Mc Ginty Shines for Finn Valley

Breda Mc Ginty from Dooish returned to competition on Sunday at Scotstown and with only limited training behind her recorded an excellent victory in the U-17 age group leading her Finn Valley team to silver medals with Shauna Guthrie from Drumkeen 5th, Maeve Culhane 9th and Fionnula Bruton 21st. All are students at St. Columba's College Stranorlar.

In the opening race of the programme Rebecca Ward, Liscooley, continued her early season dominance winning the U-11 girls individual title. Other positions: Shannon Mc Laughlin 22nd, Blaithnaid Patton 23rd, Caoimhe Mc Menaimin 25th, Shauna Finn 27th and Amanda Mc Cafferty 40th.

The best Valley team finish was by U-15 girls winning their event; very encouraging for coaches Brendan Patton and Maureen Doherty as this squad are all under 14. Finish positions: Karen Ferguson 6th, Clara Dunnion 14th, Amy Slevin 16th, Niamh Doherty 17th, Eilish Patton 20th and Emily Murphy 21st.

Ian Ward was the lead finisher for the U-17 boys in 9th place; he was not at his best on this occasion but this squad has their biggest challenge in front of them on Saturday week in the Ulster U-16 at Ballyclare. Others here were Ryan Mc Daid 17th, Aidan Connolly 20th and Shane Bonner 26th.

It was a busy weekend for Aidan Connolly as the Aghyaran athlete was on the Rannafast Cup winning team for Omagh C.B.S. on Saturday.

In the U-15 boys Pauric Mc Laughlin did extremely well early on, but his lack of distance training kicked in towards the end and he faded to 13th. Pauric can improve dramatically on this.

The remaining medal winning team was U-13 boys who are a talented squad led by Mark Bonner whom after a slow start finished 14th, Eoghan Bonner 16th, Dean Bonner 19th, Justine Browne 25th, Ryan Mc Nulty 36th and Kevin Smith 46th. Silver medals for Valley, behind Letterkenny.

In other races U-11 boys Paul Smith 5th and Oisin Merritt 7th scored on the winning Donegal team.

Rochelle Tourish and Madeline Penrose were best of the U-13 girls while Enda Doherty after a strong start faded a little in the closing stages in the U-19 race while Nicola Alcorn finished 13th for the U-19 girls.

This Sunday is the day one of the North West Regional Squad get together at the Abbey Vocational School. A large number is expected to travel to participate.

Best wishes this weekend in the Dublin City Marathon to the Irwin family, Stranorlar.

Get well soon to Joe Brennan who is currently in Letterkenny Hospital.

Newsletters by Niall McGonagle, Club P.R.O.