Danny Mooney was a convincing winner of the 800m race in the Donegal Senior Track and Field Championship at the Finn Valley Centre on Sunday. He finished 5 seconds ahead of his closest challenger, Aidan Connolly, in a time of 1.53.07. Danny made it a ‘double’ later in the day when he stormed to victory in the 3000m race in 8.46. The 2 other Letterkenny AC runners in the 800m also put in tremendous performances. Matthew Johnston was 4th in 2.02.81 and David Smith was just 0.03 second behind.
Eoghain McGinley’s fine form continued and he was 2nd to Danny in the 3000m in 8.50. Club Captain, Raymond Birch, had a good run and clocked 9.35.
Annmarie McGlynn warmed up nicely for her forthcoming big event by winning the women’s 3000m in 9.26. This weekend, Annmarie will be one of 4 women who will represent Ireland in the European Cup 10000m. The event will take place in London on Saturday May 19th.
2 young LAC athletes in the 1500m performed strongly. Eoin Hughes was 2nd in 4.22.22 and David Smith was 3rd in a time of 4.25.87. Finn Valley’s Ben Carr was first in 4.14.49.
Marathon specialist, Ciaran McGonagle, had a tremendous run in last Monday’s Belfast Marathon. His time of 2.38.50 gave him 8th place in a very competitive field. There was a total of 2210 runners. He also took first place in the M40 category.
Just 6 days later, Ciaran illustrated his fitness and immense powers of recovery. He ran in another long distance race, the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon, on Sunday. He put on another excellent display and finished in 2nd place in a time of 1.15.19. Ciaran, as in Belfast, was the leading runner in the M40 category. Barry Mackey’s good form continued and he clocked 1.31.13. He was the 9th M50 runner in a very keenly contested category. Peter Hamilton came home in 1.33.46. Ciaran O’Donnell’s time was 1.34.16. Adrian Callaghan, after pushing a double buggy with his 2 children, crossed the line in 1.42.09. Kevin Greenan was the 6th finisher in a very competitive M60 category in 1.44.27. The half marathon winner was Finn Valley AC’s Gerard Gallagher in 1.13.41.
Gerard McGranaghan had a superb run around the familiar environs of Kilmacrenan on Tuesday evening. His time of 17.04 in the Kilmacrennan National School 5K saw him finish in second place, behind Milford AC’s Peter O’Donnell. Sean McFadden was 3rd in 17.28. Monica McGranaghan made it a night to remember for the McGranaghans by taking first place in the women’s race in 19.53. John Hughes’ time of 20.13 saw him earn first place in the M50 category. Fellow LAC runner, Frank Pinder, was the next M50 runner in 20.31. Stephen Shiels’ time was 21.01.
Gwyn Yemm made a welcome return to competitive running, following a serious accident as a result of a fall from a horse 18 months ago. His time was 21.12. Noel Lynch had a fine run and came home in 21.31. Kevin Greenan picked up the M60 prize with a time of 22.04. Eimear Gibson’s time was 26.42. Young Muireann Reidy ran well and clocked 35.08.
In Wednesday evening’s Colaiste Ailigh 5K, Liam Ferry was the first Letterkenny AC runner home in an excellent time of 18.50. Shauna McGeehan was the 2nd woman, in a time of 19.15. Seamus Morrison was the leading M40 runner in 19.59. Several young LAC runners showed that the future of the club is in good hands. Ultan McGuinness clocked 20.12, Clodagh O’Connor 23.43, Rory Callaghan 24.40 and Aidan Walsh 31.35. The race winner was Dermot McElhinney, of City of Derry Spartans, in 16.12.
Liam Ferry continued the recent, excellent form he has shown in the Letterkenny parkrun. He was 2nd in 19.58, following on from his 2nd place of the previous week. Last week was Liam’s first sub 20 minute Letterkenny parkrun. He was 3rd on April 27th and, also, 3rd on April 20th. The winner of this week’s parkrun was Aaron Nepgen in 19.55.
Hugh Gallagher.
Letterkenny AC PRO.
