Loughrea's Jason Broderick, tipped for a top placing at the All Ireland Cross Country in Dungarvan, delivered on his promise on Sunday.
The Craughwell AC athlete produced his best performances in the highly competitive novice men's 6km event to win a deserved national bronze medal.
Broderick, the 2015 Galway cross country champion, started off conservatively but moved through the field of more than 200 starters, going from 50th on the first lap to the lead group of five as the race progressed. Broderick pushed on strongly on the last lap to finish third - probably the finest individual cross country result in Craughwell AC’s history - and the result is testament to his hard work and dedicated training.
Next home for the Galway squad, which was placed ninth county team - was John Greaney of GCH with a storming 16th place run. He was followed home with a good run by John Moroney of GCH in 62nd, with John Cronin, Ciaran Diviney, Brian Bruton and Seamus Leddy also team scorers.
The GCH ladies' team also took a well earned bronze team medal, placing third behind surprise packet Youghal AC and DSD AC from Dublin. The team were led by a tremendous run from Barbara Dunne in ninth place, with Niamh Hennelly next in 14th, in probably her best run ever in the GCH colours. Caoimhe Daniels and Siobhan Egan completed the four GCH scorers, with Maeve Brassil in 51st and Marie Boyle in 72nd also running well. The Galway ladies county team just missed a medal, finishing in fourth.
In the U17 race the Galway boys’ squad also competed well with GCH athletes Eanna Folan 47th and Ronan Dirrane 77th, with Jack Maher of Connemara AC 61st and Brian Burke, Ballinasloe, in 71st
In the juvenile programme, nearly all Galway clubs were well represented. GCH U13 girls won bronze medals as members of the successful Connacht team. Eimear Rowe had her best performance to finish in a creditable 18th position, followed in 19th by Emma Moore, and Shauna Brennan in 36th, with all three making the podium for Connacht. In addition Ciara Dunne 80th, Sinead Duggan 138th and Joanna Healy 144th made up the GCH team that narrowly missed the bronze club team medal.
GCH U11s performed well in their first national event with Eva Brennan 44th, Isabella Burke 54th and Leana McDonagh 83rd. Sean Duggan placed 156th at U11 boys.
In the U15 events, Aaron Brennan was the top GCH performer of the day, finishing in 15th place in a highly competitive field. Oisin Rowe placed 118th. In the U17 race Aoife King placed 46th and Aoife Sheehy 75th.
Ballinasloe and District AC had a full squad out at U13 Girls level, with Ava McKeon best in 34th, Aoibheann Fitzpatrick next in 51st and Clodagh Killeen, May Kelly, Kayla Mckeon and Aiveen Curley also competing well.
Craughwell juvenile athletes performed well on the day, with Sean Cotter taking a fantastic 11th place in the U13 boys, Aoibhe Carr 19th and Jade Moorhead 27th in the U11 girls.
Athenry Juvenile athletes also travelled in numbers to this hugely competitive event, with Kayla Madden finishing 41st and Leonore Church 52st in the U11 events. In the U13s Kaci Moran placed 98th and Aileen Evans 103rd. In the U15, Sarah Gilhooley was 38th and Katie Brogan 81st, while in the U17 girls Shannen Lee top scored in 47th, followed by Aishling Kenny 67th, Aine o Farrell 72nd, and Aishling Keane 80th.
Fallon runs for Ireland
Keith Fallon of GCH runs on the Irish Under 23 Cross Country team this Sunday at the European Cross Country Championships in Hyeres in the south of France. Fallon will be competing along with the continent's best athletes, with fellow squad members Thomas Moran, Brandon Hargreaves, Sean Tobin, Hugh Armstrong and Aaron Hanlon.
Carnmore Turkey Trot 5km results
The annual Carnmore GAA fundraising 5km Turkey Trot was held Sunday and Matt Bidwell of GCH took yet another road race victory on the Galway circuit, running a good time of 15.38. He headed off Craughwell’s Damien Larkin second in 17.06 and veteran Ruaidhri Geraghty of GCH third in 17.14. Sinead Brody of GCH won the ladies' section in 20.36, with Bernie Kelly and Catherine Keane Murphy making a one, two, three for the city club.
Kiltullagh Fixture
The Kiltullagh National School Christmas Run will be held on Sunday December 13, starting with a 10km run at 1pm, a five km walk also at 1pm, and a junior 1km fun run at 12 noon. The event is AAI measured and permit approved and a timed event. Entry fee for the 10km is €15. Register online via runireland.com, or on the day 10am to 12.30pm.
