McCarthy and Fitzgibbon can keep the Leevale flag flying

FIACHRA LOMBARD has pulled out of Sunday’s Rás na hÉireann, which incorporates the national short course championship.

His older brother, Cathal, said the Birmingham-based athlete had been ill for the past week and will have a blood test today in a bid to determine the cause of the problem.

“Fiachra has not run for a week and is definitely out,” he said, confirming that he, too, will be an absentee.