Valleys young guns come good in Ulsters
Finn Valleys young athletes jumped another hurdle in qualification process that is Ulster championships on a beautiful day at Fintragh ,Killybegs Sunday with the clubs women novice team taking the team title after a battle with City Of Derry .THe first boys race up was the under 11 and Denver Kelly continued his excellent form of previous outings to set a marker early on to lead his team to success scoring 32 pts against Monaghan 63 and Annalee 66 scoring in adition to himself Charles Mc Daid 4,Adam Anderson 13,and Tiernan Gallen 14 . Indeed in the final under age race of these provincial champs Pauric Mc Laughlin in the under 19 now a student of Business at DIT was an impressive winner 19-36 against runner up Mc Keown from Malachys 19-50 . Interesting to note that Valley also finished a team 4th under 11 .
In the under 11 girls an excellent squad took gold 35 pts to Clones 75 and Inny Vale 84 a comprehensive margin scoring Amy Crossan 4,Aoibhinn Mc Hugh 6,Niamh Doherty 9,and Ellen Keegan 11, A family occasion for the Keegan family of Ellen and Jamie who ran extremely well in the boys section . THe under 13 girls aided by strong performances from Leanne Kelly 6,and Tara Kate Harley 7 just a second between them supported by Emir kelly and Denise Mc Laughlin just got in ahead of neighbours Cranford 57 to 61 to record a victory . THe under 13 boys were outgunned by Letterkenny but qualified in third team spot as Michaels ,Enniskillen got in for silver .TEam scoring Letterkenny 44, Michaels 57, Finn Valley 78 . Valley scored Oisin Gallen 5th 10 secs down on race winner ,Pauric Patton 17,Shane Mc Bride 21 ,Stephen Carr 35.
THe u-15 section did not impact but Ciera Kelly made the Ulster team under 17 finishing 10th .
Final events were the Ulster novice team events and in the first of these up it looked gloomy for Valley as City of Derry attacked strongly but were unable to maintain the momentum and with continued improvement from Miriam Bonner 2,and Mary Connolly 3 and the addition of newcomer Mary Hipsley had 3 pts to spare to the good having won this title obviously with a different team, as is the requirement , in 2008 . Mary from Aghyaran recently competed in the Dublin City marathon . Letterkenny came out on top in the mens event as they had done last year with Valley 4th scoring Tommy Thompson,Brendan Grennan,John Mc Elhill,and Hugh Gallagher lead runner 15th . Mark Connolly has done tremendous work with the senior section as lead coach and is always there to welcome additions to what is now a large squad ,
Teresa Mc Gloin was with Ireland in Moll, Belgium and will have gained immensely from the experience. At the ULster awards function the previous evening in the Bay View Hotel John Kelly and Pauric Mc Laughlin received acknowledgments for acheivments at Ulster level during 2009 . THis weekend its all heads down as training continues while 5 master athletes from the club are in Birmingham for international . We wish them well .
Results.
Donegal Teams for National Senior, Junior & Juvenile Inter Counties.
Donegal County Teams for All Ireland Juveniles Uneven CC Championships.
Donegal Novice Teams.
Teams.
Results.
Pictures.
Many pictures by Kieran Carlin.
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