CATRIONA MCGRANAGHAN spanned a golden generation at Finn Valley AC that will stand the test of any time in any era.
The Castlefin native, pictured above by Kieran Carlin, was there for the beginning of it all, in 1993 at the Phoenix Park in Dublin, and when the golden era came to an end, in 2000 again at Phoenix Park, she was still there in the famous blue and white singlet.
Finn Valley’s women won eight senior cross-country titles in a row from ’93 to ’00 and McGranaghan scored on six of them.
In total, she won 12 Irish Cross-Country titles.
[adrotate group=”76″]That team that broke the mould in 1993 – McGranaghan, alongside Belinda Carlin, Kay Byrne and Dawn Hargan – ended the near two-decade dominance of Dublin City Harriers.
Byrne scored in all eight. She and McGranaghan were joined on the team by Noleen Porter and Rosaleen Campbell.
On December 9th next, Catriona McGranghan, now Catriona Devine, will be the latest inductee in the Finn Valley AC Hall of Fame.
[adrotate group=”38″]She will join her father, a Finn Valley AC founder member, Peadar, as well as Patsy McGinley, Neil Martn, Patsy McGonagle, the late John Carlin, Kay Byrne, Pat Hegarty and Mark Connolly on the list.
“Catriona has been involved in the sport since she was practically able to walk,” Patsy McGonagle says.
“After a successful underage career really announced herself to the world by winning back-to-back national cross-country junior titles followed by scoring on a Finn Valley senior squad that dominated the Ulster and Irish cross-country for some 15 years.
[adrotate group=”46″]“She represented Ireland in the European champions cup annually and was an Ulster senior champion, National Masters champion and a record holder.
“Marry that with a complete commitment and loyalty to her club, she is a deserving recipient and her club are privileged to acknowledge her.”
