Clare squad disappointed in Tullamore

THE Clare squad travelled to Tullamore last week with a real hope of causing an upset and taking a medal in the final of the National League. The first man to compete was Keith King (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and he rose to the challenge, finishing second in the high jump, having cleared 1.85m.

He later returned to action in the field, claiming sixth place in the discus throwing 24.39m. 
The ever-impressive Lunga Bulman (Marian AC) won the long jump with a leap of 6.22m and narrowly missed out on victory in the javelin finishing fourth with a throw of 47.90m.
Attention now turned to the track and Mark Boland (Marian AC) demonstrated his potential with a blistering run in the 100m finishing fourth in 11:87 and he followed this up with a equally impressive performance in the 200m finishing fourth, again with a time of 23:96.
Darragh Lynch (Ennis Track) continued his rich vein of form this year by finishing fifth in the 400m in a time of 52:16 and Thomas Scanlan (Ennis Track) carefully manoeuvred his way around in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase finishing fourth in 10.26:12 and also added vital points to the Clare cause in the 56lbs without follow.
New Irish international athlete, Rory Chesser (Ennis Track), fresh from his exploits in the European championships in Barcelona, demonstrated his talent when winning the 1,500m in 3.55:08 and he followed that with another big win in the 800m in 1.53:08.
Following these results Clare were in fourth place and in with a real chance of taking a medal. Team captain Brian Murphy (Ennis Track) led by example in the 5,000m and finished fifth in 16.00:27.
The tension was mounting as Micheál Keane (Ennis Track) produced a breath-taking performance in the 400m hurdles with a time of 66:25.
The final events of the day saw the Clare 4 x 100m team of  Mark Boland, Lunga Bulman, Micheal Keane and Darragh Lynch finishing sixth in a time of 47:08.
The 4 x 400m relay team of Rory Chesser, Aidan Kearney, Darragh Lynch and Micheál Keane broke the county record in style, finishing third in a time of 3.33:03.
A delay in announcing results added to the drama but it was heartbreak for thE young Clare team, who missed out on a bronze medal by nine points.