Seasonal or cyclical, call it what you like, the fact is that there are certain times of year when certain sports attain more prominence than is the case normally. Thus, there’s always something to be covered. Sports writing is a bit of a marathon job. Yes, there is a pun there, now read on…
From my own perspective, it’s not seen as a job at all, rather a labour of love and a form of therapy. With interests ranging from match ploughing to test cricket, thankfully there doesn’t be too much idle time. Particular times of the year mean specific things too. Cheltenham during the second week of March, the rugby season kicking off just as inter county GAA is winding up, darts during Christmas and so on. [Rory Kavanagh, Pictured below]

Around now, though, there tends to be a bit of an Athletics frenzy in certain places. Now, of course the action is ongoing throughout the year in that code, but there’s something special about the time surrounding the Dublin City Marathon and the cross country action being ratcheted up several gears.
It has been said before, but, this corner may be about to take an even keener interest in the athletic scene. After all, it’s in the blood. And the bug has most certainly been passed on to the next generation. Forgive a little partisanship for a few lines if you will. My nephew Ian Byrne has always been sports mad and – even if do say it myself – has shown talent in many different codes.
Recently though, pride mixed with nostalgia as he achieved some great results running for Bohermeen AC. Athletic blood comes from every angle, with his mother, Barbara, having achieved numerous successes in particular. Some of it has obviously rubbed off. Firstly Ian came third in the U9 800m at the Meath Cross Country Championships in Clonee before, the following week, winning his group in the Bohermeen winter league over 150m.
In terms of the overall athletic scene, it has again been great to see the overlap at local level between GAA and athletics. Last year, reference was made to the number of St Peter’s, Dunboyne players taking up running. Numbers have continued to grow with Tommy O’Connor and Barry Comer seemingly recently taking the plunge!
On this occasion, however, special mention must be reserved for Rory Kavanagh. A talented footballer who once had trials with Shelbourne, Rory only took up running competitively less than two years ago but already he has made quite an impact. The highpoint of which was undoubtedly most recently when he won the Novice Championship at the county cross country championships in Oldcastle.
Rory’s success was the catalyst for Dunboyne to take the novice team event and things got even better for those in blue and white to take the novice team event. Things got even better for them, too, when the very talented Luke Forde won the Intermediate title at the same meet in the north Meath venue. All concerned will now be turning their attentions to their attention to the Leinster Championships at Cowpark, Clonee, next week.
On other fronts, as ever the club were well represented in the Dublin marathon. As is always the case, too, yours truly will only mention those known to me but all Dunboyne athletes are to be congratulated heartily for completing the gruelling event. As well as the seasoned campaigners like Seamus Dunne (yet again!) and Ray Mitchell and Antoinette Howlin, it was also great to see others like Ciara Brennan and Stephen Douglas completing the big race whilst raising funds for local charities.
And the numbers from the area and representing the club in various events only seems certain to rise. Thanks, in no small part, to the Fit4Life initiative that is ongoing in Dunboyne AC. What the programme entails, basically, is a very diverse group of people coming together to walk and run. Regardless of levels of ability or whether people are interested in participating competitively or just for fun, Fit4Life has something for everybody.
It’s hardly surprising, though, that, as a consequence of Fit4Life, the club may have unearthed another raft of competitive, not to mention talented, athletes. The club was again widely represented in the Dublin marathon this year, and would have been more so had men like Eddie Reid, Tom Muldoon and Paul Gannon not been out of action. Knowing all concerned, they’ll be back to give it a go next year. Chances are, ever growing numbers from the locality will be with them too!
FOGRA: Whilst Congratulating my nephew Ian on his recent successes, I must also say well done to his cousins – Ciara Boylan who has been playing for her school team, Conor Farrell who has been scoring regularly for Dunboyne AFC, and his sister Niamh, who was part of Dunboyne teams that qualified for underage finals in both football and camogie. One proud uncle, signing off!