Major Success at National Community Games Finals
Saturday 21 Aug/Sunday 22 Aug 2010
The climax of the 'Community Games' - the National Finals - was played out last weekend at Athlone I.T.’s impressive sports facilities. In front of thousands of enthusiastic supporters the two day festival of sport had an extensive athletics programme and a number of team sports down for decision. Tir Chonaill Club Athletes representing local communities and Co. Donegal had a host of major achievements and podium performances.
On Saturday, heats and semi finals in Sprints/Relays and semi finals in Middle Distance events had to be negotiated to qualify for Sunday finals. Donegal Towns Under 14 Girls 4 x 100m Relay Team had a 9:30am start on Saturday morning. Ruth Gillespie, Emma Brady, Chloe Masterson and Kelly McGrory got the baton around safely for an impressive victory.
Clubmate, Kate McGowan, contested a marathon two hours U14 Long Jump. Conditions deteriorated as the final eight, including Kate, were notified that they had another three jumps. The rain storm was so serious that the runway and pit became water logged for a period. Kate kept her composure and ended up winning the counties first medal of the weekend - a bronze with a best of 4.55metres.
Kate McGowan 3rd in the Long Jump Final
Three more jumps girls
As the rain clouds cleared, Emma Brady U14 Hurdles and Kelly McGrory, U14 100m both finished 3rd in respective heats and qualified for Sunday mornings semi finals.
Sarah Timoney, representing Ballyshannon, was the most impressive and unlucky competitor of the weekend. Introduced to the technical discipline of race walking at a Tir Chonaill camp earlier this year, Sarah walked aggressively and won the first qualifying semi final. Alas when the race judges assembled both Sarah and the 2nd placed athlete from Leitrim was disqualified on a technicality. No doubt Sarah, who has made great progress over the past four months, will bounce back, refine the technical aspects over the winter and be a force when indoor competition starts next February.
Sarah Timoney in action in the walk
As the mid day break was announced at the athletics track - news filtered through that Donegal Towns Boys Under 13 Rounders team had decisively defeated their Wexdord opponents in the first semi final.
Donegal Town Boys U13 Rounders Team
Silver Medal Winners
Saturday afternoons session found, Mark McGuiness, U16, 1500m and Mark Hegarty, U14 - 800m both represents the Killybegs community qualifying for finals.
Mark McGuiness No22 4th in U16 1500m Final
Mark Hegarty No22, 4th in the U14 800m Final
Mark McGuiness & Mark Hegarty with
Eamon Harvey & Mascot
Mark Mc Guiness & Mark Hegarty
Medal Winners at Community Games Finals
The Donegal Town U14 Girls Relay Team continued where they left off in the morning with another winning semi final performance.
U14 Relay Team with Parents
Sunday began with the semi finals of the hurdles. Emma Brady was quicker from the gun and finished 2nd in the second semi final. Kelly McGrory had a similar position in the 100m semi final. As we looked forward to the afternoon’s final session and supporting four local individuals plus one relay team the result of the Boys Under 13 Rounders final was announced. The Donegal Town boys defeated by Mayo were silver medal winners.
Emma Brady at start of U14 Hurdles
Emma Brady 4th in the U14 Hurdles with Gerry Davenport
National Community Games Execetive
Kelly McGrory 22 - 2nd U14 100m
In a closely fought race, Emma Brady contested the lead as the Hurdles final reached the last of eight obstacles. There is no finish photo finish equipment at Community Games. In a blanket finish Emma was given 4th - a great result at this level of competition. Kelly McGrory, went two better in the final of the 100m. The popular Laghey girl added a second podium finish for Tir Chonaill club athletes.
Mark Hegarty and Mark English both ran very positive races to finish 4th in their respective finals. The relay finals completed the two day athletics programme and had the loudest support levels of the entire weekend. Rosses U12 Girls Team, with Amanda Hanna running 2nd [she has grand parents and lots of relations in Donegal Town] were impressive bronze medal winners.
Amanda Hanna 4th in the final of the Girls U14100m
Donegal Towns Kate McGowan, Emma Brady, Ruth Gillespie and Kelly McGrory gave the large Donegal support much to shout about with impressive sprinting and slick baton changing for a very popular gold winning victory.
Relay 1st change over
Kate McGowan to Emma Brady
Relay 2nd change over
Emma Brady to Ruth Gillespie
Relay 3rd change over
Ruth Gillespie to Kelly McGrory
Last Leg, Kelly McGrory on the way to victory in 4x100m Relay Final
Donegal Town U14
4 x 100m Relay Gold Medalw Winners
Donegal Town 4 x 100m Relay Squad
Perpetual Trophy Winners
