Junior Men 4km 1.20pm

Patrick Flynn (Ferrybank)
Flynn was a member of the Irish team for last year’s European Championships and this year’s Celtic international and will be hoping to secure his place for this year’s European championships in Santry. With a 4th place finish in last year’s inter-counties and a silver medal in the u19 All-Ireland cross country championships Flynn definitely has the capabilities to make this year’s team. His first outing of the season at the Ballyfin Junior-Cross ’09 will serve as a good indicator of his current form.

Ryan Creech (Leevale)
After enduring a tough spell of injuries, Ryan Creech is well into his comeback and has already shown signs of being back to his best. In 2008, He was runner up at intermediate level in the Irish schools championships at 3000m and cross country. His most noteworthy performance, however, was possibly his 7th place finish in the SIAB international. An extended spell away from action followed but he got back on track this year with a silver medal winning performance in the All-Ireland junior 3000m in 8:48.70. It will be interesting to see if he can bring this form to the grassy lawns of Emo Court.

Paul Robinson (St Coca’s)
Robinson is this year’s top junior over 1500m. His time of 3:46.86 not alone qualified him for this year’s European Junior Championships but also next year’s World Junior championships. It also ranked him 10th overall in the country. His 1:50.47 clocking over 800m ranks him 6th in the country this year and second junior. He will be hoping to take this good track form into the cross country season now with the Ballyfin Junior-Cross meet his first port of call.

Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers)
Liam is a relative newcomer to the sport and burst onto the scene this year. His first big result was a silver medal over 3000m at the Irish Schools T&F which he followed up with gold and bronze over 1500m and 3000m at the All-Ireland juvenile championships. With this experience under his belt he can be expected to show well this cross country season.