A group of club juvenile’s at the Ulster/ANI Indoors in Magherafelt on Saturday last
BY EAMON HARVEY: Tir Chonaill AC Notes
Mary Mc Loone excels at Irish Indoors in Athlone
Mary Mc Loone, joined the club as an Under 12 juvenile athlete, and has subsequently progressed to dominate underage and Senior Irish athletes in the Triple Jump over a ten year period. On Sunday in Athlone IT’s magnificent indoor International arena she was involved in a nail biting competition before going onto to win with a best combination of 12.48m -9cm ahead of Caoimhe King from Mayo. On Saturday it was an equally close encounter when she pushed Kelly Proper from Waterford to within 5cm when finishing 2nd in a great Long Jump competition. Mary, currently a primary teacher in Glenswilly NS, had her Dad Pat and family in support over the weekend in Athlone – a role they played so many times over the years in transporting Mary to twice weekly training sessions in Donegal Town and to major competitions all over Ireland.
Congratulations also go to three young club athletes who entered the senior c/ships and will be very happy with their performances. Dunkineely’s Mark McGuinness ran a PB of 9mins 3secs in the 3k –a race won by John Travers in a European qualifying time; Barry Quigg from Carrick high jumped 1.85m – narrowly missing at 1.90m and Enniskillen’s Conal Mahon triple jumped 13metres.
Anne Marie McGlynn Lifford 2nd 3k at the Irish Senior Indoor c/ships in Athlone IT
Athletics Ireland National Awards
The Tullamore Court Hotel was the venue on Saturday night for the cream of the countries young athletics talent when the annual Athletics Ireland awards were staged. It was a most enjoyable and relaxed occasion with the athletes families and friends plus numerous dignitaries in attendance. Laghey’s Kelly Mc Grory received the Donegal Athlete of the year award while Donegal Town’s Karl Griffin, because of his outstanding achievements in 2012, received the Robin Sykes Award. Well done to both –a great honour for athletes, their families and Tir Chonaill AC.
Ulster Schools CC
Mullusk on Wednesday last was the venue for the Ulster schools CC finals. Congrats to Mark McGuinness [Senior] 7th and Daniel Gallagher [Intermediate] 6th both qualifying for Saturday 9th March Irish Schools finals. Hopefully the course for the Irish finals at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown will be a little kinder and athlete friendly.
Primary Schools SHA
On Wednesday last teams 300 young athletes from St Macartans, Bundoran, Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nuala, St Francis, Barnesmore, Fintragh NS Killybegs, Carrick NS and Glencolmcille.participated in a regional final of SHA. From reports it was a most enjoyable experiences for all with the winning schools progressing to Co Finals in the Aura in early March. Thanks to all the schools for participating to the teachers for giving the pupils an enjoyable introduction to athletics and to the fifteen club officials who ran the competition so efficiently.
Cara Bundoran 10
The organising committee of the Cara Bundoran 10 – scheduled for Saturday 9th March – report a huge entry, [over 1,000 walkers and runners expected to participate], excellent organisation, double Olympian Danny McDaid as official starter, over €4,000 in prizes, in addition to the 10mile distance -a new race over 10k, team prizes, young athletes races, outstanding hospitality, charities SVP and Cancer Society to benefit.
Local club groups are preparing for the event and it was so encouraging to find 50 athletes from Sligo, Leitrim joining the local Tir Chonaill group on Saturday morning last at 8.30am for a dry run of the course. Well done to all and thanks to organisor/coach Paddy Donoghue.
Marie Rooney continues to Master
On Saturday week last it was the turn of the Masters to experience the new state of the art indoor facility in Athlone. Tir Chonaill’s Marie Rooney had another outstanding competitive weekend when she added three National medals to her ever increasing tally. The Ballyshannon woman won the walk, was 2nd in the 3,000, and 3rd in the 1,500m. Marie who captained county and club cross country teams to gold and silver medal performances the previous weekend in Derry was re-elected Treasurer at last week’s club AGM. For good measure she also assists weekly coaching with the North Sligo club at Grange-a definition of commitment. Fellow Ballyshnnon man Paul Ward, ran 9mins 34secs, 3,000m in a hotly contested race. John Cannon was pleased with his 4th -1,500m and 6th 800m finishes. The Ardara man was experiencing indoor running for the first time. Jackie Harvey, the final Tir Chonaill member, was also pleased with her 4th place finish in the 800m. Finally a
Meanwhile in the final race of the Lifford 5k series, Ardara man Donal Haughey, who recently returned to the competitive scene and trains with the clubs Donegal Town fit4life group, was an impressive winner of his category while Jackie Harvey filled runners up spot in her class.
Meanwhile the Finn Valley 5k Spring series got off the ground on Sunday morning last and had the trio of Vera Haughey, Jackie Harvey and Brendan Hoey all do well
On Sunday week at the National Junior and U23 Indoor c/ships it was again more success and headlines for club athletes. Kelly McGrory, runs a PB of 7.90secs in the 60m and finishes 5th while two hours later she battles her way to the 200m final where she finishes 3rd in 25.78secs. Emma Brady secures a silver medal in the Triple Jump; Kate McGowan finishes 4th in the Long Jump and 60m Hurdles; Barry Quigg clears 1.90m for bronze; Conal Mahon gets out to 13metres in the Triple jump for silver; Mark McGuinness runs 4mins 11.58secs in the 1,500m
Our juveniles took in the Ulster/ANI Indoor c/ships in Magherafelt on Saturday week and had a number of exciting and medal winning performances .
Upcoming
· Club Training continues at the usual locations and times
· Club Awards night on Sunday 3rd March at 5pm
· Part 2 of Ulster Indoors at Jordanstown on 2nd March – entries direct or to Anne McGowan at training on Thurs nght
· Tir Chonaill Open meet on Monday 1st April – permit granted
· Co Donegal SHA trails in Deele College Gymnasium, on Friday evening –register at 6pm. County U13 and U15 teams will be selected afterwards