Finn Valley Athletics Club

Valley respond brillantly to retain national title

Past successes

The success that has been Finn Valley masters mens team in AAI national cross-country began in an exciting manner at Edenmore, Ballybofey on a seriously wet day in 2001. Valley had applied for and been granted the opportunity to host the event as they reckoned within the close knit group that exists there that they had a chance of breaking the Dublin dominance and particularly that of Clonliffe Harriers. They duly won did the business amid great joy and in the interim years in the Phoenix Park, Cork, Dungarvan, Tinryland, Santry have grouped up to continue that East Donegal dominance led by Mark Connolly and Neil Martin.

2008 in Piercetown

So 2008 promised another challenge led by captain Kieran Carlin and the venue was Piercetown, Co Wexford and if the truth were known they never were stronger. The background was a defeat in Ulster to North Belfast and neighbours Letterkenny but the Valley lads and mentors walked away happy enough on that occassion as they knew the absence of James Mc Intyre, Jon Creane and James Mc Mahon was significant as they headed for home and had a quiet chat about the real challenge, the next day a cold Sunday morning, about this day in February. And it all came so well together as the clock approached 2pm the battle had been won no prisoners taken, outright with 40 pts to spare over North Belfast [1,14,29,34] and Rathfarnham.

Kieran Carlin 6th who expressed dissapointment with his position having prepared in Kenya and Portugal and now will target Malmo European Masters but such a vital man and the team leader.

Then Mc Intyre 11th, just back in the club colours after a switch from Tulla where he now resides. James is a Kilmacrenan man and his family connections are in Ballybofey/Stranorlar where his grandmother still resides as does cousins, uncles and aunts.

The big story was Dominic Bonner 13th who has scored on each of the teams over the years came to the line on each occasion ready to battle and again no change in that in 2008, a great story of endeavour in itself.

The final scorer on this outing was schoolteacher Jon Creane who has acheived on numerous outings for the team at different levels that surely is unique.

And so the day ended the task acheived and when the story of Donegal athletics is one day written this squad deserves a chapter. There was the business of the inter county aspect of the race and with only the Valley men on duty it was simply just going to add to the nature of the challenge again a positive outcome as James Mc Mahon 20th and Martin O Halloran tumbled in behind the other lads on a six to score scenario to see off Dublin by 20 pts and Cork, with Antrim 4th.

There was added support from Michael Penrose and Drew Doherty. This was memorable day in the life of Finn Valley was enjoyed by all. A special victory added to by a category award for Dominic.

Paul Doherty in Scottish Indoors

While the lads were beating it out in the South East, Paul Doherty was winning a medal a bronze in the Scottish junior indoors in the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow accompanied by his coach Bernie Alcorn in the 60mh his time 8-91 a pb and an interesting reaction "I can go faster ", and yes he can and needs to bang out a sub 8-75 and he is on his way opportunities exist in UUJ and Nenagh. Well done as he needed this outing.