National Cross-Country Championships
The second day of the National Cross Country championships, the National Uneven Ages Juveniles and Mens and Women’s Novice Cross Country Championships was held Sunday in the National Sports Campus, December 7th in Dublin. Conditions were very muddy, and the course was a real test, but Galway athletes came home with a bagful of medals at Juvenile level,
Galway U11 Girls excelled, winning a superb team silver at county level, with the squad comprising Hana Faraj Gheziel of Castlegar, sixth overall for Castlegar, Katie Considine in a super 7th overall, and Chloe Lydon, both from Craughwell, Caoimhe Murphy, of Tuam AC, Molly Hanrahan of South Galway AC and Rosie Tyrell from GCH.
Galway U11 Boys also excelled, winning Team Bronze overall via Ben O Connor of South Galway, who was first home for the squad in 16th place, Tadhg McCarthy also of South Galway next home, GCH trio Dylan Devitt, Harvey Coyne and Iarlaith Friel, and Cillian Hurley of Athenry AC
At U13 Level, Craughwell girls team won silver club medals, with great runs from Muireann Kelly, Emma McGovern, Aoife O Connell and Leah O Toole.
Galway won County bronze at U13 also, via the four noted Craughwell squad members, and Aoibhinn Corcoran of East Galway and Kate Whiriskey of South Galway AC.
Castlegar U13 Boys were equally impressive, winning an historic team bronze at U13 level via Felix Stapleton, William Duggan, Adam Faraz Gheziel and Cillian O Neill, backed up by Ciaran Casey and Conor Deeth.
At U15 level, Sean Howley of Clare River Harriers had a great run to place 7th and win a team medal with Connacht at provincial level, as did Donal Coyle of South Galway AC
In the U17s, Ciaran Considine of South Galway ran superbly in Seventh overall, as did David Frazer of Craughwell for 10th place.
In the Novice events, Galway City Harriers fielded strong Men’s and Women’s teams; Castlegar AC also featured with a strong Men’s team. GCH Men placed 10th team, and Galway were 6th county, with Jamie Walsh of GCH and Evan O'Rourke of Maree strongest on the day 6km event. Ladies raced over 4km, with Galway County an agonising fourth place just off a medal, and GCH ladies 9th, led by Nora Tierney (pictured) and Aimee Bermingham, along with Julie Bradshaw, Niamh Hennelly, Olive Gleeson and Dee McCrae.
Fixtures
Athenry AC hosts the Fields of Athenry 10km on 26th December next at 11 am, with less than 100 entries still available on Eventmaster.
Also upcoming, Registration for Galway City Harriers’ Resolution Run 5k New Year’s Day 2026 is now open at https://eventmaster.ie/event/Y9wwcrOFjv
