The Donore squad headed off to Sligo on Sunday the 18th May to take part in the 1st round of the national league. Teams of 11 men and 4 women represented the club brilliantly in very difficult conditions. The men’s team, affected by some injuries and withdrawals introduced some of our promising juveniles and juniors to senior competition. They rose to the occasion as if used to it all their lives. No fear,performances out of the top drawer. The young guns contributed  to a stunning team performance resulting in the team posting 13 individual wins and two seconds in their 15 scoring events to mass a hugely impressive total of 131 points to finish the day top of the pool in Sligo but also top of the league country wide.

The men started off the way they intended to finish, on top of the table with Eoin Molloy earning the vital 1st win for the team in the hammer throw. With things going better than anyone could have expected in the wind and rain, everyone was surprised with how dominant all of the lads were in each event. From the track to the triple jump pit, Donore were a force to be reckoned with. The day ended on a high with the 4×4 squad storming home to take the last win of the day in a great overall team performance.

The ladies had a smaller team than hoped for in the first round, but the depleted team performed miracles, leaving the team in a position, with more athletes on board for the second leg  on 22 June to make the final.

Maura Kearns who warmed up for the event in Tallaght last Wednesday, doubled up to run in the 800m and 1500m finishing second in both events ( 2.31.86 and 4.59.65), Lynda Ngankam finished third in both the 100m and 200m (13.05  and 27.48) and won the Triple Jump with a jump of (10.58 ), Grace Kennedy continued her comback to compete to win the 3000m (11.13.55 ) and the Shot (5.31 ), Anne Gormley completed the team, doubling up in throw events with the Hammer and Discus (16.03 and 13.13).

Full results:

100m (3rd) – Conor Fox

200m (1st) – Conor O’Ceallaigh

400m (1st) – David Campbell

400m hurdles (2nd) – Rolus Osala

800m (1st) – Eric Keogh

1500m (1st) – Eric Keogh

3km Walk (1st) – Kevin English

3km steeplechase (2nd) – Kevin English

5km (1st) – John Travers

Shot putt (1st) – Niall Allen

56lb (1st) – Niall Allen

Hammer (1st) – Eoin Molloy

Javelin (1st) – Jack Oosthuvan

Triple jump (1st) – Rolus Osala

Long jump (2nd) – Rolus Osala

4x100m (1st) – Conor O’Ceallaigh, David Campbell, Adam Halpin, Conor fox

4x400m (1st) –  David Campbell, Henry English, Rolus Osala, Adam Halpin

This was an exceptional performance for both teams, particularly the mens team who are determined to win the Division one this year having finished 3rd in the final for the past two years. It’s early days yet but with such brilliant team spirit and high level performances, they are going about it the right way.

Thanks to all the support, coaches, athletes and anyone that helped with the organisation it was a great success and hopefully we will see plenty of Donore faces supporting the team for the 2nd round in Santry on the June 22nd.