Finn Valley A.C. had one of their most successful competitions at All-Ireland level ever last weekend at the U/9 to U/13 Juvenile Championships in Tullamore. On Saturday the individual events and 4 x 50m relays were held with the U/12 to U/19 Relay Championships being held on Sunday. Finn Valley's youngest members certainly struck Gold as all their hard work and dedication paid off. At the end of two days fantastic competition they had won Four Gold medals, Two Silver and Four Bronze. Click here for a picture parade.

Day One

We had two Gold Medallists on Saturday with Matthew Kelly, son of veteran athlete Michael, winning the National Title in the U/11 Ball Throw with a massive throw of 41.66 metres. This was a fantastic achievement for the 10 year old who was pipped for Bronze last year by 2 cm. Matthew also competed in the Long Jump were he finished 6th in the final with a jump of 3.83 metres. A bright future ahead for this young athlete. Our second Gold Medallist on Saturday was Gavin McCrudden, a new member to the club this season. Gavin won the U/13 Javelin with a 34 metre throw. Gavin richly deserves his National Title has he has trained really well since getting 2nd in the Ulster Championships with a 19.50 metre throw. Gavin also competed in the U/13 Ball Throw where he won the Bronze medal with a very respectable 44.19 metres after leading the competition all the way until the final two throws. It is also interesting to note that Gavin entered competitive athletics through Donegal Primary School Sports, which proves the importance of having these championships in place to bring such young talent forward.

Ryan McDaid well known for his amazing versatility in athletics being the National Cross-Country Champion and Scottish High Jump and 800m Champion, rose to the occasion once again winning the Silver medal in the U/13 High Jump with a personal best of 1.39 metres narrowly missing 1.42m and the Gold Medal. Ryan then went to the 600m final where he won the Bronze medal in another personal best of 1.42.63. Clive Heapes, competing in his first All-Ireland Championships, won the Silver medal in the U/12 Ball Throw with 41.82 metres just being pipped for Gold in the last round by a mere 18 cm. Again like Gavin Clive also came through the ranks of Donegal Primary School championships.

Lorcan McMenamin had his best long jump competition ever with a leap of 4.23 metres to win the Bronze medal in the U/12's just 1 cm off the Silver medal. Lorcan is another very dedicated athlete who was overdue a national medal as he has come so close on other occasions. Lorcan then competed in the High Jump where he nearly pulled off a double jumping 1.34m but just missed out on the Bronze. Gavin Carlin, son of former Irish Senior International Sean, was also long overdue a national medal and despite giving himself and his supporters a fright in the heats where he just qualified for the final as one of the fastest losers, he had a fantastic run in the final to win the Bronze medal in a photo finish. Gavin also competed in the Long Jump where he finished 5th.

There were also a number of other athletes who competed with distinction and although they did not win medals on this occasion they certainly did themselves and their club proud. Laura Feely was in Bronze medal position in the U/12 Ball Throw throughout the competition until the last round where she went back to 4th. However, Laura was well pleased with her excellent new personal best of 38.80metres and will now continue training for the National Community Games in Mosney where she will compete in the Shot Putt. Pauric McLaughlin put up a great fight to finish in 5th position in the U12 600m. Dean Bonner was 5th in the U/9 Long Jump with teammate Ryan Kelly 6th . Dean was 8th in Ball Throw and Ryan ran well in the 60m. Andrew Gallagher was 6th in the U/10 Long Jump with a personal best of 3.46 metres. Jodie Stewart had a personal best of 3.74metres in the U/11 Long jump finishing 6th as did Alishia Quigley in the U/13 Long Jump with 4.06 metres also finishing 6th. Alishia also made the final of the 80m. Aoife Whelan ran very strongly in the U12 600m finishing 8th. Sisters Niamh and Ciara Gallen also did very well both finishing 7th in their respective age groups U/9 and U/13 in the Ball Throw. Aaron McMenamin was 9th in the U/11 Long Jump with 3.57 metres. Aodhan Connolly finished 7th in the final of the U/13 High Jump whilst sister Stephanie finished 9th in the U/10 Ball Throw. Paula Friel and Siobhan Gallagher competed very well in the U/12 High jump as did Laura Friel in the U/13 High Jump. Mark Buchanan also threw very well in the U13 Javelin where he finished 9th.

