Craughwell AC claimed a historic silver medal at The National Road Relays held in Raheny, last Sunday. It was the first ever senior medal win by a Galway team at the hugely prestigious event, which is one of the highlight competitions of the domestic distance running calendar.
The squad, led by coach Mark Davis, has been building over a number of years, and it was a well-deserved achievement for the talented squad he has assembled. Craughwell were narrowly pipped for gold by an excellent Ennis Track squad.
The men’s event over four legs of two miles, one mile, three miles and lastly two miles was led off by Jamie Fallon, who clocked an excellent two mile leg of 9.27, and was a narrow third at the changeover. Kyle Moorhead ran a superb second leg to bring the squad into second after a fast mile leg of 4.21.
William Fitzgerald had the toughest and most important job in running the three mile leg, and the international cross-country runner ran strongly all the way and finished with a phenomenal 14.11, the third fastest leg in the field. Oisín Davis took on the last leg for Craughwell with a DSD athlete just a step behind.
Mark Hanrahan led out last leg for Ennis and Davis tracked him all the way. Hanrahan however surged continuously to shake Davis off and managed to eke out a slight gap with 400m left to run, and held on to win by just four seconds running 9.14 to Davis’s 9.17, the fastest two mile times of the day.
Silver in the road relays is definitely the strongest achievement as a distance running-team by Craughwell AC, and a truly rewarding day for the club and distance running in the west.
Galway 5km Series
The 2025 Galway 5km series kicked-off last week with the 100th race of the series. Craughwell had the honour of hosting the event on a fast course, and the winner was one of the youngest winners yet in the series, Craughwell junior athlete Mathys Bocquety, in a time of 15.36.
Tony O'Callaghan has ran all of the 100 races, and he, along with Gary Doherty who ran 99 of them were presented with a prize ahead the Craughwell event.
Easter Lily 5km
The third edition of the Easter Lily 5km Remembering Aoibhe in aid of ACT for Meningitis and organized by Tribal Running took place on Doughiska road in Galway on Easter Sunday morning.
Aimade Belayd from the Team Tribal training group and also a member of Castlegar AC was first over the line on a fast course in 15 minutes 12 seconds. Cliodhna Ruane (Corrib AC ) was victorious in the senior ladies’ race in a time of 20.38.
Track and Field Tour – Day Two
The Goal Track and Field tour second day took place in Ballinasloe on Saturday, April 19, with great numbers in attendance - full results are on eire.entry4sports.com
Connemarathon
Over 2,000 athletes took to the scenic roads around the Inagh Valley, Leenane and Maam Cross last weekend in the three-event card for the Connemarathon.
Winner of the marathon in a time of 2 hours 30 minutes was Feidhlim McGowan, while first lady home was Jenny O'Leary in 3 hours 29 minutes.
World Relays Selections
Athletics Ireland have announced a 14-strong team including Galway City Harriers' Cillín Greene ahead of the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11.
Greene medalled at these championships in Nassau, the Bahamas last year on the mixed 4x400m team and he will be looking to contribute strongly once again. Aaron Greene of University of Galway and Tullamore AC is selected on the Men’s Relay squad.
