National records tumble at GloHealth All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore

Pessimism may be a tempting and often appropriate outlook when it comes to Irish athletics these days, but in Tullamore on Saturday, even the most cynical of souls couldn’t but be swayed: the future remains bright.

On the centenary edition of the GloHealth All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships, it was the teenage trio of Sharlene Mawdsley, Michaela Walsh and Ciara Neville who shone brightest, their feats reminding us that despite the outlook for Rio 2016 looking decidedly grim, there remains a world of hope for Tokyo 2020.