ULSTER SPORTSHALL FINALS

TRIUMPH AND TEARS FOR DONEGAL TEAMS

March 2010

Not for the first time the Ulster Sportshall athletic finals held in Magherafelt on Thursday last proved a bitter sweet experience for the four Donegal teams competing. The girls came good with both U13and U15 teams taking the Ulster titles and progressing to the Aviva grand finals in Birmingham (April 18th).

But for the boys it was bitter disappointment, losing out to Fermanagh in both age groups with the U13 team especially shattered in losing by only three points.

U13 GIRLS
1st Donegal (744) 2nd East Belfast (636) 3rd Fermanagh (525)
A resounding victory for this very talented squad, five of who were also in Birmingham last year. Backboned by a magnificent quartet from tirconnaill AC, Kelly McGrory, Emma Brady, Eve Mullan and Kate McGowan blew away the opposition in the four by two lap relay. This display of baton changing at top speed was recognised by all in Magherafelt as top class and the challenge of medals in this discipline in Birmingham is not beyond these girls.

McGrory is set to dominate her age group in Irish athletics over the next few years as she demonstrated with her gold relay and two silver medals in high jump (1.43) and six lap time trials. Brady is top class, gold in the two lap, gold in the speed bounce (80) and relay gold underlines the value of this girl to the team. Mc Gowan added silver in two lap, bronze in shot (7.61) to her relay gold, while McMullan’s silver in long jump (2.26) and bronze in six lap adding to her relay gold. But Sportshall teams can’t just rely on four special talents. Other team members must play their part and these girls have plenty. Nicole Boyle (Rosses) gold in triple jump (6.58) and bronze in four lap race, Eimear Walsh (Letterkenny) has certainly established her athletic career as this relative newcomer took gold in the four lap and bronze in speed bounce (78). Aine Bradley (Inishowen) silver in triple jump goes back to Birmingham a year older but certainly a much improved young athlete, while another newcomer Niamh Farrell (Letterkenny) silver in vertical jump (50) added valuable points to the teams total. Obstacle relay quartet Sara Doherty (Rosses), Bradley, Walsh and Ruth Gillespie (Tir Conaill) took gold. Paarlauf relay pair Boyle and Erika Hanna (Rosses) silver medals and four by one quartet Farrell, Bradley, Doherty and Hanna added another gold. Caoimh Bonner (Rosses) was unlucky not to medal in shot putt but fourth (7, 53) underlines her points value to this very good team.

U15 GIRLS
1st Donegal (678) 2nd Derry City (628) 3rd East Belfast (562)
Surprisingly beaten in last year’s Ulster final Donegal’s U15 girls regained their title and seven happy team mates make plans to return to Birmingham.

Again the quartet who took gold in the four by two lap relay set the tone for this victory. The rosses trio of Jade O`Donnell, Caroline Sharkey and Aideen Meehan blended brilliantly with Falcarragh girl Roisin Ni Chuarainn (LAC) to end the day with a great victory.

Indeed O`Donnell goes to Birmingham as Ulster best all-rounder taking that trophy with gold in her three disciplines, first in two lap, long jump (2.27) and speed bounce (88), this girl is a very talented athlete.

Meehan a relative newcomer to such intense competition took the all rounder bronze medal taking gold in vertical jump and bronze medal in four lap race. Ni Chuarain`s gold in the shot putt and bronze in four lap added valuable points, while sharkey`s bronze in two lap shows these four girls hold the key to a good performance in Birmingham. Clair Brady (Tir Conaill) and Rose Donovan (Slieve Liag) battled away bravely in their disciplines while Rose Boyle (LAC) joined Brady in the gruelling paarlauf relay for a silver position.

U13 BOYS
1st Fermanagh (675) 2nd Donegal (672) 3rd Antrim (598)
When the Donegal lads look at this result in the cool light of day away from competition then a lot of “ifs or if only “ or “why didn’t I” will surely surface. A few centimetres in a throw or jump, a relay runner not stumbling on the boards “if only”. Three points away from Birmingham, it could have been done, but still a great performance from these lads.

Gold medals from Conor Doherty (Slieve Liag) in speed bounce (76). Gold medal for Oisin Toal (LAC) in six lap again bronze for Oisin in the long jump (1.98), silver medal for Eoin Farrell (LAC) vertical jump (49), silver again for peter Gibbons (LAC) six lap, bronze medal for Darragh Toal. Silver medal for Paul Doherty (Slieve Liag) speed bounce (72), bronze medal for Jason McGill (Slieve Liag) high jump (1.35). Fourth places for Paudraig Byrne (Slieve Liag) high jump (1.30) for Darragh Toal long jump (1.86) and Niall Fogarty (Inishowen) vertical jump (48). Obstacles relay gold for Paul Doherty, McGill, Farrell and Fergus Cox (Inishowen). Silver medals for both other relays Darragh/Oisin Toal, Conor Doherty and Fogarty. While Paul Doherty, McGill, Kevin McGinley (Slieve Liag) and Farrell a really great team performance but bitter defeat by three points.

U15 BOYS
1ST Fermanagh (679) 2nd Donegal (629) 3rd Derry (539)
All though Donegal came out on top in the west Ulster final it was always on the cards that Fermanagh’s greater experience and team improvement would be a danger and so it came to pass. Despite the great efforts of Joseph Gallagher (Rosses) who took gold in the triple jump (7.82) silver in shot putt (11.00) and bronze in four lap the Donegal lads were always on the back foot against Fermanagh. Darragh McGlynn (Rosses) gold in speed bounce (86) and Seanie Henry (LAC) gold in long jump (2.62), while silver in both relays behind the winning team just wasn’t enough. Gallagher, McGylnn, Sean Paul McMahon and David McCarron (all Rosses) in four by two lap and Thomas Grant (LAC) and Jason Doherty (Inishowen) in Paarlauf relay put up good displays but Fermanagh head to Birmingham with merited victory.