Hanrahan eyeing Irish spot with Cork title defence

MARK HANRAHAN (Leevale) will be targeting a place on the Irish team for the SPAR European cross-country championships when he lines up in defence of his Cork senior crown at Clonakilty Showgrounds on Sunday.

Hanrahan, who has represented Ireland at all levels in the European cross-country championships, will be hoping to take his improving track form into this year’s event. He missed the Gerry Farnan race in the Phoenix Park due to illness two weeks ago but he can secure his place in the Irish team when he leads the Cork challenge at the national inter-county championships at Kilbeggan Racecourse next month.

On Sunday he will be hoping to reproduce the form that saw him win so impressively last year when he lines up in one of the most prestigious titles in Irish cross-country running.