OLYMPIAN BRENDAN Boyce was the special guest on Sunday evening as Finn Valley AC honoured their young athletes who won national honours in 2019.
Boyce is on a short break home from his training base in Cork.
Pictures by Dermot McGranaghan
Recently, Boyle – a Milford native who competes for Finn Valley – finished an incredible sixth in the men’s 50k race walk at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha.
Boyce competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and has already sealed his place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Boyce made the presentations to the 68 young Finn Valley athletes who won national honours this yar.
Boyce spoke about his early career, his pride in representing Donegal on the world stage and his exciting year ahead in 2020.
Boyce didn’t win a national medial until he was 18 and international honours only arrived at 23. Consistency and hard work were key themes of his story.
Former Irish Olympic Team manager Patsy McGonagle spoke of the pride he had when he was initially on Olympic team in 2012 and commended his stand out performance 6th in Doha on an enjoyable family night.
McGonagle thanked the young athletes, their parents the coaches, all present and introduced each to the assembled crowd.
A memento was presented not only to the medal winners but to all young members.
National Medal Winners 2018/2019
Shaun Gallagher
Cassie Lagan
Oisin Toye
Aoife McGrath
Adam McGranaghan
Karen Gallagher
Donnachadh Parkinson
Daniella Jansen
Ben Carr
Emily Kelly
Karol McGinley
Zara Alexander
Odhran O’Donnell
Sarah Bradley
Aidan Connolly
Aoife McGee
Mark Wilkinson
Emer O’Brien
Harry Gallagher
Lauren McConnell
Josh Ryan
Saoirse Gallagher
Conor Gallagher
Chris Kearns
Pauric McGettigan
Jack McGlinchey
Dannan Gillespie
Conor Murphy
Blaine Lynch
Bobby Hennigan
Daniel Mc Hugh
Riona Doherty
Lauren Callaghan
Aine Kerr
Noah Beales
Nathen Kearns
Noah Ferman
Oisin Mullen
Lucas Elliott
Kayla Toner
Saorla Gilligan
Charlie Gallagher
Katie Louise McMonagle
Amy Timoney
Andrew Jansen
Josh Mullen
Michaella Byrne
Declan Slevin
Michael McGonagle
Joseph Gillespie
Hannah Murray
Patrick Murphy
Leah McMonagle
Katie Dowds
Sarah Gallagher
Elsa Friel
