The Donore Harriers men’s track and field team recorded a historic win in the Division One final of the National Track & Field League at Tullamore on Sunday. Having placed third in each of the past two years it was important that the team be duly rewarded for the sheer level of commitment from the athletes and the support team.
Each team is allowed to discard four scores from the 19 events and Donore Harriers did not have a competitor in the 3000m Walk, the Pole Vault and the 400m Hurdles. This meant that there was little margin for below par performances, especially that Nenagh Olympic AC and Kilkenny City Harriers came with serious aspirations of a team win.
The early events saw Donore Harriers ease into the competition. Cathal O’Brien (22.00) got a 5th place in the 110m Hurdles, whilst Eoin Molloy (36.32m) managed a 3rd best throw in the Hammer. Eamon Fahey struggled to record a score as the persistent rain hampered his approach in the Long Jump. After two red flags he played it safe in the third round and a jump of 6.19m was good enough for second place.
The team’s sluggish start was not helped by poor baton changes in the 4 x 100m relay. However, the new and inexperienced quartet (Conor O’Ceallaigh; Eamon Fahey; Conor Fox and Sean Lawlor) were still good enough to record a 3rd placing in a time of 45.30. John Travers (3.59.93), a late replacement for the injured Eric Keogh, kick started the Donore Harriers push to the front. John won a thrilling 1500m overhauling Eoin Everard of Kilkenny on the line.
Third place finishes by team captain David Campbell (52.79) in the 400m and Niall Allen (10.88m) in the Shot Putt kept the Donore Harriers team in contention. Then as the afternoon sunshine replaced the morning rain the team’s charge to the top took full flow. Ray Hynes (9.37.12) ran out an easy winner in the 3000m Steeplechase; Sean Lawlor (22.32) recorded a fine win in the 200m; and Cathal O’Brien (1.75m) jumped to an equal first place in the High Jump. John Travers (1.52.93) returned to the action and came second in the 800m. Mark Dooley (14.51.00) was next on the track and he knocked 8 seconds of his previous best for a fine runner-up placing in the 5000m.
Meanwhile in the field events the team continued to score well as Niall Allen (36.47m) came second in the Discus and Eamon Fahey (13.56m) took the runner-up spot in the Triple Jump. An announcement of team scores had Nenagh in front on 102 points, with Donore on 92 and Kilkelly on 82.5. Obviously discard scores would be a factor, but it was important for the team to get the job done.
Man of the Match Eamon Fahey (10.95) stormed home in the 100m whilst Jaco Oostenhuven (49.64m) took the honours in the Javelin. Jaco then stepped off the track and onto the grass margins to compete in the 56 lbs Hammer event. This was his first experience at this event, but his competitive edge helped secure a 4th placing with a throw of 4.89m.
There was now just one event left and the announcement of the team scores had Donore in front on 112 with Nenagh on 105 and Kilkenny on 102. As the intensity and excitement of the 4 x 400m increased so too did the decibel level of encouragement from the ‘Donorebate Cheerleaders’ in the Stand. Eamon Fahey opened the account with a 48 seconds lap and the lead, an outstanding effort given that this was his fifth event of the day. David Campbell got passed despite a good 52 seconds leg. Donore and Nenagh were now well clear of the rest. Then up stepped Conor Fox, a junior, for the penultimate leg. Conor ran his heart out! The Nenagh athlete had increased his lead by the 200m marker, but Conor (55s split) reeled him in over the second 200 and took to the front with 30 metres left until the handover. “We needed to finish on a high” claimed team captain David Campbell afterwards. Well they don’t come much higher in performance levels than junior sprinting superstar Sean Lawlor even that he does not feel comfortable racing further than his specialist 200m event. And so it proved to be! Sean (51s split) lost the lead on the first 200 metres, but then he stepped on the gas and to the jubilant Donore supporters romped home with about 10 metres to spare. What a truly great finish! The relay team recorded a time of 3.26.00.
The final team scores: 1. Donore Harriers 115 points; 2. Nenagh Olympic 107; 3. Kilkenny City Harriers 103; 4. Tir Chonaill AC 76; 5. Dunboyne AC 71; 6. Louth County 69; 7. Youghal AC 59; and 8. City Of Derry 58.5. Enormous credit must go to Nenagh and Kilkenny for having made the final a fantastic contest!
Willie Smith, the outgoing club president, addressed the team afterwards: “This is a great way to end my 3 years in term. You did the club proud. You did yourselves proud. They were all great performances out there today and it was fabulous to be here to witness your achievement” Track and Field captain thanked all the athletes and supporters for their efforts and said: “We are a young team and we can have a fantastic future” Track and Field team manager Maurice Ahern added: “This result was 3 years in the making; we deserved our win and I am sure that we can more than hold our own in the Premier division next year”
Other results: Parkrun 5km
Griffeen Park = 1st Darren Hand (17.35): Waterstown Park = 23rd Andrew Maguire M45 (26.42)
At the National Juvenile Combined Events Championships at Tullamore on Saturday (2/8/14) Kolade Abiodun performed brilliantly in wet and blustery conditions to win the u/15s Boys Pentathlon scoring a total of 2837 points. His efforts included: – 80mH (12.51 for 733 pts); High Jump (1.56m = 434); Shot Putt (10.65m = 545); Long Jump (5.06m = 398) and 800m (2.25.75 = 745).
In the same event his team-mate Max Carey was desperately unlucky missing out on the bronze medal by just 7 points to Conor McMahon of Ardee AC. Max scored a total of 2641 points to McMahon’s 2648. Max recorded the following results: – 80mH (12.50 = 734); High Jump (1.47m = 367); Shot Putt (9.02m = 427); Long Jump (5.29m = 439) and 800m (2.31.49 = 674).
In the Girls u/15s Pentathlon Lara O’Byrne came 9th with a points tally of 1868. Her results were: – 80mH (13.76 = 592); High Jump (1.44m = 555); Shot Putt (7.96m = 397); Long Jump (4.07m = 324) and 800m (DNF).
National Half-Marathon / Rock & Roll HM at Dublin
M35 2nd Niall Lynch (1.15.53); M40 17th Will Morris (1.22.24); M45 4th Phil Hennessy (1.17.54); M50 35th David Wogan (1.35.21); 51st Pat Nolan (1.56.08); M55 12th Tony Griffin (1.38.21); M60 9th Charlie O’Neill (1.45.49).
M35-49 Team Result: 1. Raheny Shamrocks (3.44.18) 2. Donore Harriers (3.56.11); 3. Leevale AC (3.58.38)
The Ladies team won the National half marathon masters team title, Anne Curley was 2nd W40, Florence Curley 3rd and Breda Mahony made up the team. Also running for Donore were Nicola Dowdall, Kim Strickland, Janette Strickland, Sinead Graham and Dave Wogan
Well done too to Rhona, Ashling and Lee in the Glenmore Ac 5k