Double inter-counties target for Lombard

FIACHRA LOMBARD will not just be bidding for a berth on the Irish team for next month’s European cross-country championships when he competes in Sunday’s national inter-counties championships at St. Augustine’s College, Dungarvan.

The 26-year-old Leevale man, now based in Birmingham, also wants the title that was snatched from him by Seamus Power in a thrilling race at Donoughmore two years ago.

Power, who has won nine successive titles, will not compete on Sunday, due to a recurrence of the back injury that ended his Olympic dreams.