the 3,500mtr course finishing in 26th place overall. In the Junior girls 2,500mtr race, we had Eibhlin McCarthy in the colours of Loreto, Balbriggan. Eibhlin, who has gone from strength to strength over the past number of months over the country, finished in a highly commendable 25th place overall in her first All-Ireland Schools finals.It is hard to express how proud we, the coaches, parents and members of Skerries AC are of these group of athletes. We are fully aware of the dedication they put into their sport, but results like this make the commitment and sheer craft all the more worthwhile. It gives a great boost to our small club and an inspiration to our younger athletes who will aim to emulate this success in years to come. Congratulations girls, we salute you.

And all of them mature, kind and supportive of each other. It was a pleasure to watch them all race. Serious thanks to Joanne, Keith, Kevin and all the coaches. They wouldn’t have got there without you.