Tír Chonaill Athletes honured at County Board Function Friday 21st January 2011

Friday 21st January 2011

Tír Chonaill athletes were honoured tonight, [Friday 21st January] at a most enjoyable 2010 County Board Awards Function in the Finn Valley Centre. Presentations were made by double Olympian Danny McDaid, Co. President Eamon Giles and Co. Chairman Neil Martin to the following overall winners.

Senior Male: Darren McBrearty, Letterkenny AC;

Senior Female: Mary McLoone, Tír Chonaill AC;

Junior Male: Mark English, Letterkenny AC;

Junior Female: Louise Harvey, Tír Chonaill AC;

Master Male: Pauric McKinney, Letterkenny AC;

Master Female: Sinead McLaughlin, Finn Valley AC;

Each of the ten clubs in the county nominated two juvenile athlete for recognition. Karl Griffin and Kate McGowan were the Tír Chonaill AC recipients.

MC's for the night were Brendan O'Donnell and David Doherty. The Tír Chonaill athletes citations read as follows,

During 2010, Mary represented Ireland in the Europa Cup and was a winner at the home countries Indoor International in Cardiff. She won National Indoor and Outdoor Triple Jump titles and led Tír Chonaill AC for the 3rd time during the decade - 2003/2009/2010 - at the European clubs finals in Bern. She smashed County records in the 200m and Long Jump. She cannot be with us tonight as she is traveling to Nenagh for tomorrows Athletic Ireland Indoor Games. Jackie Harvey accepted the award on Mary's behalf.

During 2010, Louise competed in the Celtic International - 300mH; Won Irish age group titles i.e. U18 Indoor 60mH; Outdoor 100mH and 300mH; finished 2nd in the Irish schools Senior Girls 100mH and 400mH. She was honoured as Ulster and Athletics Ireland Donegal Juvenile Athlete of the year 2010. She was a member of the Tír Chonaill Team at the European Clubs in Bern - Louise has a best time of 62.8secs for 400m Hurdles.

Best Boy - During 2010 Karl was a winner of U16 Indoor and Outdoor Athletics Ireland and Irish Schools U17 800m titles. He won schools U16 Indoor International in Cardiff and finished 2nd in the schools outdoor International in Glasgow. He ran an outstanding 1min 53.22secs for 800m at a BMC meet in Belfast in July and recently - last weekend ran 50.61secs for 400m at the 'Irish Junior Indoor Championships' in Nenagh.

Best Girl - During 2010 Kate won the Irish outdoor U14 80m hurdles title, finished 2nd in the 60m Hurdles Indoors and also medalled in Long Jump and 200m. This multi talented girl was also a member of winning Tír Chonaill Indoor and outdoor All Ireland winning U14 and 15 relay teams. Kate also traveled as part of Neil Cullen's Donegal Sportshall Team to the British finals in Birmingham and was a member of the winning Donegal sprint relay team. Other outstanding performances during 2010 included winning individual medals in Long Jump at the National Community Games finals in Athlone and in the 2 lap sprint at the Sportshall finals in Birmingham.