addressed by Athletics Ireland president The 2007 Meath Athletics awards presentation was addressed by Athletics Ireland president, Michael Heery. He congratulated the officers and officials of the Meath board on how they conducted events during the year. He paid tribute to the efforts of those who administer and coach the clubs of the county and said that the association in now more appreciative of the volunteer structure which is the backbone of the sport. The inaugural AAI Awards night which took place on Saturday 17 Nov. had been a great success thanks in part to the efforts of Trim AC Club member This event honoured the efforts of athletes, officials coaches and clubs throughout the country at all levels.
In his final term as President of Athletics Ireland he felt honoured to be involved in the special presentation for athletic achievement to Ciaran McDonagh and the presentation to 2007 European Youths bronze medal winner Kourosh Foroughi .
The 2007 Honorary President of Meath Athletics was also on hand to make presentations and he said that in his 60 years involvement with the sport he had met marvellous people who made a difference to their local community. As the first person to wear the new presidents chain of office he took the opportunity to publicly praise the to the lifelong contribution to the sport made by Rita Brady, Navan AC and Lena Heffernan, Na Fianna.
Presentation to Ciaran McDonagh
A special presentation was made to Ciaran McDonagh from Fr Murphy AC who retired from international athletics during 2007. During his distinguished athletics career Ciaran set numerous national indoor and outdoor long jump records from junior grade through under 21s and ultimately at senior level. His jump of 8.07m set in 2005 at a meeting in Switzerland looks set to stand the test of time. On announcing the presentation the County athletics board chairman Brendan Meade noted that Ciaran had reached a world championship final, a very rare achievement for an Irish field event athlete.He also featured on the Irish all time lists for 60 metres and 100 metres.
The President of Athletics Ireland Michael Heery wished Ciaran well and hoped that the association would be calling on his vast knowledge and expertise as a jumper of international renown and standard to assist with coaching the next generation of Irish athletes.
Intrernational Achievements
There were special presentations made to three local athletes who took part in top level international events during the year .Pride of place went to Kourosh Foroughi from Star of the Sea AC who finished in the bronze medal position at the European Youth Olympic Festival at Belgrade World Youths Championship and also put in a top grade performance at the World Youths Championships at Ostrava, Czech Republic. He will be aiming to improve on his very impressive 2m11cm personal best set this year when he restarts his season at the National Indoor championships.
Another international achiever during the year was Sara Louise Treacy, Moynalvey Kilcloon AC. She was a member of a very promising Irish junior cross country squad which finished ninth in the European Junior Cross Country Championship at San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy. Sara is now a student at Birmingham University in England which has assembled the an outstanding team of middle distance stars this season.
The trip to the European U23 Cross Country Championship at San Giorgi su Legnano, Italy also gave Andrew Ledwith , Fr Murphy AC an opportunity to impress on the international stage.. Since returnig to his American college this autumn Andrew has made a big impression on the Collegiate Cross County scene. This weekend he took part for Iona College in the regional championships for the Eastern states.
These three dedicated and special talents are an inspiration to many local runners and a testament to the work and commitment of their clubs and coaches.
National Medal Winners
All underage athletes who won medals at National Championships were presented with certificates noting their achievement:
Caoimhe Moore Dunshaughlin AC
Elaine Plunkett St Brigids AC
Kourosh Foroughi Star of the Sea AC
Maureen Farrell Fr. Murphy’s AC
Torlach Grant Navan AC
Shane Crawley Cushinstown AC
Jamie Murtagh St. Andrew’s AC
Brona Fanning Cushinstown AC
Shane Aston Trim AC
James McCabe Dunboyne AC
Grace O’Sullivan Cushinstown AC
Conal Campion St. Andrews AC
David Tobin Trim AC
David Bowe St. Andrew’s AC
Sinead O’Kane Dunboyne AC
Karen Monaghan Fr. Murphy’s AC
