Along with two girls from City of Derry, Matthew Stockton and Andrew Mellon were the only athletes from Athletics Northern Ireland clubs to make the Athletics Ireland team for the Celtic Games, held in Aberdeen on Saturday. Both did very well, Matthew winning the U18 700g javelin competition with 55.91m and Andrew part of the 4 x 400m team which won the U18 event in 3:23.80 min.. Andrew started the relay, gaining a lead of 7m which was progressively increased by the rest of the team. The Athletics Ireland team performed very well and they were the overall team winners with 179 points with U16 boys second and U18 boys and the two girls teams first.
Ulster withdrew from the Celtics after the 2011 event leaving their athletes eligible for an All Ireland team against Scotland and Wales but with a difficult selection route and a win in the AAI Age Group Championships a minimum. The advantage of course is being part of a much stronger team and the 4 x 400m team were much closer to the European Junior criteria.