Ryan Creech fighting back to form

Fionnuala McCormack is the star Irish name in the European Cross Country Championships in Hyeres, France tomorrow as she looks to lead the women’s team to more success but Leevale’s unheralded Ryan Creech will be looking to make some headlines of his own.

Creech last made the European Championships as a junior in 2009, when it was hosted in Dublin, but his transition to the senior ranks has been far from seamless.

The Glanmire man took up a scholarship in Lamar University, Texas — which proved a “disaster”, but his return to form has been put down to a man he describes as a “genius”. Donie Walsh has been building his stock as one of Ireland’s leading distance running coaches and he boasts a stable which also includes Lizzie Lee and Michelle Finn who will be on the women’s team, with McCormack looking to back up the bronze medals won last year in Samokov.