Downes answers Irish call

UP until recently, Ireland appeared certain of team medals in the men’s race at the Spar European cross-country championships but those hopes have long since faded.

And, after a whole series of withdrawals through injury and illness, Team Manager, Patsy McGonagle, will today try to get the evergreen Limerick man, John Downes, back into an Irish singlet in what will be a last throw of the dice for the Irish team.

When Rob Connolly became the latest victim of a litany of injury problems for the Team Manager it appeared as if they would have to go to the line a man short for the race.