Ó Lionáird targets team gold at Euro under-23 cross-country

WITH Ciarán Ó Lionáird committed to competing and David McCarthy set to return from Providence, the task of putting together a medal winning under-23 team for the European cross-country championships should be completed on Sunday at the Woodies DIY national inter-county cross-country championships at Gransha Park, Derry.

Ó Lionáird, who finished 18th and led Florida State to the silver team medals in the NCAAs on Monday believes Ireland has the talent to challenge for gold medals in Albufeira on December 12 and with the top three in the Derry race guaranteed selection the remaining places could all go to US-based athletes.

Dubliner David Rooney finished 50th in the NCAAs and was fourth in the Regionals the previous week while another Dubliner, David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers), has been the epitome of consistency all season.