Photo Credit: Paddy Parrott - More pictures from this race can be viewed at www.racepix.com

The Galway women's intermediate team came agonisingly close to bronze medals last weekend at the All Ireland Intermediate championships cross-country in Boyle Co. Roscommon. In the end the 'Galway girls' finished just three points behind the Dublin, Cork and Clare teams which filled the medal winning positions. The Galway team was led home by Kathryn Casserly of Castlegar AC in a superb 5th place overall.

Kathryn finished just eight seconds behind the bronze medal winner in the individual race. The Castlegar runner had been mixing it at the front of affairs for the entire race and only just gave way to the leading quartet in the final few yards of the race. I'm sure all Galway runners will join me in congratulating Kathryn on a superb run and hope that it signals a return to her very best form over the coming months.

Deirdre Quinn

Not far behind Kathryn in 16th and 18th places respectively were Jean O'Connor of GCH and Eimear Butler Athenry AC. Both of these fine athletes must be thrilled to have made the top twenty at such a competitve national championships. Of course, our own Eimear Butler came to the race fresh from her win on the roads in Maree last weekend and, if she can hold her current good form, will be a force to be reckoned with over the summer months on road or track. Athenry's AC Aoife Callan completed the Galway scoring quartet in very creditable 45th position, a fine run under the circumstances, having decided to take part at the last moment. Deirdre Quinn and Ann Hunter, also of Athenry AC, put in tremendous efforts to complete the Galway team on the day.

Although the women just failed to secure medals on the day, their performances represents a significant improvement in women's cross country running in Galway and indicates that there may be better to come. With the emergence of Fit4Life groups all over the county, some of those involved are choosing to get involved in running at a more competitive level and it may well be that Galway cross-country teams will benefit from this process over the next few years.

Ann Hunter of Athenry AC

Our warmest congratulations go to Kathryn, Jean, Eimear, Aoife, Deirdre and Ann on representing their clubs and their county with pride and distinction.

You did us proud.