Valley Win Mar Memorial

Finn Valley men won the much sought after War Memorial Trophy at the Ulster Cross-Country Championships in Killybegs last weekend. Michael McGlinchey won the individual title. Michael from Stranorlar, is a student at Queen's University and running really well this year. He was delighted with his victory as it is first in a senior category. Michael came up through the ranks from the U12 age group on a team that won every National Cross-Country Team title up to and including the National Junior Title; this team was coached by Anthony Murray. Conal McBride followed up on his good run in the Donegal Senior Championships with a very good 3rd place with Joe Brennan from Fintown, indeed a former winner of this title himself many years ago in 6th. Joe was eligible to compete in this race again as he is now competing in masters athletics but he certainly has not slowed down any as he gave his all right up to the line. Pat McElroy 9th and Bernard McCabe 14th ran very strongly to make up the winning team on 19 points, Cranford 2nd on 32 points and Letterkenny 3rd on 44 points.

JC May Ladies 3000m

Maeve McElroy, Pat's wife, ran very well in the ladies race to win the bronze medal with teamate Noreen McConigley running well after her excellent run in the Dublin Marathon finishing 5th.

Juveniles Retain Top Ulster Club Title

The Ulster Juvenile Cross-Country Championships (even age groups) also took place in Killybegs on Saturday. Congratulations to Bernie O'Callaghan and his team for an excellent and picturesque course. As expected Finn Valley athletes dominated winning the overall title once again with Three team Gold, two team Silver, two team Bronze and one 4th team position. The Ulster Championships is the qualifier for the All-Ireland Championships on the 14th December which will also be held in Killybegs. The first 12 in each race qualify on the Ulster Team, the first three club teams and the top eight Donegal athletes in the race qualify for the Donegal Team which will contest the inter-county championships at the Nationals.

Under 10 Girls

The under 10 girls was the first race of the day with Rebecca Ward once again having a great run in 6th position with team mates Aishling Gallagher 9th, Tori Lafferty 16th and Megan Stewart 19th winning the silver team medals on 50 points, behind a very good Killybegs team on 31 points and with Monaghan Phoenix on 3rd on 70 points. This team was well supported with good runs from Geraldine Gallagher 20th, Louise McCafferty 27th, Amanda McCafferty 34th, Ciara Bogle 38th, Niamh Gallen 39th and Erin McGranaghan 45th. Rebecca and Aishling were also on the Donegal Team which won the inter-county title.

Under 10 Boys

The under 10 boys were next to go and they also performed very well winning the silver team medals with great runs from Mark Bonner 5th, Justin Brown 8th, Dean Bonner 10th and Ryan Kelly 18th. Great support from Oisin Merrit 22nd, Ryan Porter 23rd, Ryan Bonner 24th, Paul Smith 26th, and Mark Gillespie 33rd. Donegal won the inter-county title here with Mark, Justin and Dean all on the Donegal team for the nationals.

Under 12 Girls

The under 12 girls race saw last years champion Niamh Doherty coming back to form with a fantastic run in 3rd place which was excellent considering Niamh has been out of training for a month with injury and then the flu so with some hard training now over the next few weeks she should be in good shape for the National Championships in December. Amy Slevin also ran very well in 8th place with Emily Murphy in 15th, Ciara Devenney 21st winning the bronze medals in a very close team battle. Milford won on 31 points with Glaslough and Finn Valley tying on 47 points -- medals are then decided on the 4th scorer which put Finn Valley into bronze position. Team support here was from Grace Ward in 47th, Aileen Brennan 49th and Carla McDaid in 59th. Donegal took the silver medals in the inter-county with Niamh and Amy both on the team.

Under 12 Boys

Our under 12 boys were our first team to take Gold medals with brilliant performances from Christopher McBride in 4th place, Emmet Patterson 8th, Patrick Geary 9th and Gerry Boyle 11th. Finn Valley won on 32 points, Letterkenny on 42 points and Glaslough on 84 points. Great team support here from Ryan McNulty 13th, Andrew Gallagher 18th, Colm McLaughlin 31st, Ciaran Brennan 34th, Kevin Smith 43rd, Paul Kelly 50th and Cormac Gallen 60th. Donegal won the Team title in the inter-county with Christopher, Emmet, Patrick and Gerry all on the team for the Nationals.