Also on Day One of the National Championships we had two teams competing in the 4 x 50m relay. First up where Madelin Penrose, Michelle Gallagher, Leanne Shields and Rochelle Tourish who competed very well to finish 4th in their heat but as only top 3 made the final they just missed out. We also had a team in the U/11 Boys of Niall Doherty, Gerry Boyle, Aaron McMenamin and Matthew Kelly who also competed very well but just failed to make the final.

Day Two

On day two the U/12 to U/19 Relays where contested. Our U/12 Girls where first up with Jodie Stewart, Siobhan Gallagher, Aoife Whelan and Christine O'Neill giving a great performance and very nearly made it to the final. The U/13 boys of Ian Ward, Shane Bonner, Paul Doherty and Ryan McDaid put in a great performance in their heat to qualify for the final later in the day where they finished a very creditable 6th.

The U/12 Boys went into the final as the second fastest team with a time of 58.03 seconds giving us great hopes of a medal but they ran their hearts out with a great start from Gavin Carlin, passing to Pauric McLaughlin who tore down the backstraight with a great change to Christopher O'Leary whose face was a picture of pure determination running a brilliant bend to hand over to Lorcan McMenamin who sprinted up the final straight with Carrick-on-Suir and St. Abbans in hot pursuit. Lorcan hung on and dipped at the line to take Gold amidst huge roars of support in a fantastic time of 56.91.

The pressure was then on the U/16 boys to follow that performance and to take on the mighty Listowel who have never been beaten in an All-Ireland Championships. Like the U/12 boys our U/16 team went into the final as the second fastest team behind Listowel having run 47.85 in the heats, 5/100's of a second slower than Listowel, but vowed to turn the tables in the final. Joe McGinley gave the team a great start and with a "perfect" change to Matthew Larkin put the team in a great position. Matthew sprinted neck and neck with Listowel's second runner down the back straight and with another brilliant change to Seamus McMenamin Listowel were under serious pressure. Seamus ran a tremendous bend to hand over to Pauric Feely in the lead and once Pauric got the baton nobody but nobody was going to pass him as he sprinted to the line with Listowel and Bree A.C. in 2nd and 3rd positions. Their winning time, ironically enough, was 47.58 seconds - 5/100's of a second ahead of Listowel in 47.63 seconds and Bree A.C. in 47.97 seconds. And so ended another perfect day for one of the most successful squads of juvenile athletes ever to represent the club. This again was a well deserved reward for the young boys. Their commentment and dedicatication over the best few weeks has been excellent. They practiced hard and travelled to Derry every weekend and the results now have paid off. Congratulations to all!.

Thanks to their coaches for the training and support at the weekend and all season 96 Seamus McGranaghan, Evelyn Crampsie, George Gallen, Geselda Penrose, Christine Feely, Sean Carlin and Bernie Alcorn. Thanks also to all the parents who travelled to support 96 Patricia Doherty, John and Marie Kelly, Phil and Brian Doherty, Sam Ward, Michael Penrose, Michael Kelly, Bridget Boyle, Pauline and Pat McLaughlin, Frank Feely, Gerard Doherty and Brid McMenamin.

This weekend the U/14 to U/19 athletes will be heading for Tullamore for their National Championships and it will be a tough act to follow. We wish them all the very best of luck. Bus leaves the Finn Valley Centre at 2.15 p.m.

Catriona McGranaghan competed in a 800m race in Santry on Friday evening last and finished and was very pleased with her time of 2.10.

Churchill 5K

The Donegal Grand Prix series is well underway and the venue on Friday night was Churchill. This race was organised by club member Grace Boyle and great credit must go to herself and her team for a well organised event.

Valley's Kevin Holian is making a good come back after injury finished 2nd. Margaret Synott is improving steadily took the senior ladies spot. Mary Martin, Nancy McNamee, Bridget McGlynn, Mary Bond and Grace Boyle all ran well.

The club wish Joe Brennan of Fintown a speedy recovery from his recent accident. Joe was a prominent member of Valley's senior men's team some years ago.

The Club wishes to express their sympathy to the Stewart family on their recent bereavement.