Grainne Miggin Fr. Murphy’s AC
Monica McGuirk Cushinstown AC
Michelle Monaghan Fr. Murphy’s AC
Cross Country Awards:
U11-13 Girls Caoimhe Moore Dunshaughlin AC
Boys Fionn Reilly Kells AC
U14-16 Girls Elaine Plunkett St. Brigids AC
Boys Simon Drumm Dunboyne AC
U17-19 Girls Sinead Kennedy Dunshaughlin AC
Boys Ciaran McKenna Star of the Sea AC
Junior Ladies Sara Louise Treacy Moynalvey/Kilcloone AC
Men Daniel Treacy Moynalvey/Kilcloone AC
Senior Ladies Fiona Reid Dunboyne AC
Men Andrew Ledwith Fr. Murphy’s AC)
Rory McDonnell Dunboyne AC ) Joint winners
Masters Ladies Mary Hanley Na Fianna AC
Men Paddy Mangan Dunshaughlin AC
Track & Field Awards:
U11-13 Track Girls Emma Troy Fr. Murphy’s AC
Boys Fergal O’Hare Na Fianna AC
Field Girls Brona Fanning Cushinstown AC
Boys Jamie Murtagh St. Andrew’s AC
U14-16 Track Girls Karen Dunne Bohermeen AC
Boys Torlach Grant Navan AC
Field Girls Karen Monaghan Fr. Murphy’s AC
Boys James McCabe Dunboyne AC
U17-19 Track Girls Michelle Smith Dunboyne Ac
Boys Cian O’Loughlin Navan AC
Field Girls Grace O’Sullivan Cushinstown AC
Boys Kourosh Foroughi Star of the Sea AC
Junior Track Ladies Sophie Kennedy Navan AC
Men Joey Monaghan Navan AC
Junior Field Ladies Maureen Farrell Fr. Murphy’s AC
Senior Track Ladies Catherine Collins Star of the Sea AC
Men David Bowe St. Andrew’s AC
Senior Field Ladies Karen Healy Fr. Murphy’s AC
Men Ger Nagle Star of the Sea AC
Masters Track Ladies Moira Peppard Trim AC
Men Tom Clinton Navan AC
Masters Field Ladies Moira Aston Trim AC
Men Tony Aston Trim AC
County Cups & Trophies:
The Heffernan Cup : Girls U9 Team: Navan AC
Na Fianna Cup: Boys U9 Team : Na Fianna AC
Rod and Gun Perpetual Cup: Boys U12 team: Bohermeen AC
D. O’Brien Cup: Girls U14 Team: Dunboyne AC
The Dan Bagnall Cup: Novice Men: Bohermeen AC
The Betty & Frank McDonnell Cup: Intermediate Team: Bohermeen AC
Bank of Ireland Trophy: Senior Ladies:
The Regan Mc Entee Cup: Senior Ladies:
The Larry Daly Cup: Senior Men Team:
The Meath 8 Road Race League Series:
The Meath road race series took place during the year and awards were presented on the basis of an athletes best 5 results from the 8 race series. A draw was also held for 2 weekend breaks confined to runners who completed the 5 out of 8 races. John Gill and Avril Fitzsimons both members of Bohermeen were the prize winners.
Senior Ladies 1st Hazel Kinsella Navan AC
Senior Men 1st Peter Mooney Na Fianna AC
2nd Morgan McDonagh Dunboyne AC
3rd Derek Croal Bohermeen AC
4th Matt Moran South O’Hanlon AC
Masters ladies W35 1st Mary Hanley Na Fianna AC
2nd Maggie Higgins Na Fianna AC
3rd Avril Fitzsimons Bohermeen AC
W40 1st Mary Watters Navan AC
2nd Ann Marie McCloskey Na Fianna AC
W45 1st Linda Gunning Bohermeen AC
W50 1st Marie Reilly Navan AC
W60 1st Rose Healy Fr. Murphy’s AC
Masters Men M35 1st John Gill Bohermeen AC
2nd Dermot Farrelly Bohermeen AC
M40 1st David Carey South O’Hanlon AC
2nd Paddy Farrell Na Fianna AC
3rd Declan Byrne Bohermeen AC
4th Sean Kinnane Dunboyne AC
M45 1st Paddy Mangan Dunshaughlin AC
2nd Vinny Dwyer Dunshaughlin AC
M50 1st Tommy Clarke South O’Hanlon AC
M55 1st Patsy Fitzsimons South O’Hanlon AC
M60 1st David Hawcroft Trim AC
2nd Michael Hegarty South O’Hanlon AC
Non Meath Club Athletes that completed 5of the 8 races:
W50 Nuala Reilly Drogheda & District
W55 Josie Power Fingallians AC M40 Matthew Glennon Mullingar Harriers AC
M45 Donal Dunne Unattached
M45 Chris Keeling Raheny Shamrocks AC
M50 Jos Haak Drogheda & District AC
Hibernian National Track & Field League: The Meath Ladies team won the silver medal in Division 1 and are now promoted to the Premier Division. The team was as follows:
1) Fiona Meade Star of the Sea AC
2) Doireann Meade Star of the Sea AC
3) Catherine Collins Star of the Sea AC
4) Michelle Smith Dunboyne AC
5) Michelle Pilkington Dunboyne AC
6) Sinead O’Kane Dunboyne AC
7) Vanessa Hullon Dunboyne AC
8) Rose Mary Daniels Na Fianna AC
9) Alison Daniels Na Fianna AC
10) Jenny Reilly Na Fianna AC
11) Brigid Clarke Na Fianna AC
12) Mary Hanley Na Fianna AC
13) Maggie Higgins Na Fianna AC
14) Lucy O’Sullivan Cushinstown AC
15) Grace O’Sullivan Cushinstown AC
16) Sophie Kennedy Navan AC
17) Aisling Wynne Navan AC
18) Maureen Farrell Fr. Murphy’s AC
19) Karen Healy Fr. Murphy’s AC
20) Leah Rennicks Bohermeen AC
21) Mary Kate Benville St. Andrew’s AC
Best Club at the T&F Championships:
Juvenile Club: Dunboyne AC
Senior Club: Dunboyne AC
Inter Club Track & Field League:
1st Na Fianna AC 587pts
2nd Dunboyne AC 579pts
3rd Navan AC 524pts
