Leevale youngster Ó Lionaird on fire in Cardiff

CIARAN Ó LIONAIRD posted the qualifying standards for both the world youths championships in Marrakech and the European Youth Olympics, which had been his target, in one fell swoop when he won the junior 1,500m race in a sensational 3:50.86 at the Cardiff indoor international at the weekend.

The Irish junior record was set at 3:49.20 by Colin Costelloe a couple of weeks ago in Belfast.

The 16 year old Leevale lad he will be 17 in April has been showing huge potential throughout his career but his performance on Saturday even astounded his coach, Der O'Donovan, when the news filtered through.