The biggest event of the domestic athletics calendar, the National Senior, Junior and Even Age Juvenile Cross Country Championships was held in the scenic but testing surrounds of Castle Irvine, Enniskillen last Sunday,
Galway athletes had great success at both Junior and Senior level across the programme.
At Juvenile level, South Galway AC won two individual medals in the U16 Boys event. In a thrilling race Ciarán Considine claimed the gold medal with a blistering finish, with clubmate Luke Walsh winning bronze.
The South Galway duo were always in and around the front of affairs from the off, and halfway into the race Considine made his move and only Charlie O’Neill of Donore Harriers and Luke Walsh could keep up with him.
With 200m to go, the Donore Harriers runner took the lead but Considine responded and in the final bend surged away to victory and his first National Cross-country title, just ahead of O’Neill and Walsh. South Galway placed fourth team, with Brendan McGuane 3rd home for the team in 67th position, Cathal Costello 4th home in 115th position and Ciarán Kelleher shortly behind in 130th.
Ciarán Considine and Luke Walsh will now represent Ireland on the U16 cross-country team for the international match in Leeds, England in February 2025.
In the U14 boys’ competition, Clare River Harriers duo Patrick Lee and Sean Howley had super runs, placing 5th and 10th respectively, leading the team to silver medals overall, with Fionn Creaven, and Ryan Scully the next scorers.
At U12 level, Craughwell girls team placed 17th overall, while in the U12 Boys event, Castlegar AC placed 8th squad home. In the U14 girls’ event , Castlegar AC came 16th overall, with Tuam AC close behind in 18th. GCH Girls U16 squad were 12th home in a very competitive field
At Senior level, Galway won county team silver in the Intercounties section, via the scoring six of William Fitzgerald, Tom McStay , Oisin Davis, Jamie Fallon, Abaas Edris and Sean Cotter.
Craughwell AC star William Fitzgerald was first Galway athlete home, as he raced hard to a superb sixth place overall, putting him in with a shot at Irish team selection. Craughwell were fifth team overall, with superb performances in the scoring quartet from Osin Davis, Jamie Fallon and the resurgent Sean Cotter
Galway City Harriers placed 12th team overall in a solid display via Tom McStay ( best in 15th ), Aaron Brennan, Keith Fallon, and Chris Jonker the scorers , while Castlegar AC select were 22nd with feature Abaas Edris, Hafiz Adam, Rob Malseed and Sean McDermott the scoring four
In the Ladies event University of Galway athlete defending champion Fiona Everard placed a fine fourth overall, which still puts her in the mix for European selection for the upcoming European Cross Country championships
The sole Galway club lady competing was the ever-consistent Triona Moran of Castlegar AC, who placed 90th overall
Next up are the Novice and Uneven Age Juvenile events on December 1st at Tramore , Co. Waterford
Masters International
Catherine Thornton of Galway City Harriers made a successful international debut on the Irish Masters Cross Country team in Belfast Saturday last, at the international match between Ireland, Northern Ireland, England ,Scotland and Wales. Thronton won an amazing individual silver at V35 level and Traore the Irish V35 team secured gold . Martin McEvilly also of GCH surged home to win the V75 gold, after a titanic battle with Terry Eakin of Northern Ireland.
Fixtures
Upcoming calendar races include South Galway ACs Ballinderreen 10k on November 24th, Athenry ACs Fields 10k on St Stephens Day, and the Resolution Run on New Years Day in the city, all permitted events and open on Eventmaster for entry