Under 14 Girls

The under 14 girls race produced the closest finish of the day with Jackie Gibson having another tremendous run sprinting neck and neck to the line just being pipped at the post for the Gold medal. Breda McGinty still recovering from the flu ran very well to take 4th position with Fionnuala Lindsay in 10th and an ever improving Tara Hegarty 11th easily winning the team title on 27 points from Glaslough on 57 points and Monaghan Phoenix on 88 points. Great team support here from Gemma Vance 17th, Bronagh O'Doherty 23rd, Aoife Whelan 31st, Mairead McGill 34th, Ailish Patton 38th, Catherine Gallagher 39th, Clara Dunnion 42nd, Charlie Stagg 43rd, Natasha Duffy 44th, Andrea McCafferty 46th, Christine O'Neill 47th and Ciara Gallen 66th. Donegal won the team title here again with five of our girls on the team for the Nationals, Jackie, Breda, Fionnuala, Tara and Gemma.

Under 14 Boys

The under 14 boys race produced an individual and team winner for Finn Valley in the form of Kevin Mossey who ran very strongly all the way with Ian Ward also having a fantastic run in silver medal position. Ryan McDaid 6th and Shane Bonner 8th made up the winning team. This team had the lowest team point total of the day on 17 points, from Letterkenny on 91 points and St. Malachy's Belfast on 98 points. Pauric McLaughlin a year out of his age group also had a great run in 9th position with Aiden Connolly 15th, Philip Browne 24th and Dermot Brennan 35th. Donegal easily won the team title here with no less than six of our athletes on the Donegal Team for the Nationals -- Kevin, Ian, Ryan, Shane, Pauric and Aiden. It was great to see the boys back to their normal standard after a poor performance in Ballyclare.

Under 16 Girls

The under 16 Girls team put in their best performance yet and were very unlucky not to qualify with very good runs from Maeve Culhane 12th, closely followed by Nikki Alcorn 14th and teamates Emma O'Neill 22nd and Fionnuala Bruton 24th fighting to the very end to finish up on 72 points jointly with Glaslough, but with our 4th scorer ahead of Glaslough, we earned 4th position just 4 points behind Sparta. However Maeve and Nikki had the consolation of qualifying for the National Championships as part of the winning Donegal team in the inter-county championships.

Under 16 Boys

The under 16 boys race was a very high standard race with the top three athletes John McKeown from North Belfast Harriers, Eoin Hamilton, St. Malachy's and our own Alan Cavanagh out in front for the entire race battling it out for the individual honours and indeed the team championship also changed hands many times during the race with three points separating the three teams at the end. Alan fought bravely throughout the race but lost it over the final 600m and ended up in 3rd place but will take heart from the fact that the two Belfast lads are among the best in the country. Mark McGowan had a good run in 9th position with Conor McConnell in 15th. Maurice Boyle who had been in bad form due to illness all season had a terrific run in 16th place and will be looking forward to the Nationals now. Stefan Connolly was 18th, Diarmuid Fullerton 29th, Enda Doherty 30th, Kevin Gallagher 37th, Brian Patton 42nd, Ross Wherity 43rd and Ronan McCabe 47th. Donegal won the Silver medals here with Alan, Mark, Conor, Maurice and Stefan all on the team.

Valley Take Overall Title

Finn Valley won the overall title of best juvenile club in Ulster with thirteen teams through to the two National Championships winning six team Gold, five team silver and two team bronze. Another Donegal club, Letterkenny, were 2nd overall with Glaslough 3rd. Congratulations to all our juveniles.

Margate Reebok International Cross Country

Patsy McGonagle and Bernie Alcorn will be travelling to Margate this weekend with eleven juvenile athletes for the Reebok International Cross Country where the athletes will gain valuable experience. The team is: Pauric McLaughlin U13, Kevin Mossey, Ian Ward, Ryan McDaid, Shane Bonner and Aiden Connolly U15, Jackie Gibson, Breda McGinty, Maeve Culhane and Bronagh O'Doherty U15 and Nikki Alcorn U17. Good luck to them all.

Masters

The County Masters Cross Country Championships will be held in Cranford this weekend.

Valley Emigrants

Joe Byrne continues his great form in America finishing 5th and top runner for his college Southern Illnois in the Missouri Valley Conference 8K held in Desmoines, Iowa, His time was 24.34 for the 8K distance. Incidentally Diarmuid Grant from Sparta was 13th in this race in a time of 24.58.

Bernie Alcorn, P.R.O.