ATHLETICS Successful SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Dublin

The final race of the day, the senior men's race, was once again a thrilling affair, and the performance of Mark Kenneally really had the large crowd in full voice.

Mark Kenneally got out fast "you have to because there is no passing at this level" he said afterwards. He really got stuck in and had the race of his life. He was delighted with the run, coming as it did after a somewhat disappointing run in the inter counties.

The big effort was hard and he described the last two laps as torture. "But when you're running in front of a huge crowd like that you just have to keep going" he said.

In the last twelve months things have come around very well for him and he described his coach Mark Carroll as a great guy to work with.

Up front it was a two man race with Alemayehu Bezebah from Spain out pacing Mo Farah from GB & NI, with eight times winner Sergiy Lebid third. Mark Kenneally was always in the top ten and his strong finish saw him finish a superb eight.

The Irish team was sixth behind Spain.

Cross country running was the big winner here today and it was great to see so many people enjoying the experience, and their vocal support was much appreciated by the athletes.

For so long in the women's race it looked like Ireland would win team medals. Mary Cullen and Fionnula Britton were well placed in the early stages, but Cullen found the going tough and she had to fight hard to stay in the top ten. Britton was back to her best and she ran a stormer to eventually finish 11th, with Cullen one place further back. Deirre Byrne was running a brilliant race alongside them but couldn't keep up with the pace on the last lap.

It was heartbreak for the Irish team to finish fourth behind Portugal after being in second place for so much of the race.

Hayley Yelling from GB&NI put in a tremendous effort to lead all the way for a brilliant win.

The fierce competitive action continued in the U23 men's race where France filled the top two places - Noureddine Smail winning from Hasan Chadi, with Atelaw Bekele from Belgium a close third.

Michael Mulhare ran a great race to lead he Irish home in 18th position. He was delighted with his run and figured he may have gone out too fast as he suffered on the last lap. However, he is happy that the experience gained will stand to him in the next few years.

France won the team contest with Ireland fifth.

Race three on the six race programme saw another brilliant race up front with Sultan Haydar from Turkey setting a very strong pace from the start. She was overtaken on the last lap by Irena Sergeyeva from Russia but fought back very strongly on the rune to the line to regain the lead and win impressively.

Best of the Irish was Roseanne Galligan in 15th and she sad afterwards that she was very happy with tat performance. She wanted to improve on her 21st placing from last year and she was well inside that.

Breffni Twohig was another to run a brilliant race to finish two places behind Roseanne, with the Irish team in third at halfway. However they could not hold it and finished a gallant fifth.

Great Britain won the team contest by three points from Russia.

The junior men was another brilliant race with Jeroen D'Hoedt from Belgium proving the fastest in the last half lap as he overcame the strong challenge of Great Britain's Nick Goolab in second and James Wilkinson in third, with Norstad Sondre Moen from Norway a close ourth.

The Irish were out of luck with Ryan Creech the first to finish in 41st position and he was clearly disappointed with his performance. Great Britain won the team contest with Ireland 11th.

The Spar European cross country championships are under way and the big crowd at Santry Demesne have just been treated to a great first race with Karolina Grovdal winning Norway's first European cross country medal after a great display of front running.

It was a tough last lap for her as Gulshat Fazlatdinova from Russia closed strongly in the closing stages but had to settle for second.

Best of the Irish was Ciara Mageean in ninth and after the race all she could say was "I should have run faster". She can indeed be proud of this performance. The Irish team was ninth behind winners Russia who won by four points from Great Britain.