DONEGAL WAS WELL represented at the GloHealth Inter Clubs Cross County Championships in Santry over the weekend.
The main talking point was the forced withdrawal of Letterkenny AC’s Ann Marie McGlynn, who lost a shoe in the muddy conditions and continued for over a lap before calling it a day.
Photo caption: The Finn Valley Under-16 team of Karen Gallagher, Zoe Kelly, Laura Crossan, Lauren McDaid and Aoife McGrath with coach Dermot McGranaghan in Santry. Photo courtesy of Kieran Carlin, Finn Valley AC
That women’s senior race was eventually won by Kilcoole AC in Wicklow’s Fionnuala McCormack (Britton), whose great grandfather, the late Hugh Britton, was Station Master in Ballintra.
Cranford AC’s Liam Donnelly and Molly Trearty with the winner of the senior ladies race Fionnuala McCormack (Britton) running for Kilcoole AC, Co Wicklow.
Senior Men
Gerry Gallagher from Finn Valley was the leading Donegal entrant, finishing off in 35 minutes 18 seconds for a 78th-placed finish in an ultra-competitive field.
His clubmate Dermot Brennan was 105th in 36:35, with Inishowen duo Martin Mooney and Benny Mullan in 110th and 111th in respective times of 37:47 and 37:48. Their clubmate David Porter was 133rd in 38:09.
In 38:51, was Conor Gallagher, Lifford U-23, finishing in 139th.
Finbarr Gallagher and Owen McKinney – both Inishowen – were 158th and 160th in times of 43:26 and 47:32.
Under-18 Boys
Letterkenny’s Donal Farren posted a great finish, coming in 10th overall and was part of the scorers to help Ulster to victory in the provincial section.
Kevin Logue from Cranford was 39th, Matthew Johnston from Letterkenny 60th, Eoghan Bradley of Finn Valley 66th, Letterkenny’s Rayan Maguella and Eoin Hughes 68th and 86th, with Brandon McGrinder from Lifford 85th.
Letterkenny came sixth in the team event with Finn Valley ninth. Donegal were fifth in the county standings.
Under-18 Girls
Letterkenny athlete Ciara Finnegan was 31st overall, with Maryteresa Doherty  from Inishowen 63rd.
Under-16 Boys
The first Donegal competitor to finish was Inishowen’s Pat Loughery, who was 30th.
Finn Valley’s Karl McGinley was 48th with Ben Carr, also Finn Valley, in 79th. Niall Quinn, Lifford, was 88th and Finn Valley’s Oran O’Donnell in 96th.
Adam McCrudden from Finn Valley was 108th, Conor Farrell from Letterkenny 114th and Fionntan Moore from Lifford came in 120th. Inishowen’s Michael Doherty wasn’t far behind in 123rd and Adam McGranaghan of Finn Valley 128th.
Finn Valley were 13th in the team event, Donegal 11th county and Ulster third in the provinces.
Under-16 Girls
Finn Valley pair Karen Gallagher and Aoife McGrath finished in commendable positions, 14th and 15th respectively.
Also in the Finn Valley bibs, Laura Crossan was 64th, Lauren McDaid 82nd and Zoe Kelly 94th.
That meant that Finn Valley were a more than respectable fourth in the team event, while Ulster were second best provincially.
Under-14 Boys
Letterkenny’s Oisin Farren was 17th in the field – a fine run – with James Loughrey from Inishowen in 36th and another Letterkenny competitor, Jack Holian, in 41st.
Inishowen pair David Carey and Mark Ruddy were 74th and 76th, followed by Liam Hannigan from Letterkenny in 79th and Lughan Devanney – also Inishowen – in 83rd.
Inishowen’s Adam Whoriskey was 123rd and Jude McCrossan of Lifford 128th. Rory Duffy and Shane McAteer from Letterkenny were 148th and 149th.
In the club team table, Inishowen were seventh and Letterkenny eighth. Donegal claimed fifth in the county standings and Ulster fourth in the provinces.
Under-14 Girls
Gemma McFadden from Letterkenny had a great run to come in 12th overall. Her clubmate Hollie page was 46th with Molly Trearty of Cranford 50th. Finn Valley pair Daniella Jansen and Abby O’Connor were 82nd and 84th with Inishowen’s Katelynrose Doherty in 91st.
Donegal were the eighth-placed county and Ulster third in the provinces.
Under-12 Boys
Oisin Kelly from Cranford was the highest Donegal finisher in this event, with an excellent 12th place overall, while Evan Keown of Letterkenny was 23rd.
The pair helped Ulster to victory in the provincial competition.
Max Roarty of Cranford 35th with clubmate Ian Donnelly 64th. Letterkenny’s Oran Kelly was 69th and Finn Valley’s Oran McMenamin coming home in 73rd.
Cole David Sheridan from Inishowen was 86th and Cian McMenamin, Cranford, 101st. Billy Black from Letterkenny was 115th and Elijah McGinley of Finn Valley 128th.
In the county event, Donegal came fifth overall, with Letterkenny 12th in the team standings.
Under-12 Girls
Finn Valley AC’s Hannah Murray was the first Donegal girl over the finish line in 32nd place, with her clubmates Sarah Bradley 41st and Demi Crossan  78th.
Harriet McCrossan from Lifford AC was 86th with Letterkenny’s Ellie Crossan 114th. Caitlin O’Hara from Cranford was just two places further back in 116th and Sophie Curran, also Cranford, came in 134th. Abbie McGranaghanof Finn Valley was 139th and Inishowen’s Chloe McDaid in 145th.
Cranford trio Ciara Donnelly, Aoife Giles and Orla Neely were 147th, 148th and 149th respectively.
Finn Valley were 11th as Cranford came 16th in the team event, Donegal were 10th in the counties and Ulster fifth in the provincials.
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