Athletics Ireland reveals European Cross Country teams

Athletics Ireland today announced a 36-strong team for the European Cross Country Championships which take place on December 9 in Toro, Spain.

The senior women’s team will be led by Fionnuala Britton, who was a silver medal winner in the Under 23 race at last year’s European Cross Country Championship.

Britton has gone on from that to take 12th in the 3000m Steeplechase at the World Championships. She retained her Irish Women’s Inter County Cross Country title yesterday in the Curragh.

Britton will be joined on the women’s team by Deirdre Byrne, who finished second in the Curragh along with Sligo’s Mary Cullen. Jolene Byrne, Pauline Curley and Maria McCambridge complete the senior women’s team.

The senior men’s team will include Gary Murray, who took the Irish Men’s Inter Counties Cross Country title yesterday. Murray is joined on the team by Gareth Turnbull who finished 11 seconds behind him in yesterday’s race. The team is completed by Martin Fagan, Vinnie Mulvey, Joe McAllister and Colm Rooney.

The men’s Under 23 team holds one of Ireland’s best chances of a medal in Mark Christie. Christie won last year’s Inter-Counties and came third in yesterday’s race.

In the women’s Under 23 team, Linda Byrne will also be looking to build on an impressive season as will Rose Anne Galligan who is also included.

The junior men’s team will also be looking for a good performance in Spain with several on the athletes having good years.

This includes John Coghlan who won the junior race at yesterday’s Irish Inter-Counties, while Brendan O’Neill, who led that race until the last lap is another excellent prospect.

The junior women’s team includes the Ffrench-O’Carroll twins, Charlotte and Rebecca. Charlotte to the junior title just ahead of her sister yesterday and they will both be in contention at the Europeans.

Team manager Anne Keenan-Buckley said: "This year we have several genuine medal hopes and, with many of these athletes in top form, there is no reason why we can’t come home with a medal again."

Senior men

Martin Fagan (Mullingar Harriers)

Gary Murray (St. Malachy’s)

Gareth Turnbull (St. Malachy’s)

Vinnie Mulvey (Raheny Shamrocks)

Joe McAllister (St. Malachy’s)

Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers)

Senior women

Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC)

Fionnuala Britton (Sli Chulainn)

Deirdre Byrne (Sli Chulainn)

Jolene Byrne (Donore Harriers)

Pauline Curley (Tullamore AC)

Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin)

U-23 Men

Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers)

Joseph Sweeney (Dundrum South Dublin)

Michael Clohissey (Raheny Shamrocks)

Cathal Dennehy (Emerald AC)

Danny Darcy (St, Laurence O’Toole AC)

Andrew Ledwith (Fr. Murphy’s)

U-23 Women

Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin)

Frances Nic Reamoin (Clonliffe Harriers)

Rose Anne Galligan (Newbridge AC)

Aisling Baker (Dundrum South Dublin)

Azemra Gebrezgi (Dublin City Harriers)

Tracey Williams (Tallaght AC)

Junior men

David McCarthy (West Waterford AC)

Brenadn O’Neill (Dundrum South Dublin)

John Coghlan (Metro St. Brigid’s)

Michael Mulhare (North Laois AC)

David Rooney (Raheny Shamrocks)

Niall Tuohy (Ferrybank AC)

Junior Women

Charlotte Ffrench-O’Carroll (Dundrum South Dublin)

Rebecca Ffrench-O’Carroll (Dundrum South Dublin)

Suzanne Huet (Dundrum South Dublin)

Sara Louise Treacy (Moynalvey AC)

Eimear Black (Balymena and Antrim AC)

Lorraine McCarthy (West Waterford AC)

Team Management :

Team Manager: Anne Keenan Buckley

Team coaches: Jim Davis, Teresa McDaid, John Dooley

Physiotherapist: Niamh Kissane

Doctor: Louise Griffin