Letterkenny Athletic Club Notes



Tuesday night saw the 41st consecutive running of Letterkenny AC’s very popular Inter Firms 5K race. Like most years, fast times were the order of the day, with 9 runners coming home in sub 16 minutes. City of Derry Spartans’ Conor Bradley was first across the line in 15.08, followed by his training partner and LAC man Danny Mooney in 15.18. One of the club’s most consistent performers, Eoghain McGinley, was 3rd in an excellent time of 15.20. Karol Duggan put in a superb performance and was just 3 seconds behind Eoghain. Young John Hughes put in yet another sub 16 minute performance and took the first Male Junior prize in 15.58. Ciaran McGonagle, despite having run a half marathon the previous week and a full marathon the week before that, was 2nd in the M40 category in 16.13.
Raymond Birch’s running continues to go from strength to strength and his hard work was rewarded with another PB of 16.23. Pauric Breslin finished in 16.53.
Nakita Burke continued her excellent form and she notched up another sub 17 minute time of 16.57. She was the 2nd woman, with Finn Valley AC’s Teresa Doherty winning, in a splendid time of 16.29. Liam Doherty ran well and finished in 17.12. Maria Ni Mhaolagain was the 3rd woman in an excellent PB time of 17.32. Kevin Kelly finished in 17.39, Patrick Brennan in 18.08, Martin Devenney in 18.15, Kevin Ferry in 18.18, Darren Price in 18.18, Brian Ferry in 18.35, Liam Ferry in  18.57, Pol Mac Giolla Bhride in 19.21, Shauna McGeehan in 19.35, Peter Gallagher in 19.44 and Pat Brady in 19.51.
Paul Cosgrove recorded a time of 20.08, Seamus Morrison 20.09, Frank Pinder 20.18,  Marie Boyle 21.05, Deirdre Diver 21.21, Jessika Gallagher 21.23,  Cathal Roarty  21.31 and Darren Beecroft 21.33. Kevin Greenan was 2nd in the M60 category in 21.35.
Richard Raymond finished in 22.04 and fellow LAC M60, Jimmy McBride,  in 22.50.
All in Letterkenny AC, and in the wider Donegal athletics community, were delighted to see club stalwart, and a  club founder member, Kevin Toner, back in action. Kevin clocked 23.36, a time very few athletes in their 70s would be capable of. Kevin has been a source of encouragement and motivation to a huge number of LAC runners throughout the decades. Astonishingly, Kevin completed 38 consecutive Inter Firms races, starting with the inaugural event in 1978. An operation ruled him out of the event in 2016 and unable to finish in 2017 but, happily, he is now back. During the early years  of the Millennium, Kevin was one of the top runners in his category at national level. In 2002, he was the National M55 10K champion following the National 10K in Navan. He retained the award following the 2003 race in Ballybofey and the 2004 10K in Sligo. In 2007, he was the M60  10K champion following the race in Navan. Kevin has represented the Irish Masters’ Team, in the
M55 and M60 categories, in the prestigous 5 Nation’s Masters’ Cross Country International on several occasions.
Dara Dunne finished in 23.43.
The winning female team was the HSE team and the winning male team was the E & I Engineering team.
The club is very grateful to the huge number of people without whose help the event would not have been possible. The club would also like to thank Hickey, Clarke and Langan Insurance Brokers for their continued, generous sponsorship.
Thursday evening’s Trentagh National School 5K saw some impressive performances from LAC runners. Gerard McGranaghan had a fine run and his time of 17.07 gave him 3rd place in a race that was won by Foyle Valley AC’s Roy McGilloway in 15.41. Barry Mackey put on an impressive performance  to earn a PB, which is something very  few M55 athletes are able to achieve. His time was 18.43.
For the 2nd time this month, it was a night to remember for the McGranaghan’s. Monica won the women’s race in 19.04. John Hughes finished in 19.47, Peter Gallagher in 19.52. Niamh McDaid was the 2nd senior woman in 21.15. The next woman, and the 2nd  F40 runner, was Catherine McKinley in 21.42. Young Matthew Price had an excellent run and came home in 24.36.
Liam Doherty had a good run in Sunday afternoon’s Scoil Eoin Baiste 5K in Carrigart. He was 2nd overall, and the leading M40 runner, in a time of 18.40. Finn Valley AC’s James McFadden was first across the line in 18.20.
Ann-marie McGlynn was in outstanding form in London on Saturday evening, while representing Ireland. Her 10000m  time was a highly impressive 33.52.
Liam Ferry’s amazing consistency in the Letterkenny parkrun continued on Saturday morning  when he again finished 2nd. Liam’s time was 19.52. Philip O’Hare won the 5K in 19.35. Cathal Roarty was the 2nd M50 runner in 24.10.


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