|
Finn Valley’s juvenile and senior athletes made the long trip
to Cork last weekend to compete in the National Inter-County Senior
and Juvenile Unevenaged cross-country championships. Valley’s
hopes were high, as their juveniles were going into the championships
as leading Ulster club and were ranked in the top ten National clubs
last year. As anticipated, our athletes performed brilliantly, with
our juveniles winning one team title, one second team place and
two third as well a third individual place. Also, many scored on
Regional and County teams.
Five of our senior athletes were also scoring member of the Donegal
teams, which came 2nd and third in the senior men and women championships.
The club won fifty medals in total - 42 juvenile, 8 senior - as
well as climbing to second place on the National club rankings.
The first 12 in every race received individual medals.
|
|
|
Girls Under
11
|
|
U11 girls was the first race of the day and these young
athletes were experiencing top class competition for
the first time. This young team did us proud finishing
3rd team overall.
Niamh Doherty was Valley’s lead runner finishing
a strong 7th place (winning her first all Ireland individual
medal) and was strongly supported by Jodie Steward 25th,
Emily Murphy daughter of the well known Anne Murphy
(Hillard), Ciara Devenny 55th, Michelle Gallagher and
Grace Ward. A great team performance by this young team.
|
|
Boys Under 11
|
|
This was another great team performance with Matthew
Kelly (son of Michael Kelly who has been competing with
Finn Valley for a long number of years) leading the
team home to bronze medals. Matthew, who got off to
a poor start but battled bravely, fought through the
field finishing as Valley’s lead scorer in 15th
spot. Matthew was strongly supported by Patrick Leary
of Castlefinn (21st), Christopher McBride (49th), Niall
Doherty of Sessiaghoneill (55th) and Gerry Boyle (57th).
Gerry Boyle of Loughanure who was in forth place during
the race was unfortunate to fall but did great to fight
his way back and knows that other days will come to
lead the way.
U11 Boys B team: Valley also had a good performance
from their U11 B team which finished 11th overall. The
team was Conor McNulty, Diarmuid Brennan, Philip Browne,
Carol Brady, Matthew Morris and Gavin Foy. This experience
will stand to all in the future.
|
|
Girls Under
13
|
|
Breda McGinty (who is the Ulster U13 champion) had
a strong performance, finishing 6th, winning herself
an individual medal and a place on the Ulster team.
Jackie Gibson, Catherine Gallagher, Shauna Guthrie,
Clara Dunnion and Aoife Whelan also performed very well
with team finishing 6th overall.
|
|
Boys Under 13
|
|
These boys have always produced the goods for Valley
over the last number of years and have made a mark for
themselves. The only changes is individual placing and
this time Ian Ward, who is following the footsteps of
his older brother Simon, led his team home to victory.
Ian finished 3rd individual and was also lead county
and regional runner. A great performance on the day
by the young Castlefin lad. Ian was strongly supported
by a well packed FV team. Ryan McDaid from Muff (12th),
Aidan Connolly - son of the well know Mark - (19th),
Lorcan McMenamin (35th) and Pauric McLaughlin (43th).
Great strong performance by all winning club and county
team titles and 3rd in regional category.
|
|
Girls Under
15
|
|
U15 Girls also competed well and many of this team
are using cross-country as training for race-walking.
Maeve Culhane was Valley’s lead runner. She was
followed strongly by Nikki Alcorn, Fionnuala Bruton,
Aine O Neill, Aisling Rushe and Aine McLaughlin.
|
|
Boys Under 15
|
|
Alan Kavanagh came up trumps in U15 boys race and led
his team home to silver medals finishing 15 overall.
He was closely followed by Maurice Boyle (21st), Conor
McConnell, Enda Doherty, Kevin Gallagher, Diarmuid Fullerton
and Stefan Connolly all scoring on the Finn Valley team.
Maurice Boyle was also scorer on the Ulster team, which
came third. Stefan and Conor also scored on the Donegal
team which also came third. A nice selection of medals
for all.
|
|
Junior Girls
|
|
Official results were note available for the Junior girls
race however it is thought that the Donegal team finished
3rd in the event and Valley’s Charlene Rushe who
finished 34th and Karen Connolly 38th were both scoring
members of this team |
|
Senior Women
|
| Donegal women have
also been prominent in this event over the last number
of years. This year only a few points separated the team
with Dublin 1st on 38 points, Cork 2nd 38 points and Donegal
3rd 49 points. Valley’s Margaret Synott was Donegal’s
lead scorer in 7th position with Noeleen Porter 10th and
Kay Byrne 28th. Well done to all. |
|
Senior Men
|
|
Donegal have a great record over the past number of years
in the National inter-counties and have always been in
medal position this last number of years. In the Senior
Men’s section Dublin have always been the prominent
winners and this year it was hoped that Donegal would
gain the illustrious title. This was not to be this year,
however Donegal can be pound of the results finishing
2nd overall on 94 points behind Cork 79 and from Dublin
103 beating Dublin for the first time ever. Valley’s
Jerome Brooks was 2nd scorer on the Donegal team finishing
11th, with Kevin Holian 5th scorer in 17th place having
the best National cross-country race of his life and Dominick
Bonner continuing his good season 6th scorer and in 30th
position. Mark Connolly whose son earlier was part of
the successful U13 boys team was reserve on the Donegal
team finished 50th. |
|
Many congratulations to all at Finn Valley
AC...and long may your sucess continue!
24th November 2002
|
