Vibrant sunshine greeted the early arrivals at the picturesque Avondale House grounds. While Ireland endured its driest February since 1986, four days of rain did irreparable harm to the harriers' route resulting in deceptively heavy conditions.

The first race on the Inter Clubs programme was the Junior Women's race, arguably the best race at last year's event. The 2002 result had the top three runners finish within a four second span. With all three runners returning the race had the promise of an exhilarating competition. The young ladies had the distinct advantage of running a relative firm footing. Despite the previous year's blanket finish, the overwhelming favourite was two-time defending champion Fionualla Britton. The Slí Chúlainn athlete isn't afraid of close finishes. She edged Mary Cullen (Sligo AC) by one second in 2001 and Linda Byrne (DSD) by two in 2002. Britton was also running in front of a home crowd.

The race began with Britton a Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow native bursting to the lead with only Dundrum's Linda Byrne giving chase for the first of three laps on the hilly two-kilometre course.

Britton was alone shortly after they crossed the finish area for the first with the penultimate lap serving as the first of two victory laps receiving boisterous cheers from her teammates on the Wicklow GAA Camogie club. Byrne's early effort left her tired but her brave move earned herself a second silver medal. Michelle Gallagher, also from Dundrum emerged from the pack for third neither challenging Byrne nor threatened from behind. The 2-3 finishes helped Dundrum South Dublin win the team title with 25 points, well clear of runner-up Raheny Shamrock with 51. Britton commented on her third win, "This is the most special win because it was my last - I won't be a junior next year. And because the whole GAA was here!" Britton, who smiled for the entire finish straightaway alluded she had no particular race plan saying, "I wasn't thinking about making Worlds, [AAI selected only the winner] I wanted to win because I won it the last two years - that was my aim. Asked about the chances of becoming a US collegiate scholarship athlete, she added, "I'm not going to America - I'm staying here."

Junior Women ~ 6k: 1) Fionualla Britton, Slí Chúlainn 24.25; 2) Linda Byrne, Dundrum South Dublin 24.56; 3) Michelle Gallagher, DSD 25.21; 4) Aoife Talty, Raheny Shamrock 25.50; 5) Nicola Fallon, Clonliffe Harriers 26.02; 6) Orla Drumm, Dooneen 26.25; 7) Leona McGreavy, Fiona Raheny, Shamrock 26.56; 8) Christina Kennelly, Clonliffe Harriers 27.00; 9) Ruth Mills, DSD 27.04; 10) Sarah Mescall, Mullingar Harriers 27.10

Junior Women Club Result: 1) Dundrum South Dublin 25 points (2, 3, 9, 11); 2) Raheny Shamrock 51 points (4, 7, 16, 24); 3) Clonliffe Harriers 65 points (5, 8, 17, 35); 4) Mullingar Harriers 81 points (10, 20, 25, 26); 5) St Andrews 99 points (19, 22, 28, 30)