Ace Athletic Club athletes enjoyed an exceptional day at the Leinster Even Age Cross Country Championships in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, delivering some of their best-ever performances at provincial level.
In a thrilling finish, Shea O’Donnell crossed the line second overall but first in the U20 category, claiming the Leinster U20 title after an intense battle that saw the lead change several times in the final 50 metres.
U18 Youth Olympic qualifier Lorcán Forde Dunne also impressed, recovering superbly from a late fall with 500 metres to go to secure bronze in the U18 race. Alongside Niall Murray and Ruairí O’Gráinne, O’Donnell’s victory helped Ace AC capture U20 team silver, while the U18 team of Forde Dunne, Ruairí O’Gráinne, Rhys Clarke and Eoin O’Gráinne also claimed team silver.
The combined U18/U20 women’s 5K produced one of the races of the day, with Eimear Cooney running superbly to finish second overall and take the Leinster U20 title. Just behind her, 16-year-old Chloe Cooney delivered an outstanding performance to finish third overall and second in the U18 category, while Sholah Lawrence crossed the line fourth overall and third U18.
It marked the first time Ace AC had three athletes in the top four of a Leinster Championships race — a milestone achievement that underlines the club’s growing depth of talent in women’s running.
Earlier in the day, younger athletes Sophie Black and Caoimhe Carolan qualified for the All-Ireland Cross Country Championships through county team qualification, while Cathryn Cumming impressed in the non-championship U10 race, finishing ninth.
There were also strong performances from Tayo Lawrence, Liam Lynch, Cillan Sheridan, Hannah Black, Ollie Marron, Adam Cumming and Ruairí Cooney, all showing great promise for the future.
It was one of Ace AC’s finest days ever at provincial level, and several athletes will now turn their focus to the All-Ireland Championships, full of confidence after an exceptional weekend in Gowran.
