It was a very proud day for Ace AC on Saturday, as three more of their young athletes represented Ireland Schools in the 2024 Cross Country SIABs in the National Sports Centre in Abbotstown Dublin.

There was a huge turnout of Ace AC supporters, parents and athletes who cheered on Elmear Cooney, Sholah Lawrence and Lorcan Forde Dunne on the day.

It was an incredible achievement for the club to have no less than three athletes compete in the same international event.

Sholah was representing Greenhills School and faced her friend and training partner Eimear (Sacred Heart) in the same Inter girls’ race.

All 3 athletes wore the green of Ireland and were up against the very best cross country athletes from Scotland, Wales and England.

Lorcan Ford Dunne of St Mays Diocesan Drogheda competed in the Inter boys 6km race. Lorcan was wearing the Green of Ireland for the first time and finished a superb 13th place overall. He was the 4th Irish athlete home. Lorcans Irish team won a silver team medal on the day.

In the Inter girl’s race, Eimear Cooney was fifth Irish girl home with Sholah Lawernce not far behind her. Both girls also won a team silver medal with the Irish squad.

There has been a steady conveyor belt of young Ace AC athletes receiving international recognition over the past few years. The Club recently acquired an 11 acre site in Galroostown County Louth and will soon be using those fields for cross country training, in the hope of developing more future international stars.