by Jeremy Lyons The National Track and Field league kicks off this weekend with 58 teams entered. The league is divided into two divisions with the action taking place in Cork and Antrim. A second round will take place later in July and the top 8 teams in each division will contest the final in Tullamore in August. Each division has a pool in each venue. The women’s league sees Tir Chonaill beginning their defence of the Premier Division in Antrim. Their main rivals at the Forum are likely to be Abbey, North Down and the newly promoted Ballymena and Antrim. The Premier Division pool in Cork looks like being more keenly contested with 4 of the top 5 finishers from last season, DSD, Leevale, Bandon and Borrisokane, being joined by newcomers Ferrybank. Ferrybank look like being the favourites at this stage for overall honours but much won’t be known until the 1st round is completed. It is encouraging to see 26 women’s teams entered across both divisions.
The men’s league has drawn what could be seen as the ‘pool of death’ in Antrim with the top 3 teams from last season pitted together. Clonliffe will be pushing to defend their title with perennial challengers North Down and Shercock for company while resurgent Crusaders will be looking to roll back the glory years and win their first title since 2005. Cork will host most of the southern region challengers with Leevale, Athletics Meath, DSD, Menapians and Tullamore all chasing points.
Pool Draws –
https://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/first-round-draw-revised-2009-5-final.pdf