O'Sullivan wins in Dublin

Sonia O'Sullivan would be a big draw at Leopardstown

Sonia O'Sullivan made a successful return to action in Ireland by winning the Irish short course cross country trial in Dublin on Sunday.

The Cobh star's win was greeted with relief by organisers of the World Cross Country Championships which takes place in Dublin on 23/24 March.

O'Sullivan was aiming to show her fitness for the championships after having her second child in December.

The Olympic silver medallist was first to the line in a time of 12 minutes and 46 seconds.

That left her 17 second ahead of Maria McCambridge while Valerie Vaughan and Rosemary Ryan took third and fourth places.

Teresa Duffy: Included is Ireland's World squad

O'Sullivan didn't confirm afterwards that she would definitely run at Leopardstown but she has been selected for the event and Irish bosses are confident that she will compete.

Peter Mathews won the men's short course trial by finishing 13 seconds ahead of Robert Connolly while Paul McNamara was third.

Belfast's Gareth Turnbull didn't compete in Sunday's race as a precaution because of a slight back twinge.

However, he has been selected for the Irish team for the World Championships while his fellow northerner Teresa Duffy has been named in the Irish women's long course team.

Duffy benefits from the decision of Ireland's leading female distance runners to join O'Sullivan in the short course event.

The other northerner in the Irish squad will be St Malachy's College student Kevin Seaward who is named in the junior men's team.

Former European Indoor Champion Mark Carroll has been selected for the men's long course team.