National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country
Last weekend saw the National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships take place at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown, Dublin, alongside the Juvenile B Cross Country Championships, with great performances from Galway clubs despite demanding course conditions. It was an historic day for the Galway City Harriers Intermediate Men’s Club Team (pictured), who claimed the club's first Men’s team win in the event since 1973, and this was topped off by Thomas McStay taking a super Individual National bronze medal after a titanic battle. McStay led home teammates David Carter (5th), Jamie Walsh (8th), Padraig Faherty (11th), with John Hayes, Aaron Brennan and Tadgh Verdier completing the team with strong runs. The Galway County Intermediate Men's Team took National Silver with the first five GCH home and Serhil Sylenko of West Coast AC scoring on the County Team.
GCH secured National Silver in the Intermediate Women's Race, their best result since a 1995 win. The team scored highly, thanks to a 4th place finish for Maebh Brannigan, with Aine O' Farrell 9th, Phoebe Whiteside 15th, Elizabeth Maher 17th, with Amey Bermingham and Hannah Loughnane completing the team, and the Galway County Intermediate Women’s Team also took silver with the same GCH athletes. The GCH Women’s team also won team silver, led home by Nora Tierney in 6th position, followed by Eimear O'Leary (14th), Siobhan Egan Lee(21st), Niamh Hennelly (39th), with Abigail Colleran, Deirdre McCrae, Emily Bruton and Deirdre Moran Smyth completing the Team, who also claimed County silver.
The GCH Master Men's over 35 Club Team finished 6th with Ger Cuddy, Conor Byrne, Adam Moylan, Tim Jones, Michael Flanagan, Bryan Lalor, Kieran McGlynn and Ronan O'Conghaile all running credibly in a very competitive Masters Race, with the Galway County Men’s Team finishing in 5th place
The GCH Masters Women's V50 Club Team finished in 5th place, led home by Clare Rowe, who had a super run finishing in 27th place, followed by Eileen McCarthy, Barbara Bergin, Carmel Brannigan and Bernie Kelly. The Galway County Women's over-50 Team finished 7th, with Martina McDonagh of West Coast AC performing strongly.
GCH V65 Men’s Team finished in 9th position, led home by Martin McEvilly, Garry O'Malley, Damien Kelly and David Niland, and the day was capped by another Individual gold in the Men's V75 category for the indomitable Martin McEvilly
West Coast AC Intermediate Mens team made a superb debut on the national stage, placing 4th in Ireland with Serhii Sylenko, Hafis Adam, Sean Kavanagh, Eoin Staunton, Adrian Duignan, and Rupert Claisse combining well, with Sylenko scoring on the Galway team, who brought home National Silver.
In the Juvenile B Events, Castlegar had a great day with a huge contingent competing who were rewarded with two team silvers and a superb individual silver medal won by Orla Casey.
Castlegar U13 Boys secured silver, with first man home in 15th place, Finbar Sayers Salas in 3:47, followed in 35th by Adam Carr, backed up in 38th by Sam McNally, 45th Sean Botha, 46th Charlie Gibbons, 59th Cian Corbett and 95th Darragh Corbett.
Castlegar U15 Girls secured silver via Siun Ní Chonail in 8th, in 12th place was Maisy-Bo Joyce in 8:24, 28th was Layla Faraj Gheziel, with 52nd Emma Madden.
Individually Orla Casey won silver in the U17 Girls race with a superb run, with Elly Turner close behind in 5th , capping a great club day for Castlegar
International Results
Athenry star Sean Doggett continued his great start to the indoor season, clocking another 46.99 personal best over 400m again this week at the Track and Field Live meet in the NIA, following on from his 47.30 in Lithuania. There were also good runs via David and Stephen Mannion of South Galway, and Cillin Greene of GCH made a return to the track.
National Indoor League
Craughwell AC Men’s squad were Galway’s sole representative in the Final of the National Indoor Track and Field League last Saturday in the NIA in Dublin, The Craughwell squad placed a fine sixth in the final under the management of Ronnie Warde and secured their spot via good performances from the likes of second place finishes from Oisin Davis in 1500m, Conor Penney second in High Jump and Hurdles, Jack Miskella, 3rd in the 3000m, as well as via Kyle and Kealan Moorhead, Cian Brady, Fergus Kelly, Luke O Sullivan, Sean Hoade , Joe Hoade and Justin Lane all scoring well to deliver team sixth overall.
Road Races
The annual Maree 8km took place in the scenic surroundings of Maree, Oranmore, on Sunday, February 15th last, with a huge turnout of over 300 athletes. First home was GCH’s Cian O'Reilly in 25:40, with Evan O'Rourke of Maree AC just 8 seconds back, and Cathal Gallagher of Craughwell third. In the Ladies, Jane Ann Meehan secured victory for Athenry, with Ellen Bermingham second for South Galway and GCH athlete Clodagh Egan third home.
At the Donadea 50k on Sunday (incorporating the National 50k Championship), Sinead Egan of GCH finished 2nd lady overall in 3:40:43 with clubmate Evan O' Connor finishing in 4:16:10.
Fixtures - This weekend sees the Connacht Indoor Track and Field Championships take centre stage, with two days of competition in Athlone. Day 1 – Saturday, 21 February features the U12 - U14 events (plus race walks for all ages), while Sunday 22nd sees the U15-19 and Senior and Masters programme take place. Start lists, heat draws, and results link: are at https://connaughtathletics.com/.../connin.../competition.php
Photo: GCH Inter Mens squad plus coach: (l to r) Aaron Brennan, Tom McStay. John Hayes, Jamie Walsh, Padraig Faherty, Tadhg Verdier, David Carter & Brian Bruton.
